Cy Young Award
![]() The 1971 Cy Young Award won byFerguson Jenkins,on display in theCanadian Baseball Hall of Fame | |
Sport | Baseball |
---|---|
League | Major League Baseball |
Awarded for | Best regular seasonpitcherinAmerican LeagueandNational League |
Country | United States, Canada |
Presented by | Baseball Writers' Association of America |
History | |
First award | 1956 (Don Newcombe) |
Most recent | Blake Snell(NL) Gerrit Cole(AL) |
TheCy Young Awardis given annually to the bestpitchersinMajor League Baseball(MLB), one each for theAmerican League(AL) andNational League(NL). The award was introduced in 1956 byBaseball CommissionerFord C. Frickin honor ofHall of FamepitcherCy Young,who died in 1955. The award was originally given to the single best pitcher in the major leagues, but in 1967, after the retirement of Frick, the award was given to one pitcher in each league.[1][2]
Each league's award is voted on by members of theBaseball Writers' Association of America(BBWAA). Local BBWAA chapter chairmen in each MLB city recommend two writers to vote for each award. Final approval comes from the BBWAA national secretrary-treasurer. Writers vote for either theAmerican LeagueorNational Leagueawards, depending on the league in which their local team plays.[3]A total of 30 writers vote for each league's awards. Writers cast their votes prior to the start of postseason play.[4]
As of the 2010 season, each voter places a vote for first, second, third, fourth, and fifth place among the pitchers of each league. The formula used to calculate the final scores is a weighted sum of the votes.[A]The pitcher with the highest score in each league wins the award.[1]If two pitchers receive the same number of votes, the award is shared.[5]From 1970 to 2009, writers voted for three pitchers, with the formula of five points for a first-place vote, three for a second-place vote and one for a third-place vote. Before 1970, writers only voted for the best pitcher and used a formula of one point per vote.[1]
History
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Cy_Young_by_Conlon%2C_1911-crop.jpg/170px-Cy_Young_by_Conlon%2C_1911-crop.jpg)
The Cy Young Award was introduced in 1956 byCommissioner of BaseballFord C. Frickin honor ofHall of FamepitcherCy Young,who died in 1955.[1]Originally given to the single best pitcher in the major leagues, the award changed its format over time. From 1956 to 1966, the award was given to one pitcher in Major League Baseball. After Frick retired in 1967,William Eckertbecame the new Commissioner of Baseball. Due to fan requests, Eckert announced that the Cy Young Award would be given out both in theAmerican Leagueand theNational League.[1]From 1956 to 1958, a pitcher was not allowed to win the award on more than one occasion; this rule was eliminated in 1959. After a tie in the 1969 voting for the Cy Young Award, the process was changed, in which each writer was to vote for three pitchers: the first-place vote received five points, the second-place vote received three points, and the third-place vote received one point.[1]
The first recipient of the Cy Young Award wasDon Newcombeof the Dodgers. The Dodgers are the franchise with the most Cy Young Awards. In 1957,Warren Spahnbecame the first left-handed pitcher to win the award. In 1963,Sandy Koufaxbecame the first pitcher to win the award in a unanimous vote; two years later he became the first multiple winner. In 1978,Gaylord Perry(age 40) became the oldest pitcher to receive the award, a record that stood until broken in 2004 byRoger Clemens(age 42).[1]The youngest recipient wasDwight Gooden(age 20 in 1985). In 2012,R. A. Dickeybecame the first knuckleball pitcher to win the award.[6]
