Origins of the Cy Young Award

The Cy Young Award was created in 1956 by Commissioner Ford Frick, not sportswriter Mickey Cochrane (who was a player and manager, not the award’s originator). Frick wanted to honor the game’s greatest pitcher, Cy Young, whose career spanned 1890–1911 and left records that still stand, including 511 career wins and over 7,300 innings pitched. The award was initially given to a single pitcher across all of Major League Baseball (MLB), reflecting the era’s belief that one pitcher could be universally recognized as the best.

The first recipient was Don Newcombe of the Brooklyn Dodgers, who went 27-7 with a 3.06 ERA in 1956. Newcombe also won the National League MVP that year, illustrating how the award quickly became a marker of overall pitching dominance. Over the next decade, winners included Hall of Famers like Warren Spahn (1957) and Sandy Koufax (1963, 1965, 1966), each of whom used the award to solidify their legendary status.

Interestingly, the award was not originally tied to any specific statistical thresholds. Voters—sportswriters—simply chose the pitcher they believed was the best. That subjectivity led to occasional controversial selections, but it also gave the award a narrative quality that connected individual performance to team success and memorable moments.

Evolution of Award Criteria and Voting Process

The Split into Two Leagues (1967)

In 1967, the award was split into American League (AL) and National League (NL) winners. This change acknowledged the increasing parity and depth of pitching talent across both leagues. The first AL winner was Jim Lonborg of the Boston Red Sox, who led the league in wins (22) and strikeouts (246). The NL winner that year was Mike McCormick of the San Francisco Giants. The split also allowed more pitchers to gain the career-defining recognition of being a Cy Young winner.

From Wins to Advanced Metrics

For decades, voters heavily weighted traditional stats like wins, ERA, and complete games. Pitchers like Denny McLain (31-6, 1.96 ERA in 1968) and Steve Carlton (27-10, 1.97 ERA in 1972) were easy choices. However, by the 1990s, sabermetrics began to infiltrate mainstream baseball thinking. Factors such as WHIP (walks + hits per inning pitched), strikeout rate (K/9), and Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) started influencing voter decisions.

A landmark moment came in 1999 with Pedro Martinez, who posted a 2.07 ERA with 313 strikeouts in 213.1 innings for the Boston Red Sox—despite winning only 23 games. He won the award unanimously, signaling that voters valued dominance over raw win totals. Today, advanced metrics like WAR (Wins Above Replacement), SIERA, and ERA+ are frequently cited in Cy Young debates. The shift has made the award more analytical, but also more complex, as voters now weigh a dozen different statistics.

Voter Composition and Controversies

The Cy Young Award is voted on by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). Two writers from each league city submit a ballot ranking five pitchers. The scoring system awards 7 points for a first-place vote, 4 for second, 3 for third, 2 for fourth, and 1 for fifth. This creates potential for close races and occasional snubs. For example, in 2017, Max Scherzer (NL) won despite having only 16 wins, while more traditional media pundits argued for Clayton Kershaw (18-4, 2.31 ERA). Scherzer’s higher strikeout rate (268 in 200.2 IP) and better FIP (2.81 vs. 2.74) made the difference.

Another notable controversy occurred in 2003 when Roy Halladay (AL) won after going 22-7 with a 3.25 ERA, while Esteban Loaiza (21-9, 2.90 ERA) finished second. Halladay’s innings (266) and complete games (9) tipped the scales. These debates continue to shape how the award is perceived and how pitchers’ careers are evaluated.

Impact on Pitchers’ Careers and Legacy

Financial and Contract Implications

Winning a Cy Young Award can dramatically increase a pitcher’s market value. For instance, after winning his first Cy Young in 2011, Justin Verlander signed a five-year, $180 million extension with the Detroit Tigers in 2013. Similarly, David Price leveraged his 2012 AL Cy Young into a seven-year, $217 million contract with the Boston Red Sox in 2015. The award serves as a seal of approval, reassuring teams that the pitcher can perform at an elite level under pressure.

Even a single Cy Young can transform a career trajectory. Pitchers like R.A. Dickey (2012 NL winner) went from journeyman to sought-after free agent, landing a two-year, $25 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. For younger players, the award can fast-track them to lucrative arbitration settlements and long-term security.

