Cy Young Award
| Cy Young Award | |
|---|---|
 The Cy Young Award |
|
| Awarded for | Major League Baseball's Best Regular Season Pitcher |
| Presented by | Baseball Writers Association of America |
| Country | United States |
| First awarded | 1956 |
| Currently held by | Tim Lincecum, National League Zack Greinke, American League |
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB), one each for the American League (AL) and National League (NL). The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy 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 the Baseball Writers Association of America, with two representatives from each team, which means 28 ballots are cast for the American League winner, and 32 ballots are cast for the National League.[1] Each voter places a vote for first, second, and third 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.[3] The current formula started in the 1970 season. Before that, writers only voted for the best pitcher and used a formula of one point per vote.[1]
Contents |
History
The Cy Young Award was first introduced in 1956 by Commissioner of Baseball Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955.[1] The award would be given to pitchers only. Originally given to the single best pitchers 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 Eckert became the new Commissioner of Baseball. Due to fan requests, Eckert announced that the Cy Young Award would be given out both in the American League and the National 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, the process was changed, in which each writer was to vote for three different pitchers: the first-place vote received five points, the second-place vote received three points, and the third-place vote received one point, a system that is still in use.[1]
The first recipient of the Cy Young Award was Don Newcombe of the Dodgers, and the most recent winners were Tim Lincecum, from the National League, and Zack Greinke, from the American League.[1][4] In 1957, Warren Spahn became the first left-handed pitcher to win the award. In 1963, Sandy Koufax became the first pitcher to win the award in a unanimous vote; two years later he became the first multiple winner. In 1974, Mike Marshall won the award, becoming the first relief pitcher to win the award.[1] In 1978, Gaylord Perry (age 40) became the oldest pitcher to receive the award, only to have the record broken in 2004 by Roger Clemens (age 42).[1] The youngest recipient was Dwight Gooden (age 20 in 1985).
Winners
Key
| Year | Each year is linked to an article about that Major League Baseball season. |
| ERA | Earned run average |
| * | Also named Most Valuable Player |
| ** | Also named Rookie of the Year |
Major Leagues combined (1956–1966)
| Year | Pitcher | Team | Record[B] | Saves[C] | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Don Newcombe* | Brooklyn Dodgers (NL) | 27–7 | 0 | 3.06 |
| 1957 | Warren Spahn | Milwaukee Braves (NL) | 21–11 | 3 | 2.69 |
| 1958 | Bob Turley | New York Yankees (AL) | 21–7 | 1 | 2.97 |
| 1959 | Early Wynn | Chicago White Sox (AL) | 22–10 | 0 | 3.17 |
| 1960 | Vern Law | Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) | 20–9 | 0 | 3.08 |
| 1961 | Whitey Ford | New York Yankees (AL) | 25–4 | 0 | 3.21 |
| 1962 | Don Drysdale | Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) | 25–9 | 1 | 2.84 |
