CY YOUNG AWARD

The Best Pitcher in Major League Baseball | Baseball Almanac

The Cy Young Award was Commissioner Ford Frick's idea to honor the best pitcher in Major League Baseball. Hard lessons were learned by the Chalmers Award earlier in history so the recipients of the Cy Young Award were selected by the Baseball Writers Association of America from the beginning.

Cy Young Award Key:

Bold = Pitcher won unanimously
HOF = Pitcher is now in the Hall of Fame
MVP = Pitcher also won the MVP Award that SAME year
ROY = Pitcher also won the Rookie of the Year that SAME year
ASG = Pitcher was sent to the All-Star Game that SAME year
SS = Pitcher also won a Silver Slugger Award that SAME year

Cy Young Award Notes: During the first eleven years (1956 - 1966), only one winner from Major League Baseball was selected. Immediately after Commissioner Frick retired, the rules were changed to honor the best pitcher from each league. The totals in the Team (Quantity) column INCLUDE franchise changes. Example: The Dodgers won in 1962, it was their second in team history, due to a winner in 1956, when they were located in Brooklyn. Research by Baseball Almanac.

"I didn't cheat when I won the twenty-five games in 1961. I don't want anybody to get any ideas and take my Cy Young Award away. And, I didn't cheat in 1963 when I won twenty-four games. Well, maybe just a little." - Ford, Whitey. Slick: My Life in and Around Baseball. William Morrow & Company. 1 April 1987.