Legacy and Hall of Fame Induction

Cy Young wins are a strong predictor of Hall of Fame enshrinement. Of the 13 pitchers who have won at least three Cy Young Awards, 10 are in the Hall of Fame (as of 2025): Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Tom Seaver, Jim Palmer, Steve Carlton, Nolan Ryan (though Ryan won only two, his longevity and strikeout records compensated), Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, and Roger Clemens (whose Cooperstown case was tainted by PED allegations). Two active triple winners—Clayton Kershaw (3) and Max Scherzer (3)—are almost certain Hall of Famers. The only three-time winner not in the Hall is Rick Porcello, who won once (2016) and is not in that elite group; the actual three-time winners are Kershaw, Scherzer, and the retired legends.

Pitchers like Bret Saberhagen (two Cy Youngs) and Roy Halladay (two) have strong Hall of Fame cases, with Halladay already enshrined. The award’s predictive power stems from the fact that it typically requires multiple elite seasons, which is a hallmark of a Hall of Fame career.

Psychological and Cultural Impact

Winning the Cy Young Award also confers a psychological advantage. Pitchers report feeling increased confidence and recognition from peers. For example, after winning his first Cy Young in 2018, Blake Snell remarked that it validated his approach and work ethic. The award often becomes part of a pitcher’s identity, referenced in highlight reels, biographies, and contract negotiations.

Culturally, Cy Young winners are remembered as the best of their era. Fans debate who “deserved” it, and those debates become part of baseball history. The award also appears in video games, trading cards, and museum exhibits at the Baseball Hall of Fame. It is one of the few individual awards that can overshadow team failures—a pitcher on a losing team can still win, as Félix Hernández did in 2010 (13-12 record) for the Seattle Mariners. That decision was controversial but ultimately praised for recognizing advanced metrics (2.27 ERA, 232 strikeouts, 249.2 innings).

Notable Recipients and Their Career Achievements

Sandy Koufax (3-time winner: 1963, 1965, 1966)

Koufax dominated the mid-1960s with a blazing fastball and devastating curveball. In 1965, he went 26-8 with a 2.04 ERA and 382 strikeouts—then a record. He also threw four no-hitters, including a perfect game in 1965. His Cy Young wins were part of a sustained peak that earned him the Hall of Fame in 1972. Koufax’s legacy is defined by those awards, which he won during a period when the NL was loaded with elite pitchers like Bob Gibson and Juan Marichal.

Roger Clemens (7-time winner: 1986, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004)

Clemens holds the record for most Cy Young Awards, with seven across two decades. His career achievements include 354 wins, 4,672 strikeouts, and an MVP award in 1986. He pitched for the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees, and Astros, winning two World Series titles. However, his legacy is complicated by allegations of performance-enhancing drug use. Nonetheless, his Cy Young wins remain unmatched in their frequency and longevity. Clemens’ ability to adapt his pitching style—from power fastball to split-finger—allowed him to win the award at age 41 with the Astros.

Justin Verlander (3-time winner: 2011, 2019, 2022)

Verlander won his first Cy Young in 2011 while also winning the AL MVP—a rare double. He led the league in wins (24), ERA (2.40), and strikeouts (250), and threw a no-hitter that season. After Tommy John surgery in 2020, he returned to win the 2022 Cy Young at age 39, posting an 18-4 record with a 1.75 ERA for the Astros. Verlander’s career is a testament to durability, evolution, and clutch performance. He has also won three World Series titles (2017, 2022, 2023) and holds numerous postseason records.