| 1963 | Sandy Koufax* | Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) | 25–5 | 0 | 1.88 |
| 1964 | Dean Chance | Los Angeles Angels (AL) | 20–9 | 4 | 1.65 |
| 1965 | Sandy Koufax | Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) | 26–8 | 2 | 2.04 |
| 1966 | Sandy Koufax | Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) | 27–9 | 0 | 1.73 |
National League (1967–present)
| Year | Pitcher | Team | Record[B] | Saves[C] | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Mike McCormick | San Francisco Giants | 22–10 | 0 | 2.85 |
| 1968 | Bob Gibson* | St. Louis Cardinals | 22–9 | 0 | 1.12 |
| 1969 | Tom Seaver | New York Mets | 25–7 | 0 | 2.21 |
| 1970 | Bob Gibson | St. Louis Cardinals | 23–7 | 0 | 3.12 |
| 1971 | Ferguson Jenkins | Chicago Cubs | 24–13 | 0 | 2.77 |
| 1972 | Steve Carlton | Philadelphia Phillies | 27–10 | 0 | 1.98 |
| 1973 | Tom Seaver | New York Mets | 19–10 | 0 | 2.08 |
| 1974 | Mike Marshall | Los Angeles Dodgers | 15–12 | 21 | 2.42 |
| 1975 | Tom Seaver | New York Mets | 22–9 | 0 | 2.38 |
| 1976 | Randy Jones | San Diego Padres | 22–14 | 0 | 2.74 |
| 1977 | Steve Carlton | Philadelphia Phillies | 23–10 | 0 | 2.64 |
| 1978 | Gaylord Perry | San Diego Padres | 21–6 | 0 | 2.73 |
| 1979 | Bruce Sutter | Chicago Cubs | 6–6 | 37 | 2.22 |
| 1980 | Steve Carlton | Philadelphia Phillies | 24–9 | 0 | 2.34 |
| 1981 | Fernando Valenzuela** | Los Angeles Dodgers | 13–7 | 0 | 2.48 |
| 1982 | Steve Carlton | Philadelphia Phillies | 23–11 | 0 | 3.11 |
| 1983 | John Denny | Philadelphia Phillies | 19–6 | 0 | 2.37 |
| 1984 | Rick Sutcliffe | Chicago Cubs | 16–1 | 0 | 2.69 |
| 1985 | Dwight Gooden | New York Mets | 24–4 | 0 | 1.53 |
| 1986 | Mike Scott | Houston Astros | 18–10 | 0 | 2.22 |
| 1987 | Steve Bedrosian | Philadelphia Phillies | 5–3 | 40 | 2.83 |
| 1988 | Orel Hershiser | Los Angeles Dodgers | 23–8 | 1 | 2.26 |
| 1989 | Mark Davis | San Diego Padres | 4–3 | 44 | 1.85 |
| 1990 | Doug Drabek | Pittsburgh Pirates | 22–6 | 0 | 2.76 |
| 1991 | Tom Glavine | Atlanta Braves | 20–11 | 0 | 2.55 |
| 1992 | Greg Maddux | Chicago Cubs | 20–11 | 0 | 2.18 |
| 1993 | Greg Maddux | Atlanta Braves | 20–10 | 0 | 2.36 |
| 1994 | Greg Maddux | Atlanta Braves | 16–6 | 0 | 1.56 |
| 1995 | Greg Maddux | Atlanta Braves | 19–2 | 0 | 1.63 |
| 1996 | John Smoltz | Atlanta Braves | 24–8 | 0 | 2.94 |
| 1997 | Pedro Martínez | Montreal Expos | 17–8 | 0 | 1.90 |
| 1998 | Tom Glavine | Atlanta Braves | 20–6 | 0 | 2.47 |
| 1999 | Randy Johnson | Arizona Diamondbacks | 17–9 | 0 | 2.49 |
| 2000 | Randy Johnson | Arizona Diamondbacks | 19–7 | 0 | 2.64 |
| 2001 | Randy Johnson | Arizona Diamondbacks | 21–6 | 0 | 2.49 |
| 2002 | Randy Johnson | Arizona Diamondbacks | 24–5 | 0 | 2.32 |
| 2003 | Eric Gagné | Los Angeles Dodgers | 2–3 | 55 | 1.20 |
| 2004 | Roger Clemens | Houston Astros | 18–4 | 0 | 2.98 |
| 2005 | Chris Carpenter | St. Louis Cardinals | 21–5 | 0 | 2.83 |
| 2006 | Brandon Webb | Arizona Diamondbacks | 16–8 | 0 | 3.10 |
| 2007 | Jake Peavy | San Diego Padres | 19–6 | 0 | 2.54 |
| 2008 | Tim Lincecum | San Francisco Giants | 18–5 | 0 | 2.62 |
| 2009 | Tim Lincecum | San Francisco Giants | 15–7 | 0 | 2.48 |
American League (1967–present)
| Year | Pitcher | Team | Record[B] | Saves[C] | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Jim Lonborg | Boston Red Sox | 22–9 | 0 | 3.16 |
