The National League officially began recognizing a Pitcher of the Month in April 1975. Warren Giles polled baseball writers and broadcasters from each Major League city then announced the winner and awarded them with an engraved desk set. The American League began honoring a Pitcher of the Month Award in April 1979.
Prior to those years, the Player of the Month Award — established in the National League in 1958 and the American League in 1974 — could include positional players and pitchers (Note: The quantity next to each pitcher below does NOT include the sum of Player of the Month Awards as it is a similar, but separate award).
"It's always nice to have a good month, it really is. I'm very honored to still be pitching, let alone get something like that (Pitcher of the Month in April 2006). It's a good start, and I'll try to win. That's it. You give yourself a quick pat on the back and get ready for the next game." - Greg Maddux on MLB.com (Dawn Klemish, 05/02/2006)
The Player of the Month Award could be given to a pitcher in the National League between 1958 and 1975 (see Fast Fact #2) or in the American League (see Fast Fact #3) between 1974 and 1979.
National League pitchers, who won a Player of the Month Award, prior to the Baseball Pitcher of the Month Award were: Joey Jay (July 1958 & May 1961), Lew Burdette (August 1958), Harvey Haddix (May 1959), Roy Face (June 1959), Don Drysdale (July 1959, July 1960 & May 1968), Vern Law (August 1959 & June 1965), Lindy McDaniel (June 1960), Warren Spahn (August 1960 & August 1961), Jim O'Toole (September 1961), Bob Purkey (May 1962), Sandy Koufax (June 1962), Jack Sanford (August 1962), Dick Ellsworth (May 1963), Jim Bunning (June 1964), Bob Gibson (September 1964, June 1968, July 1968 & August 1970), Juan Marichal (May 1966), Gaylord Perry (June 1966), Steve Blass (September 1968), Ken Holtzman (May 1969), Bill Singer (July 1970), Fergie Jenkins (July 1971), Don Sutton (April 1972), Jerry Koosman (April 1973), Tommy John (April 1974), Buzz Capra (June 1974) and Don Gullett (July 1974).
American League pitchers, who won a Player of the Month Award, prior to the Baseball Pitcher of the Month Award were: Gaylord Perry (June 1974), Doc Medich (July 1974), Nolan Ryan (August 1974 & September 1976), Jim Hughes (May 1975), Jim Palmer (August 1975), Mark Fidrych (June 1976), Luis Tiant (August 1976) & Frank Tanana (September 1976).