Books and articles about Nomar Garciaparra

Crowning the crop of hot young shortstops that emerged in the late 1990s, Garciaparra's amazing debut in 1997 (.306, 30 HR, 98 RBI, 209 hits, 22 steals) made him the second consecutive shortstop (following Derek Jeter) and just the sixth player ever to be unanimously voted American League Rookie of the Year.

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RELATED LINKS Submissions » Big-Hitting Shortstops: Today, A Big Deal, But Back Then ... by Steve Lombardi Ask The Experts » Who was the last Red Sox rookie to win the Rookie of the Year Award? » Who was the last AL rookie with 200 hits? Around the Web » Nomar leads Dodgers to 16th win in 17 games from uniontribune.com » Dodgers Use Another Power Play from latimes.com » Garciaparra Is Back but Still Hobbled from latimes.com » Cardinals Leave Dodgers Uncomfortably Numb from latimes.com » Win Is Big in Grand Scheme from latimes.com » Nomar Garciaparra from baseball-reference.com » Nomar Garciaparra from thebaseballpage.com » Rays hoping Felix can hack it from sptimes.com (03/14/01) Jump directly to Library content from any website!

The first Red Sox player to receive the honor since Fred Lynn in 1975, Garciaparra's team-high RBI total set a major-league season mark for RBI by a leadoff hitter and his 30 homers established a new major league rookie record for shortstops. His 30-game hitting streak from July 26 to August 29 broke Guy Curtright's 1943 AL rookie record by four games and also tied Tris Speaker for the second-longest hitting streak in Red Sox history.

Garciaparra also broke a couple of longstanding Boston records. His AL-leading 209 hits broke Johnny Pesky's 1942 rookie record of 205 (during the season, Pesky pronounced him the best shortstop in Red Sox history) and his 365 total bases smashed Ted Williams' rookie record of 344 in 1939. Garciaparra's 11 triples also led the American League. While pacing the Sox in at-bats (684) and finishing second in HR and doubles (44), Nomar became the first Red Sox player to reach double figures in doubles, triples, homers and steals since Jackie Jensen did it in 1956.

"Numbers swirled around him like a disco ball," wrote Baseball America, and by the end of the season, Garciaparra was so tired of listening to reporters enumerate his achievements that he pleaded before every interview, "no more questions about stats, OK?"

Known as "Glass" in high school due to his brittle appearance and slender physique, Nomar almost didn't make it to Boston. After he tore up his knee at Pawtucket in early 1996 it was thought that he was gone for the season. But he was back by June, hit .343 with 16 homers and 46 RBI in 43 games and was quickly pegged as Red Sox shortstop of the future. He added four homers and 14 RBI in 24 games during a brief call-up in late 1996, when he became Red Sox' starting shortstop.

In spring training 1997, a minor controversy erupted over this appointment when new Red Sox manager Jimy Williams moved the incumbent shortstop, John Valentin, to second base, and Wil Cordero, who'd already accepted a move to second from short, was shifted again to DH. But the controversy blew over when it became clear that Garciaparra's talent became evident. Garciaparra's fine season also partially salved Boston fans' anger at losing Roger Clemens after the star hurler signed with the Toronto Blue Jays before the 1997 season.

A slave to routine at the plate (he has a habitual pattern of adjusting his wristbands, kicking the dirt, and genuflecting before every pitch) and superstition on the field (he refuses to wash his hat during the season) Garciaparra continued his torrid pace in 1998, batting .323 with 35 homers and 122 RBIs. When slugging first baseman Mo Vaughn left Boston for Anaheim as a free agent after the season, the quiet Garciaparra inherited the role of team leader at the tender age of 25.

