The Sophomore Jinx

This case discusses the so-called sophomore jinx: professional athletes who perform superbly as rookies never seem to do as well in their second--sophomore--season. The case gives performance data for Rookie of the Year award winners in major-league baseball through 2003 (29 pitchers and 83 nonpitchers). Data cover both the first and second years. Students must decide for themselves, based on the data, whether the sophomore jinx is real or imagined.