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	Clayton Kershaw, National League Justin Verlander, 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 one representative from each team, which means 14 ballots are cast for the American League winner, and 16 ballots are cast for the National League.^[1] 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.^[3] The current formula started in the 2010 season. Before that, dating back to 1970, writers voted for three pitchers, with the formula of 5 points for a first place vote, 3 for a second place vote and 1 for a third place vote. Prior to 1970, writers only voted for the best pitcher and used a formula of one point per vote.^[1]

History[link]

Cy Young, for whom the award is named

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 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 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 are Clayton Kershaw, from the National League, and Justin Verlander, 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). Steve Carlton in 1982 became the first pitcher to win more than three Cy Young Awards, while Greg Maddux in 1994 became the first to win at least three in a row (and received a fourth straight the following year).

Winners[link]

Key[link]

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
	Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

Major Leagues combined (1956–1966)[link]

Roger Clemens, seven-time winner

Year	Pitcher	Team	Record[B]	Saves[C]	ERA	Ks
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	Los Angeles Dodgers (NL)	26–8	2	2.04	382
1966	Sandy Koufax	Los Angeles Dodgers (NL)	27–9	0	1.73	317

National League (1967–present)[link]

Greg Maddux, four-time winner

John Smoltz, one-time winner

Pedro Martínez, three-time winner

Year	Pitcher	Team	Record[B]	Saves[C]	ERA	Ks
1967	Mike McCormick	San Francisco Giants	22–10	0	2.85	150
1968	Bob Gibson*	St. Louis Cardinals	22–9	0	1.12	268
1969	Tom Seaver	New York Mets	25–7	0	2.21	208
1970	Bob Gibson	St. Louis Cardinals	23–7	0	3.12	274
1971	Ferguson Jenkins	Chicago Cubs	24–13	0	2.77	263
1972	Steve Carlton	Philadelphia Phillies	27–10	0	1.98	310
1973	Tom Seaver	New York Mets	19–10	0	2.08	251
1974	Mike Marshall	Los Angeles Dodgers	15–12	21	2.42	143
1975	Tom Seaver	New York Mets	22–9	0	2.38	243
1976	Randy Jones	San Diego Padres	22–14	0	2.74	93
1977	Steve Carlton	Philadelphia Phillies	23–10	0	2.64	198
1978	Gaylord Perry	San Diego Padres	21–6	0	2.73	154
1979	Bruce Sutter	Chicago Cubs	6–6	37	2.22	110
1980	Steve Carlton	Philadelphia Phillies	24–9	0	2.34	286
1981	Fernando Valenzuela**	Los Angeles Dodgers	13–7	0	2.48	180
1982	Steve Carlton	Philadelphia Phillies	23–11	0	3.11	286
1983	John Denny	Philadelphia Phillies	19–6	0	2.37	139
1984	Rick Sutcliffe	Chicago Cubs	16–1	0	2.69	155
1985	Dwight Gooden	New York Mets	24–4	0	1.53	268
1986	Mike Scott	Houston Astros	18–10	0	2.22	306
1987	Steve Bedrosian	Philadelphia Phillies	5–3	40	2.83	74
1988	Orel Hershiser	Los Angeles Dodgers	23–8	1	2.26	178
1989	Mark Davis	San Diego Padres	4–3	44	1.85	92
1990	Doug Drabek	Pittsburgh Pirates	22–6	0	2.76	131
1991	Tom Glavine	Atlanta Braves	20–11	0	2.55	192
1992	Greg Maddux	Chicago Cubs	20–11	0	2.18	199
1993	Greg Maddux	Atlanta Braves	20–10	0	2.36	197
1994	Greg Maddux	Atlanta Braves	16–6	0	1.56	156
1995	Greg Maddux	Atlanta Braves	19–2	0	1.63	181
1996	John Smoltz	Atlanta Braves	24–8	0	2.94	276
1997	Pedro Martínez	Montreal Expos	17–8	0	1.90	305
1998	Tom Glavine	Atlanta Braves	20–6	0	2.47	157
1999	Randy Johnson	Arizona Diamondbacks	17–9	0	2.49	364
2000	Randy Johnson	Arizona Diamondbacks	19–7	0	2.64	347
2001	Randy Johnson	Arizona Diamondbacks	21–6	0	2.49	372
2002	Randy Johnson	Arizona Diamondbacks	24–5	0	2.32	334
2003	Éric Gagné	Los Angeles Dodgers	2–3	55	1.20	137
2004	Roger Clemens	Houston Astros	18–4	0	2.98	218
2005	Chris Carpenter	St. Louis Cardinals	21–5	0	2.83	213
2006	Brandon Webb	Arizona Diamondbacks	16–8	0	3.10	178
2007	Jake Peavy	San Diego Padres	19–6	0	2.54	240
2008	Tim Lincecum	San Francisco Giants	18–5	0	2.62	265
2009	Tim Lincecum	San Francisco Giants	15–7	0	2.48	261
2010	Roy Halladay	Philadelphia Phillies	21–10	0	2.44	219
2011	Clayton Kershaw	Los Angeles Dodgers	21–5	0	2.28	248

American League (1967–present)[link]