In 1974,Mike Marshallbecame the firstrelief pitcherto win the award.[1]In 1992,Dennis Eckersleywas the first moderncloser(first player to be used almost exclusively in ninth-inning situations)[7][8][9]to win the award, and since then only one other relief pitcher has won the award,Éric Gagnéin 2003 (also a closer). A total of nine relief pitchers have won the Cy Young Award across both leagues.[10]
Steve Carltonin 1982 became the first pitcher to win more than three Cy Young Awards, whileGreg Madduxin 1994 became the first to win at least three in a row (and received a fourth straight the following year), a feat later repeated byRandy Johnson.[11]
Winners
[edit]Year | Each year is linked to an article about that Major League Baseball season. |
ERA | Earned run average |
(#) | Number of wins by pitchers who have won the award multiple times |
---|---|
* | Also namedMost Valuable Player(11 occurrences as of 2023) |
** | Also namedRookie of the Year(1 occurrence as of 2023, byFernando Valenzuela) |
† | Member of theNational Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum(21 individuals as of 2023) |
Major Leagues combined (1956–1966)
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Don_Newcombe_1955.png/220px-Don_Newcombe_1955.png)
Year | Pitcher | Team | Record[B] | Saves[C] | ERA | K's |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1956 | Don Newcombe* | Brooklyn Dodgers(NL) | 27–7 | 0 | 3.06 | 139 |
1957 | Warren Spahn† | Milwaukee Braves(NL) | 21–11 | 3 | 2.69 | 111 |
1958 | Bob Turley | New York Yankees(AL) | 21–7 | 1 | 2.97 | 168 |
1959 | Early Wynn† | Chicago White Sox(AL) | 22–10 | 0 | 3.17 | 179 |
1960 | Vern Law | Pittsburgh Pirates(NL) | 20–9 | 0 | 3.08 | 120 |
1961 | Whitey Ford† | New York Yankees(AL) | 25–4 | 0 | 3.21 | 209 |
1962 | Don Drysdale† | Los Angeles Dodgers(NL) | 25–9 | 1 | 2.84 | 232 |
1963 | Sandy Koufax*† | Los Angeles Dodgers(NL) | 25–5 | 0 | 1.88 | 306 |
1964 | Dean Chance | Los Angeles Angels(AL) | 20–9 | 4 | 1.65 | 207 |
1965 | Sandy Koufax†(2) | Los Angeles Dodgers(NL) | 26–8 | 2 | 2.04 | 382 |
1966 | Sandy Koufax†(3) | Los Angeles Dodgers(NL) | 27–9 | 0 | 1.73 | 317 |
American League (1967–present)
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Gerrit_Cole_with_the_New_York_Yankees_in_2020_spring_training_camp.jpg/220px-Gerrit_Cole_with_the_New_York_Yankees_in_2020_spring_training_camp.jpg)
National League (1967–present)
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Blake_Snell%2C_Wilson_Ramos_%2841371609524%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-Blake_Snell%2C_Wilson_Ramos_%2841371609524%29_%28cropped%29.jpg)
Multiple winners
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Roger_clemens_2004.jpg/220px-Roger_clemens_2004.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Big_Unit_2009.jpg/220px-Big_Unit_2009.jpg)
Twenty-two (22) pitchers have won the award multiple times.Roger Clemenscurrently holds the record for the most awards won, with seven – his first and last wins separated by eighteen years.Greg Maddux(1992–1995) andRandy Johnson(1999–2002) share the record for the most consecutive awards won with four. Clemens, Johnson,Pedro Martínez,Gaylord Perry,Roy Halladay,Max Scherzer,andBlake Snellare the only pitchers to have won the award in both the American League and National League;Sandy Koufaxis the only pitcher who won multiple awards during the period when only one award was presented for all of Major League Baseball.Roger Clemenswas the youngest pitcher to win a second Cy Young Award, whileTim Lincecumis the youngest pitcher to do so in the National League, andClayton Kershawis the youngest left-hander to do so.Clayton Kershawis the youngest pitcher to win a third Cy Young Award. Clemens is also the only pitcher to win the Cy Young Award with four different teams; nobody else has done so with more than two different teams. Justin Verlander has the most seasons separating his first (2011) and second (2019) Cy Young Awards.
