Single Greatest Rookie Performance

by user Ray

So what can we call the single greatest performance by a rookie in any and all sports? I'm not talking season numbers, but where the brilliance of that player showed itself in one magical game. Some possibilities...

Magic Johnson - Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals
Filling in for an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic played all five positions and notched 42 points (including 9 in the last 5 minutes), 15 rebounds, and 7 assists. Magic still considers this his greatest NBA game.

Shaquille O'Neal - 1993
Playing against Philly, a 20 year-old Diesel put up 38 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 8 blocks. Shaq shot 67% that night. 1993 NBA ROY.

Kerry Wood - 1998
Wood had 20 strikeouts, 1 walk, and 1 hit in a shutout game against the Astros. Shoulder has never felt the same since. 1998 NL ROY.

Mark McGwire - 1986
At Cleveland, the Big Mac went 4 for 5, with 5 runs, 5 RBI, and 3 HR. 1987 AL ROY.

Anquan Boldin - 2003
In Boldin's very first pro game, he had 10 receptions for 217 yards and 2 TDs. The 217 yards is a first-game record. He ended up breaking the rookie record in receptions and was the only rookie selected for the Pro Bowl, on top of getting ROY.

Randy Moss - 1998
Had 163 yards on 3 receptions, 3 TDs against Dallas. Doesn't really apply in this conversation, but had 3 more TDs the very next game.

Clinton Portis - 2002
Albeit against Arizona in the last game of the season, Portis ran for 228 yards on 24 carries (9.5ypc) and scored 2 TDs. 2002 NFL ROY.

Mike Anderson - 2000
Against Dallas, 251 yards on 37 carries (6.7ypc), 4 TDs. 2000 NFL ROY.

I'm sure there are many more.

Date

Fri 06/09/06, 11:27 am EST

Madproof9Red-Shirting

1267 days ago

Score 0

Patrick Roy - Prior to Wednesday night, Roy was the only goalie in the last 20 years to post a shut out in a Stanley Cup Finals game as a rookie. You can't really score goals or have brilliant assists as a goalie, so posting a shut-out, especially one of this caliber, is one of the highest achievements a goalie can get to (in one game).

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Ray agmJV Squad

1267 days ago

Score -2

I admit I know next to nothing about hockey so some names and numbers from that world are appreciated. Thanks Madproof.

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Madproof9Red-Shirting

1267 days ago

Score -2

Patrick Roy was the goalie for the Montreal Canadians from 1986-1995, and then for the Colorado Avalanche from 1995-2001. He won 4 Stanley cups, 2 with each team and holds the NHL records for Most games played by a goalie (1029), Most NHL wins (551), Most playoff games played by a goalie (247), and Most playoff wins by a goalie (151). Roy is arguably the greatest goaltender of all-time. He retired after the Avs won their second Stanley Cup.

Cam Ward is the goalie who accomplished the Shut-out as a rookie feat most recently. Ward plays for the Carolina Hurricanes. Last Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers, Ward posted a 5-0 shutout, becoming the first goalie since Patrick Roy in 1986 to do so.

It's very rare for a Rookie goalie to play in the Stanley Cup finals, let alone start. And as you can imagine even more rare for a rookie to post a shut-out in the finals.

Hope that helps a little Ray.

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ChristofMVP

1267 days ago

Score -2

Ron Hextall - 1987 - Top Goalie and Playoff MVP in the Stanley Cup Finals. Carried the Philadelphia Flyers to game seven vs. Edmonton.

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Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

1266 days ago

Score 0

In snooker, Terry Griffiths won his first professional tournament in 1979. It just happened to be the most important tournament - the World Championships. He never won it again...

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