Curt Blefary was an American professional baseball left fielder who played in Major League Baseball for the Baltimore Orioles (1965–1968), Houston Astros (1969), New York Yankees (1970–1971), Oakland Athletics (1971–1972) and the San Diego Padres (1972). A native of Brooklyn, New York, he batted left-handed and threw right-handed.
In his debut year with the Orioles in 1965, Blefary hit .260 with 22 home runs and 70 RBI, winning both the American League Rookie of the Year and The Sporting News Rookie of the Year awards. During the 1965 Winter Meetings, he was one of three players along with Milt Pappas and Jack Baldschun whose names were originally submitted by the Cincinnati Reds in discussions of any transaction which would have sent Frank Robinson to Baltimore, but the Orioles balked at trading Blefary. Dick Simpson was sent to the Reds instead of Blefary to complete the deal.The following season, he was a member of the Orioles team that won the 1966 World Series.
The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award is an annual Major League Baseball (MLB) award established in 1946 by Sporting News. For the first three years (1946–1948) and again in 1950, there was a single award. In 1949 and since 1951, the award has been given to a rookie from both the American League and National League. In 1961 and from 1963 through 2003, Sporting News split the rookie award into two separate categories, Rookie Pitcher of the Year and Rookie Player of the Year (in each league). In 2004 those two awards were discontinued, in favor of a single award, one for each league.
Presented is the 1965 The Sporting News Curt Blefary AL Rookie of the Year award. This heavyweight 12" x 15" plaque is centered with a die-cut metal portrait of Blefary. Located above and below the image of Blefary are two bronze plates with The Sporting News title plate at top, and a summary of Blefary's 1965 offensive output at the bottom
This piece is derived from the personal collection of Curt Blefary.
One of a kind! ***NOT FOR SALE***
Item: 13649
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