Pitcher | # of Awards | Years |
---|---|---|
Roger Clemens | 7 | 1986, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004 |
Randy Johnson† | 5 | 1995, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 |
Steve Carlton† | 4 | 1972, 1977, 1980, 1982 |
Greg Maddux† | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 | |
Sandy Koufax† | 3 | 1963, 1965, 1966 |
Tom Seaver† | 1969, 1973, 1975 | |
Jim Palmer† | 1973, 1975, 1976 | |
Pedro Martínez† | 1997, 1999, 2000 | |
Clayton Kershaw | 2011, 2013, 2014 | |
Max Scherzer | 2013, 2016, 2017 | |
Justin Verlander | 2011, 2019, 2022 | |
Denny McLain | 2 | 1968, 1969 |
Bob Gibson† | 1968, 1970 | |
Gaylord Perry† | 1972, 1978 | |
Bret Saberhagen | 1985, 1989 | |
Tom Glavine† | 1991, 1998 | |
Johan Santana | 2004, 2006 | |
Tim Lincecum | 2008, 2009 | |
Roy Halladay† | 2003, 2010 | |
Corey Kluber | 2014, 2017 | |
Jacob deGrom | 2018, 2019 | |
Blake Snell | 2018, 2023 |
Wins by teams
[edit]Only two teams have never had a pitcher win the Cy Young Award. The Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers have won more than any other team with 12.
Team | # of Awards | Years |
---|---|---|
Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers | 12 | 1956, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1974, 1981, 1988, 2003, 2011, 2013, 2014 |
Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves | 7 | 1957, 1991, 1993–1996, 1998 |
Philadelphia Phillies | 1972, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1987, 2010 | |
Boston Red Sox | 1967, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1999, 2000, 2016 | |
New York Mets | 1969, 1973, 1975, 1985, 2012, 2018, 2019 | |
Baltimore Orioles | 6 | 1969, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980 |
Cleveland Indians | 1972, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2017, 2020 | |
New York Yankees | 1958, 1961, 1977, 1978, 2001, 2023 | |
Arizona Diamondbacks | 5 | 1999–2002, 2006 |
Detroit Tigers | 1968, 1969, 1984, 2011, 2013 | |
Oakland Athletics | 1971, 1974, 1990, 1992, 2002 | |
Chicago Cubs | 1971, 1979, 1984, 1992, 2015 | |
Toronto Blue Jays | 1996–1998, 2003, 2021 | |
Houston Astros | 1986, 2004, 2015, 2019, 2022 | |
San Diego Padres | 1976, 1978, 1989, 2007, 2023 | |
Kansas City Royals | 4 | 1985, 1989, 1994, 2009 |
Minnesota Twins | 1970, 1988, 2004, 2006 | |
Chicago White Sox | 3 | 1959, 1983, 1993 |
San Francisco Giants | 1967, 2008, 2009 | |
St. Louis Cardinals | 1968, 1970, 2005 | |
Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals | 1997, 2016, 2017 | |
Milwaukee Brewers | 1981, 1982, 2021 | |
Los Angeles Angels | 2 | 1964, 2005 |
Pittsburgh Pirates | 1960, 1990 | |
Seattle Mariners | 1995, 2010 | |
Tampa Bay Rays | 2012, 2018 | |
Cincinnati Reds | 1 | 2020 |
Miami Marlins | 2022 | |
Colorado Rockies | 0 | none |
Texas Rangers | none |
Unanimous winners
[edit]There have been 20 players who unanimously won the Cy Young Award, for a total of 27 wins.
Six of these unanimous wins were accompanied by a win of theMost Valuable Playeraward (marked with * below; ** denotes that the player's unanimous win was accompanied by a unanimous win of the MVP Award).
In the National League, 12 players have unanimously won the Cy Young Award, for a total of 15 wins.
- Sandy Koufax(1963*, 1965, 1966)
- Greg Maddux(1994, 1995)
- Bob Gibson(1968*)
- Steve Carlton(1972)
- Rick Sutcliffe(1984)
- Dwight Gooden(1985)
- Orel Hershiser(1988)
- Randy Johnson(2002)
- Jake Peavy(2007)
- Roy Halladay(2010)
- Clayton Kershaw(2014*)
- Sandy Alcántara(2022)
In the American League, eight players have unanimously won the Cy Young Award, for a total of 12 wins.