Jack McDowell, one-time winner

Barry Zito, one-time winner

Johan Santana, two-time winner

Zack Greinke, one-time winner

Year	Pitcher	Team	Record[B]	Saves[C]	ERA	Ks
1967	Jim Lonborg	Boston Red Sox	22–9	0	3.16	246
1968	Denny McLain*	Detroit Tigers	31–6	0	1.96	280
1969	Mike Cuellar Denny McLain	Baltimore Orioles Detroit Tigers	23–11 24–9	0 0	2.38 2.80	182 181
1970	Jim Perry	Minnesota Twins	24–12	0	3.04	168
1971	Vida Blue*	Oakland Athletics	24–8	0	1.82	301
1972	Gaylord Perry	Cleveland Indians	24–16	1	1.92	234
1973	Jim Palmer	Baltimore Orioles	22–9	1	2.40	168
1974	Catfish Hunter	Oakland Athletics	25–12	0	2.49	143
1975	Jim Palmer	Baltimore Orioles	23–11	1	2.09	193
1976	Jim Palmer	Baltimore Orioles	22–13	0	2.51	159
1977	Sparky Lyle	New York Yankees	13–5	26	2.17	68
1978	Ron Guidry	New York Yankees	25–3	0	1.74	248
1979	Mike Flanagan	Baltimore Orioles	23–9	0	3.08	190
1980	Steve Stone	Baltimore Orioles	25–7	0	3.23	149
1981	Rollie Fingers*	Milwaukee Brewers	6–3	28	1.04	61
1982	Pete Vuckovich	Milwaukee Brewers	18–6	0	3.34	105
1983	LaMarr Hoyt	Chicago White Sox	24–10	0	3.66	148
1984	Willie Hernández*	Detroit Tigers	9–3	32	1.92	112
1985	Bret Saberhagen	Kansas City Royals	20–6	0	2.87	158
1986	Roger Clemens*	Boston Red Sox	24–4	0	2.48	238
1987	Roger Clemens	Boston Red Sox	20–9	0	2.97	256
1988	Frank Viola	Minnesota Twins	24–7	0	2.64	193
1989	Bret Saberhagen	Kansas City Royals	23–6	0	2.16	193
1990	Bob Welch	Oakland Athletics	27–6	0	2.95	127
1991	Roger Clemens	Boston Red Sox	18–10	0	2.62	241
1992	Dennis Eckersley*	Oakland Athletics	7–1	51	1.91	93
1993	Jack McDowell	Chicago White Sox	22–10	0	3.37	158
1994	David Cone	Kansas City Royals	16–5	0	2.94	132
1995	Randy Johnson	Seattle Mariners	18–2	0	2.48	294
1996	Pat Hentgen	Toronto Blue Jays	20–10	0	3.22	177
1997	Roger Clemens	Toronto Blue Jays	21–7	0	2.05	292
1998	Roger Clemens	Toronto Blue Jays	20–6	0	2.65	271
1999	Pedro Martínez	Boston Red Sox	23–4	0	2.07	313
2000	Pedro Martínez	Boston Red Sox	18–6	0	1.74	284
2001	Roger Clemens	New York Yankees	20–3	0	3.51	213
2002	Barry Zito	Oakland Athletics	23–5	0	2.75	182
2003	Roy Halladay	Toronto Blue Jays	22–7	0	3.25	204
2004	Johan Santana	Minnesota Twins	20–6	0	2.61	265
2005	Bartolo Colón	Los Angeles Angels	21–8	0	3.48	157
2006	Johan Santana	Minnesota Twins	19–6	0	2.77	265
2007	C.C. Sabathia	Cleveland Indians	19–7	0	3.21	209
2008	Cliff Lee	Cleveland Indians	22–3	0	2.54	170
2009	Zack Greinke	Kansas City Royals	16–8	0	2.16	242
2010	Félix Hernández	Seattle Mariners	13–12	0	2.27	232
2011	Justin Verlander*	Detroit Tigers	24–5	0	2.40	250

Multiple winners[link]

Randy Johnson, five-time winner

There have been 16 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, Gaylord Perry, and Roy Halladay 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. Justin Verlander is the most recent Cy Young Award winner to have won the MVP in the same season, doing so in 2011.

Unanimous winners[link]

There have been 10 people who have unanimously won the Cy Young award in the National League.

• 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)

There have been six people who have unanimously won the Cy Young award in the American League.

• Denny McLain (1968)
• Ron Guidry (1978)
• Roger Clemens (1986, 1998)
• Pedro Martinez (1999, 2000)
• Johan Santana (2004, 2006)
• Justin Verlander (2011)

Notes[link]

• ^A The formula is: Score = 7F + 4S + 3T + 2FO + 1 FI, where F is the number of first place votes, S is second place votes, T is third place votes, FO is fourth place votes and FI is fifth 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[link]

Baseball portal

References[link]

General

Specific

v t e Major League Baseball awards and trophies Team Commissioner's Trophy (list of winners) Warren Giles Trophy (NL pennant winners) William Harridge Trophy (AL pennant winners) Individual Most Valuable Player (MVP) Cy Young Manager of the Year Rookie of the Year Roberto Clemente Hank Aaron Gold Glove Silver Slugger World Series MVP All-Star Game MVP Rolaids Relief Man Comeback Player of the Year League Championship Series MVP Major League Baseball Delivery Man Award Other Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award