| 1968 | Denny McLain* | Detroit Tigers | 31–6 | 0 | 1.96 |
| 1969 | Mike Cuellar Denny McLain |
Baltimore Orioles Detroit Tigers |
23–11 24–9 |
0 0 |
2.38 2.80 |
| 1970 | Jim Perry | Minnesota Twins | 24–12 | 0 | 3.04 |
| 1971 | Vida Blue* | Oakland Athletics | 24–8 | 0 | 1.82 |
| 1972 | Gaylord Perry | Cleveland Indians | 24–16 | 1 | 1.92 |
| 1973 | Jim Palmer | Baltimore Orioles | 22–9 | 1 | 2.40 |
| 1974 | Catfish Hunter | Oakland Athletics | 25–12 | 0 | 2.49 |
| 1975 | Jim Palmer | Baltimore Orioles | 23–11 | 1 | 2.09 |
| 1976 | Jim Palmer | Baltimore Orioles | 22–13 | 0 | 2.51 |
| 1977 | Sparky Lyle | New York Yankees | 13–5 | 26 | 2.17 |
| 1978 | Ron Guidry | New York Yankees | 25–3 | 0 | 1.74 |
| 1979 | Mike Flanagan | Baltimore Orioles | 23–9 | 0 | 3.08 |
| 1980 | Steve Stone | Baltimore Orioles | 25–7 | 0 | 3.23 |
| 1981 | Rollie Fingers* | Milwaukee Brewers | 6–3 | 28 | 1.04 |
| 1982 | Pete Vuckovich | Milwaukee Brewers | 18–6 | 0 | 3.34 |
| 1983 | LaMarr Hoyt | Chicago White Sox | 24–10 | 0 | 3.66 |
| 1984 | Willie Hernández* | Detroit Tigers | 9–3 | 32 | 1.92 |
| 1985 | Bret Saberhagen | Kansas City Royals | 20–6 | 0 | 2.87 |
| 1986 | Roger Clemens* | Boston Red Sox | 24–4 | 0 | 2.48 |
| 1987 | Roger Clemens | Boston Red Sox | 20–9 | 0 | 2.97 |
| 1988 | Frank Viola | Minnesota Twins | 24–7 | 0 | 2.64 |
| 1989 | Bret Saberhagen | Kansas City Royals | 23–6 | 0 | 2.16 |
| 1990 | Bob Welch | Oakland Athletics | 27–6 | 0 | 2.95 |
| 1991 | Roger Clemens | Boston Red Sox | 18–10 | 0 | 2.62 |
| 1992 | Dennis Eckersley* | Oakland Athletics | 7–1 | 51 | 1.91 |
| 1993 | Jack McDowell | Chicago White Sox | 22–10 | 0 | 3.37 |
| 1994 | David Cone | Kansas City Royals | 16–5 | 0 | 2.94 |
| 1995 | Randy Johnson | Seattle Mariners | 18–2 | 0 | 2.48 |
| 1996 | Pat Hentgen | Toronto Blue Jays | 20–10 | 0 | 3.22 |
| 1997 | Roger Clemens | Toronto Blue Jays | 21–7 | 0 | 2.05 |
| 1998 | Roger Clemens | Toronto Blue Jays | 20–6 | 0 | 2.65 |
| 1999 | Pedro Martínez | Boston Red Sox | 23–4 | 0 | 2.07 |
| 2000 | Pedro Martínez | Boston Red Sox | 18–6 | 0 | 1.74 |
| 2001 | Roger Clemens | New York Yankees | 20–3 | 0 | 3.51 |
| 2002 | Barry Zito | Oakland Athletics | 23–5 | 0 | 2.75 |
| 2003 | Roy Halladay | Toronto Blue Jays | 22–7 | 0 | 3.25 |
| 2004 | Johan Santana | Minnesota Twins | 20–6 | 0 | 2.61 |
| 2005 | Bartolo Colón | Los Angeles Angels | 21–8 | 0 | 3.48 |
| 2006 | Johan Santana | Minnesota Twins | 19–6 | 0 | 2.77 |
| 2007 | C.C. Sabathia | Cleveland Indians | 19–7 | 0 | 3.21 |
| 2008 | Cliff Lee | Cleveland Indians | 22–3 | 0 | 2.54 |
| 2009 | Zack Greinke | Kansas City Royals | 16–8 | 0 | 2.16 |
Multiple winners
There have been 15 pitchers who have won the award multiple times. Roger Clemens currently holds the record for the most awards won, with seven. Greg Maddux (1992–1995) and Randy Johnson (1999–2002) share the record for the most consecutive awards won. Clemens, Johnson, Pedro Martínez and Gaylord Perry are the only pitchers to have won the award in both the American League and National League; Sandy Koufax is the only pitcher who won multiple awards during the period when only one award was presented for all of Major League Baseball. Roger Clemens was the youngest pitcher to win a second Cy Young Award, while Tim Lincecum is the youngest pitcher to do so in the National League. Dennis Eckersley remains the last Cy Young Award winner (or any pitcher) to have won the MVP, doing so in 1992.