Cy Young Award Winning Pitchers An American League Cy Young Award In Chronological Order \| One Winner Only in Major League Baseball (1956-1966)
Year	LG	Cy Young Award Winner ^(Qty)	Team ^(Qty)	Threw	W-L	ERA	IP	SO	SV
1956	NL	Don Newcombe ^{(1 \| MVP)}	Brooklyn ⁽¹⁾	R	27-7	3.06	268.0	139	0
1957	NL	Warren Spahn ^{(1 \| HOF \| ASG)}	Milwaukee ⁽¹⁾	L	21-11	2.69	271.0	111	3
1958	AL	Bob Turley ^{(1 \| ASG)}	New York ⁽¹⁾	R	21-7	2.97	245.1	168	1
1959	AL	Early Wynn ^{(1 \| HOF \| ASG)}	Chicago ⁽¹⁾	R	22-10	3.17	255.2	179	0
1960	NL	Vern Law ^{(1 \| ASG)}	Pittsburgh ⁽¹⁾	R	20-9	3.08	271.2	120	0
1961	AL	Whitey Ford ^{(1 \| HOF \| ASG)}	New York ⁽²⁾	L	25-4	3.21	283.0	209	0
1962	NL	Don Drysdale ^{(1 \| HOF \| ASG)}	Los Angeles ⁽²⁾	R	25-9	2.83	314.1	232	1
1963	NL	Sandy Koufax ^{(1 \|}^HOF^\|^MVP^\|^ASG⁾	Los Angeles ⁽³⁾	L	25-5	1.88	311.0	306	0
1964	AL	Dean Chance ^{(1 \| ASG)}	Los Angeles ⁽¹⁾	R	20-9	1.65	278.1	207	4
1965	NL	Sandy Koufax ^{(2 \|}^HOF^\|^ASG⁾	Los Angeles ⁽⁴⁾	L	26-8	2.04	335.2	382	2
1966	NL	Sandy Koufax ^{(3 \|}^HOF^\|^ASG⁾	Los Angeles ⁽⁵⁾	L	27-9	1.73	323.0	317	0
Year	LG	Cy Young Award Winner ^(Qty)	Team ^(Qty)	Threw	W-L	ERA	IP	SO	SV
Cy Young Award In Chronological Order \| One Winning Pitcher From Each League (1967-2022)
Year	LG	Cy Young Award Winner ^(Qty)	Team ^(Qty)	Threw	W-L	ERA	IP	SO	SV
1967	AL	Jim Lonborg ^{(1 \| ASG)}	Boston ⁽¹⁾	R	22-9	3.16	273.1	246	0
1967	NL	Mike McCormick ⁽¹⁾	San Francisco ⁽¹⁾	L	22-10	2.85	262.1	150	0
1968	AL	Denny McLain ^{(1 \|}^MVP^\|^ASG⁾	Detroit ⁽¹⁾	R	31-6	1.96	336.0	280	0
1968	NL	Bob Gibson ^{(1 \|}^HOF^\|^ASG⁾	St. Louis ⁽¹⁾	R	22-9	1.12	304.2	268	0
1969	AL	Mike Cuellar ⁽¹⁾	Baltimore ⁽¹⁾	L	23-11	2.38	290.2	182	0
1969	AL	Denny McLain ^{(2 \| ASG)}	Detroit ⁽²⁾	R	24-9	2.80	325.0	181	0
1969	NL	Tom Seaver ^{(1 \| HOF \| ASG)}	New York ⁽¹⁾	R	25-7	2.21	273.1	208	0
1970	AL	Jim Perry ^{(1 \| ASG)}	Minnesota ⁽¹⁾	R	24-12	3.03	279.0	168	0
1970	NL	Bob Gibson ^{(2 \| HOF \| ASG)}	St. Louis ⁽²⁾	R	23-7	3.12	294.0	274	0
1971	AL	Vida Blue ^{(1 \| MVP \| ASG)}	Oakland ⁽¹⁾	L	24-8	1.82	312.0	301	0
1971	NL	Fergie Jenkins ^{(1 \| HOF \| ASG)}	Chicago ⁽¹⁾	R	24-13	2.77	325.0	263	0
1972	AL	Gaylord Perry ^{(1 \| HOF \| ASG)}	Cleveland ⁽¹⁾	R	24-16	1.92	343.0	234	1
1972	NL	Steve Carlton ^{(1 \|}^HOF^\|^ASG⁾	Philadelphia ⁽¹⁾	L	27-10	1.97	346.1	310	0
1973	AL	Jim Palmer ^{(1 \| HOF)}	Baltimore ⁽²⁾	R	22-9	2.40	296.0	158	0
1973	NL	Tom Seaver ^{(2 \| HOF \| ASG)}	New York ⁽²⁾	R	19-10	2.08	290.0	251	0
1974	AL	Catfish Hunter ^{(1 \| HOF \| ASG)}	Oakland ⁽²⁾	R	25-12	2.49	318.0	143	0
1974	NL	Mike Marshall ^{(1 \| ASG)}	Los Angeles ⁽⁶⁾	R	15-12	2.42	208.1	143	21
1975	AL	Jim Palmer ^{(2 \| HOF \| ASG)}	Baltimore ⁽³⁾	R	23-11	2.09	323.0	193	0
