Centerfielder Tommie Agee of the Chicago White Sox won the American League Rookie of the Year award.

Agee beat out pitcher Jim Nash of the Kansas City Royals, second baseman Davey Johnson of the Baltimore Orioles, and first baseman George Scott of the Boston Red Sox for the top honor.

Early Career

Agee originally signed as an amateur free agent with the Cleveland Indians before the 1961 season, not long after finishing high school at Mobile County High School in Grand Bay, Alabama.

After a year-plus of minor league ball, Agee made his Major League debut for the Indians in September 1962 and then spent most of the next three two seasons back in their farm system. He had short stints in the big leagues in each of 1963 and 1964.

Then, in January of 1965, the Indians sent Agee to the White Sox as part of a three-team trade that made headlines for sending Rocky Colavito back to Cleveland from the Kansas City Athletics.

Besides Agee, the White Sox received John Romano and future ace Tommy John in the deal.

Agee spent most of 1965 with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians before the ChiSox called him up in September.

Then, in 1966, the 23-year-old broke camp with Chicago as their starting centerfielder, and he stayed there all season. His 22 home runs, 86 RBI, 44 stolen bases, and .273 batting average made him a landslide choice as the AL’s Rookie of the Year.

Amazin’ Career

In December of 1967, the Sox traded Agee and Al Weis to the New York Mets in exchange for Buddy Booker, Tommy Davis, Jack Fisher, and Billy Wynne.

After a shaky first season in Queens, Agee rebounded in 1969 to hit 26 home runs with 76 RBI and 12 stolen bases, combined with sterling defense in centerfield.

That effort helped the surprising Mets win the first National League East division crown, the National League pennant, and, eventually, the 1969 World Series.

Agee would play three more seasons for the Mets before splitting his final campaign in 1973 between the Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals.

In all, Agee finished up with 130 home runs among his 999 hits, good for a .255 batting average. He also stole 167 bases, drove in 433 runs, and scored 558 time himself.

In addition to his 1966 Rookie of the Year honor, Agee also won two Gold Gloves and was a two-time All-Star.