MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE BASEball fans are aware that no Pittsburgh Pirates newcomer had been anointed National League Rookie of the Year since the award began almost six decades ago until outfielder Jayson Bay won the honor in 2004.

That was puzzling, as well as a trivia highlight, considering that many outstanding young players have flaunted Pirates uniforms since 1947, when the Baseball Writers Association of America gave its initial prize to Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers. (There was a single choice from among rookies in both leagues for the first two years of the award.)

It's possible the inception of the honor came a year too late for the Pirates. There's a good chance that if it had started in 1946, Pittsburgh out-fielder Ralph Kiner would have been the choice. Rookie Kiner led the N.L. in home runs with 23 that year to begin a slugging career that culminated in election to the Hall of Fame.

There have been many fine Pirates rookies since Kiner's time, among them Bill Mazeroski, Dick Groat, Roberto Clemente, Vernon Law, Willie Stargell, John Candelaria, Dave Parker, Rennie Stennett, Al Oliver, Barry Bonds, and Aramis Ramirez.

They all went on to exceptional careers, some gaining major honors such as being named N.L. Most Valuable Player. The Pirates MVPs have been Groat, Clemente, Parker, Stargell and Bonds, (who won his first two in 1990 and 1991 at Pittsburgh, then added four more at San Francisco through 2003). Law was the N.L.'s Cy Young Award winner in 1960.

Mazeroski, Clemente and Stargell, along with Kiner, are commemorated with bronze plaques at Cooperstown despite having been bypassed in the voting for top rookie in their debut years. Being snubbed as a rookie obviously is no barrier to going on to an immensely successful career.

Bay put in his claim for 2004 top rookie honors in the National League. by setting a record of most home runs for a Pittsburgh first-year player when he hit 26.

Bay topped the team mark of 23 shared by Johnny Rizzo (1938) and Kiner.

Though Bay missed a month of the season with a right shoulder injury, he led all N.L. rookies in home runs, RBI, slugging and on-base percentage while batting .282.