- Denny McLain(1968**)
- Ron Guidry(1978)
- Roger Clemens(1986*, 1998)
- Pedro Martínez(1999, 2000)
- Johan Santana(2004, 2006)
- Justin Verlander(2011*, 2022)
- Shane Bieber(2020)
- Gerrit Cole(2023)
See also
[edit]- Triple Crown (pitching)
- Pitcher of the Month
- Major League Baseball Reliever of the Year Award
- also known as the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year Award and Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year Award
- "Esurance MLB Awards"Best Pitcher (in MLB)
- Baseball DigestPitcher of the Year (in MLB)
- "Players Choice Awards"Outstanding Pitcher (in each league)
- Sporting NewsStarting Pitcher(in each league)
- "Greg Spira Memorial Internet Baseball Awards"Pitcher of the Year (in each league)
- NLBMWilbur "Bullet" Rogan Legacy Award( "Pitchers of the Year" ) (in each league)
- Sporting NewsRelief Pitcher of the Year(in each league)
- NLBMHilton Smith Legacy Award( "Relievers of the Year" ) (in each league)
- TSNReliever of the Year(in each league) (discontinued)
- RolaidsRelief Man Award(in each league) (discontinued)
- Warren Spahn Award(best left-handed pitcher)
- Major League Baseball All-Century Team
- Major League Baseball All-Time Team
- "Pitching Wall of Great Achievement" (in theTed Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame)
- Eiji Sawamura Award(top starting pitcher inNPB)
- Choi Dong-won Award(top starting pitcher inKBO)
- Baseball awards
Notes
[edit]- AThe formula is:
Score = 7F + 4S + 3T + 2FO + FI
,whereFis the number of first-place votes,Sis second-place votes,Tis third-place votes,FOis fourth-place votes andFIis fifth-place votes.[1] - abcSee:Decision (baseball)
- abcIn baseball, asaveis credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. It became an official statistic in Major League Baseball in 1969.
References
[edit]Specific
- ^abcdefghi"Cy Young Award on Baseball Almanac".Baseball Almanac.Archivedfrom the original on April 13, 2021.RetrievedOctober 22,2008.
- ^"Cy Young Award Winners (American League)".Encarta.Archived fromthe originalon November 1, 2009.RetrievedNovember 1,2008.
- ^"Voting FAQ – BBWAA".bbwaa.RetrievedJune 17,2024.
- ^"AL & NL Cy Young Award Odds".sportsbetting3.RetrievedJune 17,2024.
- ^"Cy Young Award voting results".Baseball Digest.2004. Archived fromthe originalon December 19, 2007.RetrievedNovember 1,2008.
- ^Rubin, Adam (November 14, 2012)."R. A. Dickey wins NL Cy Young".ESPN.Archivedfrom the original on November 16, 2012.RetrievedNovember 4,2023.
- ^Zimniuch, Fran (August 1, 2018).Baseball's New Frontier: A History of Expansion, 1961-1998.U of Nebraska Press. p. 169.ISBN978-1-4962-1004-3.Archivedfrom the original on February 19, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 28,2024.
- ^"MLB on Yahoo! Sports – News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games".Yahoo! Sports.Archived fromthe originalon January 19, 2012.RetrievedMarch 25,2018.
- ^Jenkins, Chris (September 25, 2006)."Where's the fire?".The San Diego Union-Tribune.Archived fromthe originalon June 28, 2011.
- ^Kepner, Tyler (October 1, 2016)."Zach Britton Is Perfectly Unorthodox Choice for Cy Young Award".The New York Times.Archived fromthe originalon January 1, 2022.RetrievedMarch 25,2018.
- ^"Chicago Cubs: This is not the Arrieta we were looking for".cubbiescrib.September 3, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on March 25, 2018.RetrievedMarch 25,2018.
General
- "Cy Young Award".Baseball Almanac.Archivedfrom the original on April 13, 2021.RetrievedOctober 2,2008.
- "Cy Young Award winners".Major League Baseball.Archivedfrom the original on April 4, 2012.RetrievedOctober 2,2008.
- "Most Valuable Player MVP Awards & Cy Young Awards Winners".Baseball-Reference.Archivedfrom the original on January 9, 2010.RetrievedOctober 9,2011.
- "Cy Young Award Winners (American League)".Encarta.Archived fromthe originalon November 1, 2009.RetrievedNovember 1,2008.
- "Cy Young Award voting results".Baseball Digest.November 2004. Archived fromthe originalon December 19, 2007.RetrievedNovember 1,2008.