Corey Baird having been named as the MLS Rookie of the Year got me thinking. We’ve obviously never had one named so before, and that’s cool and exciting.
But I’m really curious how he compares to the pantheon of MLS rookies.
Some of these names are still widely heard in the league. Ben Olsen, who won in 2008 with D.C. United, coaches that very team. Steve Ralston, who served as San Jose Earthquakes interim manager this year, won in 1996 with Tampa Bay Mutiny. Clint Dempsey — that’s a name we all know.