| Pitcher | # of Awards | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Roger Clemens |
|
1986, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004 |
| Randy Johnson |
|
1995, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 |
| Steve Carlton |
|
1972, 1977, 1980, 1982 |
| Greg Maddux |
|
1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| Sandy Koufax |
|
1963, 1965, 1966 |
| Pedro Martínez |
|
1997, 1999, 2000 |
| Jim Palmer |
|
1973, 1975, 1976 |
| Tom Seaver |
|
1969, 1973, 1975 |
| Bob Gibson |
|
1968, 1970 |
| Tom Glavine |
|
1991, 1998 |
| Denny McLain |
|
1968, 1969 |
| Gaylord Perry |
|
1972, 1978 |
| Bret Saberhagen |
|
1985, 1989 |
| Johan Santana |
|
2004, 2006 |
| Tim Lincecum |
|
2008, 2009 |
Notes
- A The formula is: Score = 5F + 3S + T, where F is the number of first place votes, S is second place votes, and T is third place votes.[1]
- a b c See: Decision (baseball)
- a b c In baseball, a save is 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.
See also
- Triple Crown (pitching)
- Pitcher of the Month
- This Year in Baseball Awards (including starting pitcher, setup pitcher, and closer)
- Players Choice Awards (outstanding pitcher)
- TSN Pitcher of the Year
- TSN Reliever of the Year
- Warren Spahn Award (best left-handed pitcher)
- Major League Baseball All-Century Team
- Major League Baseball All-Time Team
References
- General
- "Cy Young Award on Baseball Almanac". BaseballAlmanac.com. http://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_cyy.shtml. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- "Cy Young Award winners". Major League Baseball. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/awards/mlb_awards_content.jsp?content=cy_history. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- "Most Valuable Player MVP Awards & Cy Young Awards Winners". Baseball-Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/mvp_cya.shtml. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
- "Cy Young Award Winners (American League)". MSN. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5kwb8fdqL. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- "Cy Young Award voting results". Baseball Digest. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_11_63/ai_n6332592. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- Specific
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 "Cy Young Award on Baseball Almanac". BaseballAlmanac.com. http://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_cyy.shtml. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
- ↑ "Cy Young Award Winners (American League)". MSN. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5kwb8fdqL. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ↑ "Cy Young Award voting results". Baseball Digest. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_11_63/ai_n6332592. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ↑ "Cy Young Award winners". Major League Baseball. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/awards/mlb_awards_content.jsp?content=cy_history. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
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