Na kraju svake bejzbol sezone, Udruženje američkih pisaca bejzbola glasa za novaka godine u Nacionalnoj i Američkoj ligi. Kako bi se kvalificirali za nagradu, igrači moraju imati najmanje 130 šišmiša, 45 dana na aktivnom popisu momčadi Glavne lige ili 50 izmjena do 1. rujna.
Prva nagrada Rookie of the Year pripala je Jackie Robinson. U to vrijeme, nagrada je dobila ime po vlasniku Chicago White Soxa J. Louisa Comiskeyja, ali 1987. nagrada je preimenovana u Jackie Robinson na 40. godišnjicu Robinsonove pobjede. 1947. i 1948. nagradu je dobivao najbolji sveukupni novak, a od 1949. godine dobivao se po jedan igrač po ligi.
Iako osvajanje nagrade nije jamstvo buduće veličine, 10 od 69 dobitnika nagrade Nacionalne lige nalazi se u Nacionalna bejzbolska kuća slavnih i muzej.
Početnici godine u Nacionalnoj ligi
- 2016: Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers
- 2015: Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs
- 2014: Jacob deGrom, New York Mets
- 2013: Jose Fernandez, Miami Marlins
- 2012: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
- 2011: Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves
- 2010: Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants
- 2009: Chris Coghlan, Florida Marlins
- 2008: Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs
- 2007: Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers
- 2006: Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins
- 2005: Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies
- 2004: Jason Bay, Pittsburgh Pirates
- 2003: Dontrelle Willis, Florida Marlins
- 2002: Jason Jennings, Colorado Rockies
- 2001: Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
- 2000: Rafael Furcal, Atlanta Braves
- 1999: Scott Williamson, Cincinnati Reds
- 1998: Kerry Wood, Chicago Cubs
- 1997: Scott Rolen, Philadelphia Phillies
- 1996: Todd Hollandsworth, Los Angeles Dodgers
- 1995: Hideo Nomo, Los Angeles Dodgers
- 1994: Raul Mondesi, Los Angeles Dodgers
- 1993: Mike Piazza, Los Angeles Dodgers
- 1992: Eric Karros, Los Angeles Dodgers
- 1991: Jeff Bagwell, Houston Astros
- 1990: David Justice, Atlanta Braves
- 1989: Jerome Walton, Chicago Cubs
- 1988: Chris Sabo, Cincinnati Reds
- 1987: Benito Santiago, San Diego Padres
- 1986: Todd Worrell, St. Louis Cardinals
- 1985: Vince Coleman, St. Louis Cardinals
- 1984: Dwight Gooden, New York Mets
- 1983: Darryl Strawberry, New York Mets
- 1982: Steve Sax, Los Angeles Dodgers
- 1981: Fernando Valenzuela, Los Angeles Dodgers
- 1980: Steve Howe, Los Angeles Dodgers
- 1979: Rick Sutcliffe, Los Angeles Dodgers
- 1978: Bob Horner, Atlanta Braves
- 1977: Andre Dawson, Montreal Expos
- 1976: Pat Zachry, Cincinnati Reds, i Butch Metzger, San Diego Padres
- 1975: John Montefusco, San Francisco Giants
- 1974: Bake McBride, St. Louis Cardinals
- 1973: Gary Matthews, San Francisco Giants
- 1972: Jon Matlack, New York Mets
- 1971: Earl Williams, Atlanta Braves
- 1970: Carl Morton, Montreal Expos
- 1969: Ted Sizemore, Los Angeles Dodgers
- 1968: Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds
- 1967: Tom Seaver, New York Mets
- 1966: Tommy Helms, Cincinnati Reds
- 1965: Jim Lefebvre, Los Angeles Dodgers
- 1964: Richie Allen, Philadelphia Phillies
- 1963: Pete Rose, Cincinnati Reds
- 1962: Ken Hubbs, Chicago Cubs
- 1961: Billy Williams, Chicago Cubs
- 1960: Frank Howard, Los Angeles Dodgers
- 1959: Willie McCovey, San Francisco Giants
- 1958: Orlando Cepeda, San Francisco Giants
- 1957: Jack Sanford, Philadelphia Phillies
- 1956: Frank Robinson, Cincinnati Reds
- 1955: Bill Virdon, St. Louis Cardinals
- 1954: Wally Moon, St. Louis Cardinals
- 1953: Jim Gilliam, Brooklyn Dodgers
- 1952: Joe Black, Brooklyn Dodgers
- 1951: Willie Mays, New York Giants
- 1950: Sam Jethroe, Boston Braves
- 1949: Don Newcombe, Brooklyn Dodgers
- 1948: Alvin Dark, Boston Braves
- 1947: Jackie Robinson, Brooklyn Dodgers
Neki mediji, kao što su Baseball Almanac i Sporting News, imaju svoje nagrade Rookie of the Year. Za razliku od Sporting Newsa i Udruženja američkih pisaca za bejzbol, bejzbolski almanah daje samo jednog novaka.
