The Cy Young Award was Commissioner Ford Frick’s idea to honor the best pitcher in Major League Baseball. Hard lessons were learned by the Chalmers Award earlier in history so the recipients of the Cy Young Award were selected by the Baseball Writers Association of America from the beginning.
During the first eleven years (1956 – 1966), only one winner from Major League Baseball was selected. Immediately after Commissioner Frick retired, the rules were changed to honor the best pitcher from each league.
2000 – Pedro Martinez of the Boston Red Sox becomes the first pitcher to win the American League Cy Young Award unanimously in consecutive years. Martinez, who posted an 18-6 mark with a 1.74 ERA, has copped the “top pitcher” honor three of the last four seasons.
Roger Clemens of the Toronto Blue Jays becomes the first pitcher to win five Cy Young Awards when he is named the American League’s top pitcher. Clemens was the Pitching Triple Crown winner, after he led AL pitchers in wins (20), strikeouts (271) and ERA (2.65).
Roger Clemens becomes the first American League pitcher to win the Cy Young Award four times. Clemens, the first pitcher since Hal Newhouser in 1945 to win the pitching Triple Crown in the American League, led the league in wins (21), strikeouts (292) and ERA (2.05) in his first season with the Toronto Blue Jays. Clemens won his first three Cy Young Awards with the Boston Red Sox in 1986, 1987 and 1991.
1996 – Pat Hentgen of the Toronto Blue Jays edges Andy Pettitte of the New York Yankees for the Cy Young Award in the closest American League voting since 1972 when Gaylord Perry topped Wilbur Wood by six points. Hentgen (with a 20-10 mark), the major league leader in complete games, outpoints Pettitte (21-8) by the narrow margin of 110-104. Yankees closer Mariano Rivera finishes third in the ballot and receives one first-place vote.
A’s hurler Bob Welch (27-6, 2.95, 127) wins the AL Cy Young Award. The 34 year-old right-hander’s 27 wins are the most victories in the majors since 1972 when Steve Carlton won that many for the last-place Phillies.
A’s hurler Bob Welch (27-6, 2.95, 127) wins the AL Cy Young Award. The 34 year-old right-hander’s 27 wins are the most victories in the majors since 1972 when Steve Carlton won that many for the last-place Phillies.
1989 – Bret Saberhagen of the Kansas City Royals becomes the fourth pitcher ever to win the American League Cy Young Award twice, getting 27 of a possible 28 first-place votes for his 23 wins, 2.16 ERA season. Previously, he won the award in the 1985 season.
Roger Clemens (24-4, 2.48), joining Denny McLain who accomplish the feat in 1968, becomes only the second American League pitcher to unanimously win the Cy Young Award when he captures all 28 first-place votes cast by the writers. The Red Sox 24 year-old right-hander will also be named the circuit’s most valuable player.
1984 – Willie Hernandez of the Detroit Tigers wins the 1984 American League Cy Young Award, edging fellow reliever Dan Quisenberry of the Kansas City Royals. Hernandez posted a 9-3 record with 32 saves and a 1.92 ERA. Hernandez becomes only the third reliever to win the award. In 1977, Sparky Lyle of the New York Yankees became the first relief pitcher to do so in the American League.
1982 – Pitcher Pete Vuckovich becomes the Milwaukee Brewers’ second consecutive Cy Young Award winner in the American League, edging Jim Palmer of the Baltimore Orioles. Vuckovich (18-6 with 105 strikeouts and a 3.34 ERA) posted a .750 winning percentage, the highest in the majors over the past two seasons.
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