Chris Chambliss is selected as the American League Rookie of the Year. He joined Herb Score as just the second Cleveland Indians player to receive the honor.

The Cleveland first baseman received eleven of 24 first place votes possible in the voting. He batted .275 in 111 games on the year with nine home runs, 20 doubles, four triples, and 48 runs batted in. He began the year in Triple-A Wichita and had hit .286 with two homers and six RBI in 13 games there.

Milwaukee pitcher Bill Parsons finished second with five votes and Oakland’s Angel Mangual finished third with four votes.

Chambliss was the first overall pick by the Indians in the 1970 draft. He hit .342 with seven homers and 52 RBI in his first season with the organization, playing 105 games at Wichita. He debuted at the age of 22 the following season. The Dayton, Ohio, native would remain with the Indians until late April of 1974, when he was dealt to the New York Yankees.