1975	NL	Tom Seaver ^{(3 \| HOF \| ASG)}	New York ⁽³⁾	R	22-9	2.38	280.1	243	0
1976	AL	Jim Palmer ^{(3 \| HOF)}	Baltimore ⁽⁴⁾	R	22-13	2.51	315.0	159	0
1976	NL	Randy Jones ^{(1 \| ASG)}	San Diego ⁽¹⁾	L	22-14	2.74	315.1	93	0
1977	AL	Sparky Lyle ^{(1 \| ASG)}	New York ⁽³⁾	L	13-5	2.17	137.0	68	26
1977	NL	Steve Carlton ^{(2 \| HOF \| ASG)}	Philadelphia ⁽²⁾	L	23-10	2.64	283.0	198	0
1978	AL	Ron Guidry ^{(1 \|}^ASG⁾	New York ⁽⁴⁾	L	25-3	1.74	273.2	248	0
1978	NL	Gaylord Perry ^{(2 \| HOF)}	San Diego ⁽²⁾	R	21-6	2.73	260.2	154	0
1979	AL	Mike Flanagan ⁽¹⁾	Baltimore ⁽⁵⁾	L	23-9	3.08	266.0	190	0
1979	NL	Bruce Sutter ^{(1 \| HOF \| ASG)}	Chicago ⁽²⁾	R	6-6	2.22	101.1	110	37
1980	AL	Steve Stone ^{(1 \| ASG)}	Baltimore ⁽⁶⁾	R	25-7	3.23	251.0	149	0
1980	NL	Steve Carlton ^{(3 \| HOF \| ASG)}	Philadelphia ⁽³⁾	L	24-9	2.34	304.0	286	0
1981	AL	Rollie Fingers ^{(1 \| HOF \| MVP \| ASG)}	Milwaukee ⁽¹⁾	R	6-3	1.04	78.0	61	28
1981	NL	Fernando Valenzuela ^{(1 \| ROY \| SS \| ASG)}	Los Angeles ⁽⁷⁾	L	13-7	2.48	192.1	180	0
1982	AL	Pete Vuckovich ⁽¹⁾	Milwaukee ⁽²⁾	R	18-6	3.34	223.2	105	0
1982	NL	Steve Carlton ^{(4 \| HOF \| ASG)}	Philadelphia ⁽⁴⁾	L	23-11	3.10	295.2	286	0
1983	AL	La Marr Hoyt ⁽¹⁾	Chicago ⁽²⁾	R	24-10	3.66	260.2	148	0
1983	NL	John Denny ⁽¹⁾	Philadelphia ⁽⁵⁾	R	19-6	2.37	242.2	139	0
1984	AL	Willie Hernandez ^{(1 \| MVP \| ASG)}	Detroit ⁽³⁾	L	9-3	1.92	140.1	112	32
1984	NL	Rick Sutcliffe ⁽¹⁾	Chicago ⁽³⁾	R	16-1	2.69	150.1	155	0
1985	AL	Bret Saberhagen ⁽¹⁾	Kansas City ⁽¹⁾	R	20-6	2.87	235.1	158	0
1985	NL	Dwight Gooden ^{(1 \|}^ASG⁾	New York ⁽⁴⁾	R	24-4	1.53	276.2	268	0
1986	AL	Roger Clemens ^{(1 \|}^MVP^\|^ASG⁾	Boston ⁽²⁾	R	24-4	2.48	254.0	238	0
1986	NL	Mike Scott ^{(1 \| ASG)}	Houston ⁽¹⁾	R	18-10	2.22	275.1	306	0
1987	AL	Roger Clemens ⁽²⁾	Boston ⁽³⁾	R	20-9	2.97	281.2	256	0
1987	NL	Steve Bedrosian ^{(1 \| ASG)}	Philadelphia ⁽⁶⁾	R	5-3	2.83	89.0	74	40
1988	AL	Frank Viola ⁽¹⁾	Minnesota ⁽²⁾	L	24-7	2.64	255.1	193	0
1988	NL	Orel Hershiser ^{(1 \|}^ASG⁾	Los Angeles ⁽⁸⁾	R	23-8	2.26	267.0	178	1
1989	AL	Bret Saberhagen ⁽²⁾	Kansas City ⁽²⁾	R	23-6	2.16	262.1	193	0
1989	NL	Mark Davis ^{(1 \| ASG)}	San Diego ⁽³⁾	L	4-3	1.85	92.2	92	44
1990	AL	Bob Welch ^{(1 \| ASG)}	Oakland ⁽³⁾	R	27-6	2.95	238.0	127	0
1990	NL	Doug Drabek ⁽¹⁾	Pittsburgh ⁽²⁾	R	22-6	2.76	231.1	131	0
1991	AL	Roger Clemens ^{(3 \| ASG)}	Boston ⁽⁴⁾	R	18-10	2.62	271.1	241	0
1991	NL	Tom Glavine ^{(1 \| HOF \| SS \| ASG)}	Atlanta ⁽²⁾	L	20-11	2.55	246.2	192	0
1992	AL	Dennis Eckersley ^{(1 \| HOF \| MVP \| ASG)}	Oakland ⁽⁴⁾	R	7-1	1.91	80.0	93	51
1992	NL	Greg Maddux ^{(1 \| HOF \| ASG)}	Chicago ⁽⁴⁾	R	20-11	2.18	268.0	199	0
1993	AL	Jack McDowell ^{(1 \| ASG)}	Chicago ⁽³⁾	R	22-10	3.37	256.2	158	0
1993	NL	Greg Maddux ^{(2 \| HOF)}	Atlanta ⁽³⁾	R	20-10	2.36	267.0	197	0
