The expanding territory of major league baseball helped a 28 year-old first player get a chance and make the most of it. After toiling for ten years in the San Francisco and St. Louis minor league systems, the Montreal Expos made infielder Coco Laboy the 54th player taken in the expansion draft and wrote him in the lineup every day at third base. The native of Puerto Rico responded with a .278 average, 16 home runs and 85 runs batted in to garner the National League Rookie of the Year Award for the 1969 season.
Also receiving consideration were a pair of Pirates in Richie Hebner (.289/7/60) and Al Oliver (.248/24/62), who helped their squad to a strong finish before fading into third place. Atlanta catcher Bob Didier (.297, 28 2B) also turned some heads, as did Philadelphia outfield Larry Hisle with 28 homers in their inaugural campaigns.
A thin year for newcomers in the pitching ranks made Houston righty Tom Griffin (15-9, 3.24) an easy choice for NL Rookie Pitcher of the Year. The young gun helped keep the surprise Astros in the race for the Western Division flag through the last weekend of the season, whiffing nearly a batter an inning with 211 strikeouts in 214 innings.
New York reliever Jack Dilauro (4-4, 2.04, 1 save) also deserves mention.
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