Garciaparra was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the first round (12th pick overall) of the 1994 June draft following three years at Georgia Tech and a stint with the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team. Garciaparra's first name is actually Anthony; Nomar is his middle name, and is Ramon, his father's name, spelled backwards. (SW/JGR)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » June 2, 1994: The NY Mets select Florida State P Paul Wilson with the first pick in the amateur draft. OF Ben Grieve is selected 2nd by the Oakland Athletics. The Brewers Sal Bando, a former ASU third baseman, picks another ASU 3rd sacker, Antone Williamson, with Milwaukee's the 4th pick overall. The Brewers do find a good 5th round pick in Steve Woodard. The Marlins use the 5th overall on Josh Booty, rated the top high school QB in the nation. Booty will sign with the Fish for $1.6 million, hit .198 in four years in the minors, have a cup of coffee with the Marlins, and return to college football. The Royals take Jose Rosado on the 12th round. Boston ends up with the best draft, taking Nomar Garciaparra (1st round, 12th pick), Brian Rose (3rd), Brian Barkley (5th), Damien Sapp (10th), Donnie Sadler (11th), and Carl Pavano (18th). The Twins pick Corey Koskie on the 26th round. » August 5, 1997: The Red Sox pound out 24 hits, including four home runs, in defeating the Rangers, 17-1. Nomar Garciaparra is 4-for-7 with a homer and two doubles and Troy O'Leary homers twice into the upper deck. » August 17, 1997: Boston's Nomar Garciaparra hits in his 20th straight game, tying Fred Lynn's Boston rookie record. Boston wins, 10–5, sweeping four from the Twins. Minnesota has lost nine straight, » August 30, 1997: Boston SS Nomar Garciaparra goes hitless as the Red Sox fall to the Braves, 15-2. The collar brings his 30-game hitting streak (July 26-August 29: .383 : 54/141) to an end, the longest streak ever for an AL rookie. Guy Curtwright, a 30-year-old rookie, set the mark with 26 games in 1943, his only season. » September 9, 1997: Boston loses to the Yankees, 8-6, despite two RBIs for Nomar Garciaparra. The ribbies give Garciaparra' 87 on the year, for a new major league record for leadoff men. Harvey Kuenn held the old mark with 85 in 1956 for Detroit. » September 19, 1997: The White Sox tie Boston, 4–4 at Fenway on Albert Belle's 9th inning grand slam, off Tom Gordon, then win in the 10th on Frank Thomas' single. The Red Sox had tied the game in the bottom of the 9th on pinch homers by Curtis Pride and Scott Hatteberg. Boston wastes Butch Henry's seven 2/3 shutout innings, while Mike Sirotka's one run in eight innings goes unrewarded. Nomar Garciaparra has a pair of doubles to break Ted Williams' Red Sox rookie record for total bases. His total is 348 on his way to 365. Tony Oliva set the American League rookie record in 1964 with 374. » November 3, 1997: In a unanimous vote, Nomar Garciaparra is named American League Rookie of the Year. The Boston SS is the first rookie ever to bat .300, with 30 homers, 90 ribbies, and 20 stolen bases. He also led the American League in hits and his 98 RBIs set a record for a leadoff batter. He's the first Sox rookie to win the honor since Fred Lynn, in 1975. » July 4, 1998: Three White Sox pitchers combine to shut out the Red Sox, 3-0, on five hits. John Snyder gets the win with seven 1/3 innings. Nomar Garciaparra has two walks but his 24-game hit streak ends. » July 16, 1998: Red Sox SS Nomar Garciaparra goes 4–for–4, with two doubles and a home run, driving in five runs and scoring three as he leads Boston to a 15–5 win over the Indians. The Sox ice the game with seven runs in the 8th inning. » July 18, 1998: The Boston Red Sox defeat the Detroit Tigers, 9–4, with the aid of a 7–run 4th inning. Mo Vaughn, Donnie Sadler, Darren Lewis, and Nomar Garciaparra all homer in the stanza, a first for Boston. » September 24, 1998: Red Sox P Tom Gordon records