1994	AL	David Cone ^{(1 \| ASG)}	Kansas City ⁽³⁾	R	16-5	2.94	171.2	132	0
1994	NL	Greg Maddux ^{(3 \|}^HOF^\|^ASG⁾	Atlanta ⁽⁴⁾	R	16-6	1.56	202.0	156	0
1995	AL	Randy Johnson ^{(1 \| HOF \| ASG)}	Seattle ⁽¹⁾	L	18-2	2.48	214.1	294	0
1995	NL	Greg Maddux ^{(4 \|}^HOF^\|^ASG⁾	Atlanta ⁽⁵⁾	R	19-2	1.63	209.2	181	0
1996	AL	Pat Hentgen ⁽¹⁾	Toronto ⁽¹⁾	R	20-10	3.22	265.2	177	0
1996	NL	John Smoltz ^{(1 \| HOF \| ASG)}	Atlanta ⁽⁶⁾	R	24-8	2.94	253.2	176	0
1997	AL	Roger Clemens ^{(4 \| ASG)}	Toronto ⁽²⁾	R	21-7	2.05	264.0	292	0
1997	NL	Pedro Martinez ^{(1 \| HOF \| ASG)}	Montreal ⁽¹⁾	R	17-8	1.90	241.1	305	0
1998	AL	Roger Clemens ^{(5 \|}^ASG⁾	Toronto ⁽³⁾	R	20-6	2.65	234.2	271	0
1998	NL	Tom Glavine ^{(2 \| HOF \| SS \| ASG)}	Atlanta ⁽⁷⁾	L	20-6	2.47	229.1	157	0
1999	AL	Pedro Martinez ^{(2 \|}^HOF^\|^ASG⁾	Boston ⁽⁵⁾	R	23-4	2.07	213.1	313	0
1999	NL	Randy Johnson ^{(2 \| HOF \| ASG)}	Arizona ⁽¹⁾	L	17-9	2.48	271.2	364	0
2000	AL	Pedro Martinez ^{(3 \|}^HOF^\|^ASG⁾	Boston ⁽⁶⁾	R	18-6	1.74	217.0	284	0
2000	NL	Randy Johnson ^{(3 \| HOF \| ASG)}	Arizona ⁽²⁾	L	19-7	2.64	248.2	347	0
2001	AL	Roger Clemens ^{(6 \| ASG)}	New York ⁽⁵⁾	R	20-3	3.51	220.1	213	0
2001	NL	Randy Johnson ^{(4 \| HOF \| ASG)}	Arizona ⁽³⁾	L	21-6	2.49	249.2	372	0
2002	AL	Barry Zito ^{(1 \|}^ASG⁾	Oakland ⁽⁵⁾	L	23-5	2.75	229.1	182	0
2002	NL	Randy Johnson ^{(5 \| HOF \| ASG)}	Arizona ⁽⁴⁾	L	24-5	2.32	260.0	334	0
2003	AL	Roy Halladay ^{(1 \| HOF \| ASG)}	Toronto ⁽⁴⁾	R	22-7	3.25	266.0	204	0
2003	NL	Eric Gagne ^{(1 \| ASG)}	Los Angeles ⁽⁹⁾	R	2-3	1.20	82.1	137	55
2004	AL	Johan Santana ⁽¹⁾	Minnesota ⁽³⁾	L	20-6	2.61	228.0	265	0
2004	NL	Roger Clemens ^{(7 \| ASG)}	Houston ⁽²⁾	R	18-4	2.98	214.1	218	0
2005	AL	Bartolo Colon ^{(1 \|}^ASG⁾	Anaheim ⁽²⁾	R	21-8	3.48	222.2	157	0
2005	NL	Chris Carpenter ^{(1 \| ASG)}	St. Louis ⁽³⁾	R	21-5	2.83	241.2	213	0
2006	AL	Johan Santana ^{(2 \| ASG)}	Minnesota ⁽⁴⁾	L	19-6	2.77	233.2	245	0
2006	NL	Brandon Webb ^{(1 \| ASG)}	Arizona ⁽⁵⁾	R	16-8	3.10	235.0	178	0
2007	AL	CC Sabathia ^{(1 \| ASG)}	Cleveland ⁽²⁾	L	19-7	3.21	241.0	209	0
2007	NL	Jake Peavy ^{(1 \| ASG)}	San Diego ⁽⁴⁾	R	19-6	2.54	223.1	240	0
2008	AL	Cliff Lee ^{(1 \| ASG)}	Cleveland ⁽³⁾	L	22-3	2.54	223.1	170	0
2008	NL	Tim Lincecum ^{(1 \| ASG)}	San Francisco ⁽²⁾	R	18-5	2.62	227.0	265	0
2009	AL	Zack Greinke ^{(1 \| ASG)}	Kansas City ⁽⁴⁾	R	16-8	2.16	229.1	242	0
2009	NL	Tim Lincecum ^{(2 \| ASG)}	San Francisco ⁽³⁾	R	15-7	2.48	225.1	261	0
2010	AL	Felix Hernandez ⁽¹⁾	Seattle ⁽²⁾	R	13-12	2.27	249.2	232	0
2010	NL	Roy Halladay ^{(2 \| HOF \| ASG)}	Philadelphia ⁽⁷⁾	R	21-10	2.44	250.2	219	0
2011	AL	Justin Verlander ^{(1 \| MVP \| ASG)}	Detroit ⁽⁴⁾	R	24-5	2.40	251.0	250	0
2011	NL	Clayton Kershaw ^{(1 \| ASG)}	Los Angeles ⁽¹⁰⁾	L	21-5	2.28	233.1	248	0