Other Notable Winners

  • Greg Maddux (4-time winner: 1992–1995) – Known for pinpoint control, Maddux won four consecutive Cy Youngs while playing for the Cubs and Braves. His career 3.16 ERA and 355 wins are Hall of Fame numbers, and his ability to outthink hitters redefined pitching.
  • Randy Johnson (5-time winner: 1995, 1999–2002) – The Big Unit led the league in strikeouts six times and won a World Series co-MVP in 2001. His 4,875 strikeouts rank second all-time, and his dominance with the Diamondbacks was powered by a 98-mph fastball and slider.
  • Pedro Martinez (3-time winner: 1997, 1999, 2000) – Martinez’s 1999 season was historic: 23-4, 2.07 ERA, 313 strikeouts, and an ERA+ of 243 (the best single-season mark for a starting pitcher). He also won an MVP in 1999 and a World Series with the Red Sox in 2004.
  • Clayton Kershaw (3-time winner: 2011, 2013, 2014) – Kershaw’s peak from 2011–2014 included a 1.83 ERA in 2014, one of the lowest in modern baseball. He won the MVP in 2014 and a World Series in 2020. His legacy is tarnished by postseason struggles, but his regular-season dominance is unquestioned.

Analytics Dominance and the “New” Cy Young

As advanced analytics become embedded in baseball operations, Cy Young voting continues to evolve. In 2023, Blake Snell won the NL Cy Young with a 2.25 ERA but only a 14-9 record, reflecting that strikeouts (234) and FIP (2.85) outweigh win-loss records. The rise of pitchers like Shohei Ohtani (who won the AL Cy Young in 2023 while also hitting 44 home runs) shows that versatility is now recognized. Ohtani’s dual-threat impact made his Cy Young win a historic moment—he was the first two-way player to win the award since Bob Gibson in 1968.

Younger pitchers such as Spencer Strider (who led the NL in strikeouts in 2023) and Zack Wheeler are challenging traditional norms. Strider’s high strikeout rate (13.5 K/9) is the modern prototype, while Wheeler’s durability and FIP make him a perennial contender. The award is also increasingly international: recent winners include Japanese-born Yu Darvish (AL in 2018) and Venezuelan Héctor Neris (though Neris is a reliever, not a starter). The trend toward relievers winning the award remains rare; Eric Gagné (2003 NL) was the last reliever to win, but with the rise of “openers” and bullpen games, voters may reconsider in the future.

Relief Pitchers and the Cy Young

The last reliever to win the Cy Young was Eric Gagné in 2003, who saved 55 games with a 1.20 ERA and 137 strikeouts in 82.1 innings. Since then, voters have favored starters, but relief aces like Mariano Rivera (who finished in the top five multiple times) and Josh Hader have been snubbed. Rivera never won a Cy Young, though he is arguably the greatest closer of all time. Recent debates suggest that if a reliever posts an exceptionally dominant season (sub-1.00 ERA, high leverage, many innings), they might win again. In 2024, Emmanuel Clase of the Guardians saved 42 games with a 0.61 ERA, but finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting behind starters. The barrier is high, but not insurmountable.

Impact of the 2023 Rule Changes

MLB implemented rule changes in 2023 to speed up games, including a pitch clock and limits on defensive shifts. These changes have affected pitchers’ statistics. Strikeout rates have dropped slightly as batters adjust, and stolen bases increased. Some analysts argue that the Cy Young criteria may need to account for these shifts: for instance, a pitcher who excels at holding runners or handling quick tempo might gain an edge. The Cy Young Award will likely continue to reflect the era’s zeitgeist, whether through emphasis on “clutch” innings or new metrics like RE24 (run expectancy based on the 24 base-out states).

Conclusion: The Cy Young as a Career Landmark

From its single-award origins in 1956 to today’s two-league analytical contest, the Cy Young Award has tracked baseball’s evolution more closely than any other individual honor. It is both a snapshot of a single season and a marker of a pitcher’s career achievements. For players, winning even one Cy Young can transform their financial outlook and historical standing. For the sport, it sparks debates that engage fans and deepen the narrative of baseball.

The award’s connection to the pitcher’s career is symbiotic: a Cy Young win often predicts Hall of Fame induction, while the Hall of Fame’s pitchers almost always have multiple Cy Youngs on their resumes. As baseball continues to change—with new metrics, international talent, and rule adjustments—the Cy Young Award will adapt, but its core meaning remains: it is the ultimate recognition of a pitcher’s excellence in a single season, and it forever links that pitcher’s name to the record books.

For further reading, see the official MLB Cy Young Award page, the Baseball Reference Cy Young winners list, and the SABR research on Cy Young history.