The BBWAA selects Justin Verlander as the unanimous winner of the American League Cy Young award

The BBWAA selects Justin Verlander as the unanimous winner of the American League Cy Young award

The BBWAA selects Justin Verlander (24-5, 2.40) as the unanimous winner of the American League Cy Young award. The 28 year-old Tiger right-hander, who captured the circuit’s pitching triple crown, leading the AL in victories, earned run average, and strikeouts, easily outdistance runners-up that include L.A.’s Jered Weaver, Tampa Bay’s James Shields, and New York’s CC Sabathia.

Detroit takes a 2-1 lead in their ALDS with a 5 – 4 win over the Yankees

Detroit takes a 2-1 lead in their ALDS with a 5 – 4 win over the Yankees

On October 3, 2011 Detroit takes a 2-1 lead in their ALDS with a 5 – 4 win over the Yankees. Justin Verlander gives up two runs in the 1st inning, but then settles down. The Tigers score twice in the 3rd off CC Sabathia, then Jhonny Peralta puts them ahead with an RBI double…

The Yankees are back in first place in the AL East, one game ahead of the surging Red Sox and slumping Rays, after CC Sabathia pitches 8 scoreless innings as the Bronx Bombers shut out the Mets and Johan Santana, 4 – 0. All the runs come on Mark Teixeira’s grand slam.

On June 20, The Yankees are back in first place in the AL East, one game ahead of the surging Red Sox and slumping Rays, after CC Sabathia pitches 8 scoreless innings as the Bronx Bombers shut out the Mets and Johan Santana, 4 – 0. All the runs come on Mark Teixeira’s grand slam.

The Yankees turn their first triple play in 42 years

The Yankees turn their first triple play in 42 years

The Yankees turn their first triple play in 42 years when Alex Rodriguez steps on third to start a 5-4-3 around-the-horn play that results in three outs in a 4-2 loss to the A’s in Oakland. The team’s last triple killing occurred in June of 1968, on a 1-5-3 ground ball hit by Minnesota’s John Roseboro, a play started by pitcher Dooley Womack, continued by third baseman Bobby Cox, and finished by Mickey Mantle, who was playing first base.

Chase Utley homers twice and Cliff Lee beats CC Sabathia in game 1

Chase Utley homers twice and Cliff Lee beats CC Sabathia in game 1

In Game 1, Chase Utley, en route to a record-tying five World Series homers, becomes the first left-handed batter in 81 years to hit two round-trippers off a southpaw in a Fall Classic game. The Philadelphia second baseman, who also set a postseason record by reaching base in 26 straight games with his first-inning walk, goes deep twice off Yankee southpaw CC Sabathia in the Phillies’ 6-1 victory in New York, to match Babe Ruth’s performance in the fourth and final game of the 1928 series.

|

The New York Yankees reach an agreement with free agent hurler CC Sabathia for a seven-year, $161 million deal, a new record for a pitcher. Sabathia had gone 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA for the Brewers after starting the season with Cleveland where he won the 2007 American League Cy Young Award.

The New York Yankees reach an agreement with free agent hurler CC Sabathia for a seven-year, $161 million deal, a new record for a pitcher. Sabathia had gone 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA for the Brewers after starting the season with Cleveland where he won the 2007 American League Cy Young Award.

Cliff Lee wins the 2008 American League Cy Young Award, taking 24 of 28 first-place votes

Cliff Lee wins the 2008 American League Cy Young Award, taking 24 of 28 first-place votes. Lee went 22-3 with a 2.54 ERA for the Cleveland Indians. He led the league in ERA and wins. Lee is the second straight Indians left-hander to win the award, following CC Sabathia in 2007.

CC Sabathia beats out Red Sox ace Josh Beckett for the American League Cy Young Award

Given their postseason match-ups of the CYA candidates, many baseball observers are surprised when CC Sabathia (19-7, 3.21) beats out Red Sox ace Josh Beckett (20-7, 3.27) for the American League Cy Young Award. In the ALCS, the 27 year-old Indian southpaw faced Beckett twice and lost each time, but voting takes place at the end of the regular season.