his 42nd consecutive save of the year for a new major league mark as Boston defeats Baltimore, 9–6 (41 by Rod Beck and Trevor Hoffman). Boston clinches a wild card spot behind a pair of homers and four runs scored by Nomar Garciaparra. » September 29, 1998: Mo Vaughn leads the Red Sox to an 11–3 victory over the Indians in their ALCS playoff series, clouting two home runs and driving home 7. Nomar Garciaparra gets four ribbies for Boston. » October 2, 1998: Cleveland takes a 4–1 lead into the bottom of the 9th against Boston in Game three of their series. A 2–run home run by Nomar Garciaparra brings the Sox within 1, but that's how it ends, with the Indians winning, 4–3. Cleveland's runs come on solo home runs by Manny Ramirez (2), Jim Thome, and Kenny Lofton. » May 10, 1999: The Red Sox pound the Mariners, 12-4, as SS Nomar Garciaparra leads the way with three home runs, including two grand slams. Garciaparra drives home 10 of Boston's runs as he clouts a bases loaded homer in the 1st, a 2-run shot in the 3rd, and another grand slam in the 8th. Nomar is the first Bosox since Jim Tabor, in 1939, to slam two slams in a game, and just the 9th in ML history. Robin Ventura last did it, in 1995. » June 26, 1999: Boston scores 11 runs in the 1st inning on the way to a 17-1 victory over the White Sox. Pedro Martinez (14-2) goes five innings with John Wasdin pitching the last 4. Brian Daubach and Nomar Garciaparra homer in the 1st with Nomar adding another in the 3rd. Mike Stanley and Jason Varitek also homer in the game for Boston. » September 29, 1999: The Red Sox clinch the wild card in the American League, beating the White Sox, 6–2. Damon Buford and Nomar Garciaparra hit 2-run homers, while Nomar ends the game with a unassisted DP. » October 11, 1999: The Red Sox defeat the Indians, 12-8, to win their league division series, 3-games-to-2. Troy O'Leary's two home runs, including a grand slam, power the Sox to the victory, as the OF drives home seven of Boston's runs. Nomar Garciaparra draws two intentional walks and both times O'Leary follows with a Pedro Martinez picks up the win by hurling six hitless innings in relief for the Sox. » October 14, 1999: The Yankees go two games up on the Red Sox with a 3-2 win in the 2nd game of the ALCS. David Cone gets the win for NY, with help from a Tino Martinez home run. Nomar Garciaparra accounts for both Boston runs with a 2-run roundtripper. » October 16, 1999: The Red Sox roll over the Yankees, 13-1, behind the pitching of Pedro Martinez. Nomar Garciaparra gets four hits for Boston, while John Valentin drives home five runs. Garciaparra, Valentin, and Brian Daubach all homer for the Sox. New York now leads the ALCS, 2-games-to-1. » September 27, 2000: The A's defeat the Angels, 9-7. Anaheim's Darin Erstad hits a home run in the 2nd inning for his 99th RBI of the year from the leadoff spot to set a new record. Nomar Garciaparra drove home 98 in 1997 for the previous mark. » April 2, 2001: Boston's Nomar Garciaparra has surgery for a split tendon in his right wrist. He will be out till late August. » August 28, 2001: Seattle OF Ichiro Suzuki reaches 200 hits for the season as the Mariners fall to the Devil Rays, 6–0. By going 2–for–3, Suzuki becomes only the 3rd AL rookie to reach 200 hits since 1964. KC's Kevin Seitzer reached the mark in 1987 and Boston's Nomar Garciaparra ten years later. » May 5, 2002: The Red Sox snap a scoreless tie with a run in the 8th and add another in the 9th on a solo home run By Nomar Garciaparra to give Tampa Bay its 10th straight loss. Frank Castillo pitches eight innings for the win. Boston will sweep by winning tomorrow, 7–5 » July 23, 2002: Nomar Garciaparra strokes three home runs and drives in eight runs on his birthday as the Red Sox pummel the Devil Rays, 22–4 in the opener of a day–night doubleheader. The round–trippers give him five in two games to tie a ML record. Boston scores 10 runs in the 3rd inning to break the game open.