Everyone loves a trophy. In 1960, Topps created an All-Rookie Team and the baseball cards of outstanding young players had trophies added to their pictures.
There were a pair of National Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees on the squad 40 years ago along with several all-stars and most valuable players.
The ninth member of the 1975 team to be profiled in the this series is Fred Lynn.
Fred Lynn was drafted in 1973 by Boston in the second round out of the University of Southern California, after being a part of three World Series titles with the Trojans.
The Red Sox called Lynn up to the majors late in the 1974 season.
In 1975, Lynn was named the American League Most Valuable Player and the Rookie of the Year. Lynn hit 21 homers with 105 RBI and a .331 batting average to help the Red Sox to the AL pennant, while leading the league in runs scored with 103 and doubles with 47.
Perhaps Lynn’s best season in Boston was in 1979 when he won the batting title with a .333 average as he had career-high numbers with 39 homers and 122 RBI. He also won his fourth Gold Glove.
Prior to the 1981 season, Lynn was traded to the California Angels. He was the 1982 League Championship Series MVP and a year later was the top performer in the All-Star game after hitting the only grand slam in the history of the mid-summer classic.
A nine-time all-star, Lynn signed with the Baltimore in 1985 and was with the Orioles until a trade to Detroit in 1988. He played with the Tigers in 1989 and finished his career with the San Diego Padres in 1990.
Next up in the series: Jim Rice of the Boston Red Sox.