On Tuesday afternoon, the 23-year-old, who didn’t even play his first big league game for the White Sox until June 4, was named one of The Sporting News’ 2009 Rookies of the Year along with Philadelphia hurler J.A. Happ. This award was selected by a panel of 338 Major League players, many of them who clearly appreciated Beckham’s value to the South Siders.
In 378 at-bats over 103 games, Beckham batted .270 with 28 doubles, 14 home runs and 63 RBIs. Beckham posted a .347 on-base percentage, drawing 41 walks against 65 strikeouts, and finished with a .460 slugging percentage.
He led all AL rookies in doubles, RBIs and extra-base hits (43), while finishing second in slugging percentage, home runs and on-base percentage. Beckham had 18 more RBIs than Baltimore’s Nolan Reimold, who finished second among AL rookies with 45.
Videos from Gordon Beckhnam’s 2009 games:
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/search/media.jsp?player_id=493596