2012	AL	David Price ^{(1 \| ASG)}	Tampa Bay ⁽¹⁾	L	20-5	2.56	211.0	205	0
2012	NL	R.A. Dickey ^{(1 \| ASG)}	New York ⁽⁵⁾	R	20-6	2.74	233.2	230	0
2013	AL	Max Scherzer ^{(1 \| ASG)}	Detroit ⁽⁵⁾	R	21-3	2.90	214.1	240	0
2013	NL	Clayton Kershaw ^{(2 \| ASG)}	Los Angeles ⁽¹¹⁾	L	16-9	1.83	236.0	232	0
2014	AL	Corey Kluber ⁽¹⁾	Cleveland ⁽⁴⁾	R	18-9	2.45	235.2	269	0
2014	NL	Clayton Kershaw ^{(3 \| MVP \| ASG)}	Los Angeles ⁽¹²⁾	L	21-3	1.77	198.1	239	0
2015	AL	Dallas Keuchel ^{(1 \| ASG)}	Houston ⁽³⁾	L	20-8	2.48	232.0	216	0
2015	NL	Jake Arrieta ⁽¹⁾	Chicago ⁽⁵⁾	R	22-6	1.77	229.0	236	0
2016	AL	Rick Porcello ⁽¹⁾	Boston ⁽⁷⁾	R	22-4	3.15	223.0	189	0
2016	NL	Max Scherzer ^{(2 \| ASG)}	Washington ⁽²⁾	R	20-7	2.96	228.1	284	0
2017	AL	Corey Kluber ^{(2 \| ASG)}	Cleveland ⁽⁵⁾	R	18-4	2.25	203.2	265	0
2017	NL	Max Scherzer ^{(3 \| ASG)}	Washington ⁽³⁾	R	16-6	2.51	200.2	268	0
2018	AL	Blake Snell ^{(1 \| ASG)}	Tampa Bay ⁽²⁾	L	21-5	1.89	180.2	221	0
2018	NL	Jacob deGrom ^{(1 \| ASG)}	New York ⁽⁶⁾	R	10-9	1.70	217.0	269	0
2019	AL	Justin Verlander ^{(2 \| ASG)}	Houston ⁽⁴⁾	R	21-6	2.58	223.0	300	0
2019	NL	Jacob deGrom ^{(2 \| ASG)}	New York ⁽⁷⁾	R	11-8	2.43	204.0	255	0
2020	AL	Shane Bieber ⁽¹⁾	Cleveland ⁽⁶⁾	R	8-1	1.63	77.1	122	0
2020	NL	Trevor Bauer ⁽¹⁾	Cincinnati ⁽¹⁾	R	5-4	1.73	73.0	100	0
2021	AL	Robbie Ray ⁽¹⁾	Toronto ⁽⁵⁾	L	13-7	2.84	193.1	248	0
2021	NL	Corbin Burnes ⁽¹⁾	Milwaukee ⁽³⁾	R	11-5	2.43	167.0	234	0
2022	AL	Not Yet Announced^(11-2022)	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
2022	NL	Not Yet Announced^(11-2022)	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
Year	LG	Cy Young Award Winner ^(Qty)	Team ^(Qty)	Threw	W-L	ERA	IP	SO	SV
Cy Young Award Winners \| Baseball Awards \| Research by Baseball Almanac

In 1957, Warren Spahn became the first left-handed pitcher to receive the Cy Young Award. Do you believe he was the most dominant lefty in Major League history? Discuss this and other issues on our Baseball Fever, our baseball forum.

Who was the oldest winner? In 1978, Gaylord Perry became the oldest pitcher (forty years thirty-five days) to receive the Cy Young Award. In 2004, at forty-two years young, Roger Clemens won his record setting seventh Cy Young Award and broke Perry's age-specific record.

What pitchers have won a Cy Young Award in the American and National League? They are, in order; Gaylord Perry, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens, Roy Halladay, and Max Scherzer.

Did you know that in 1974, Mike Marshall of the Los Angeles Dodgers became the first relief-pitcher to receive / earn the Cy Young Award?

CY YOUNG AWARD

The Best Pitcher in Major League Baseball | Baseball Almanac

Cy Young Award Winning Pitchers

Cy Young Award