Cy Young (1937)


Date of Birth: 3/29/1867
Date of Death: 11/4/1955
Birthplace: Gilmore, Ohio

Cy Young, one of the greatest pitchers of all time, played on amateur baseball teams as a teenager. In 1888, he played with a semi-pro team. The following year, he joined the Tri-State League and he played in that league for two seasons. His contract was purchased by the Cleveland Spiders of the National League in July, 1890.

Cleveland Spiders (NL)

Young played in just 17 games in his first season with the Spiders. In 1891, he pitched in a career high 55 games and he had a 27-22 record with an ERA of 2.85. The following year he led the National League in wins with a career high 36 and in ERA with 1.93. He pitched a career high 453.0 innings in 53 games and he struck out 168 batters and walked 118.

Young's ERA went up to 3.36 in 1893. He had 34 wins and 16 losses in 422.2 innings in 53 games. The next year, his ERA was even higher (3.94) and he had 26 wins and 21 losses in 408.2 innings in 52 games. He struck out 108 batters and walked 106.

Young again led the NL in wins in 1895 with 35 (to 10 losses). He had a 3.26 ERA and 121 strikeouts to 75 walks in 369.2 innings in 47 games. He played well defensively, leading all NL pitchers in assists with 120.

In 1896, Young led the NL in strikeouts with 140 (to 62 walks). He finished the season with 28 wins to 15 losses and a 3.24 ERA in 414.1 innings in 51 games. He again led all NL pitchers in assists with 145.

Young didn't play as well in 1897, finishing with a 3.80 ERA in 46 games. He had 21 wins and 19 losses and 88 strikeouts to 49 walks in 333.2 innings. He played better in 1898, finishing with a 2.53 ERA and 25 wins to 13 losses in 46 games.

St. Louis Perfectos (Cardinals)

In 1899, Young moved to the St. Louis Perfectos and he pitched for them for two seasons. He had a 2.58 ERA and a 26-16 record in 44 games in his first season with the Perfectos. He led the NL in complete games with 40, and he led all NL pitchers in assists with 117.

Young had a 3.00 ERA in 41 games in 1900. He had a 19-19 record and 115 strikeouts to 36 walks in 321.1 innings.

Boston Americans (Red Sox)

Young moved to the American League and the Boston Americans in 1901. That year, he won the American League Triple Crown, leading the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. He had a 33-10 record with 158 strikeouts to 37 walks, and a 1.62 ERA in 371.1 innings in 43 games.

Young led the AL in wins, innings pitched, and complete games in 1902. He had 41 complete games, 32 wins to 11 losses, and a 2.15 ERA in 384.2 innings in 45 games. The following season, he again led the league in wins, innnings pitched, and complete games. He finished the 1903 season with 28 wins and 9 losses, 176 strikeouts to 37 walks, and a 2.08 ERA in 341.2 innings in 40 games. He pitched 34 complete games.

On May 5, 1904, Young pitched a perfect game. That season, he had a 26-16 record, 200 strikeouts to 29 walks, and a 1.97 ERA in 380.0 innings in 43 games. He played well again in 1905, finishing with a career high 210 strikeouts to 30 walks and a 1.82 ERA in 38 games.

Young struggled in 1906, finishing with a 3.19 ERA and 13 wins to 21 losses in 39 games. He played much better in 1907, when he had a 1.99 ERA and 21 wins to 15 losses in 43 games.

Young had a career low ERA of 1.26 in 36 games in 1908. He finished the season with 21 wins and 11 losses and 150 strikeouts to 37 walks in 299.0 innings.

Cleveland Naps (Indians)

Young was traded to the Cleveland Naps on February 16, 1909. Even though he was 42 years old in 1909, he still played well, finishing the season with 19 wins and 15 losses, 109 strikeouts to 59 walks, and a 2.26 ERA in 295.0 innings in 35 games.

Young played in only 21 games in 1910. He had a 2.53 ERA, but his win-loss record wasn't good with 10 losses and just 7 wins. He struck out 58 batters and walked 27.

Young played in just seven games with the Indians in 1911 before being traded to the Boston Rustlers (Braves). He ended his major league pitching career with eleven games with the Rustlers.

Awards and MLB Records

  • AL Triple Crown
  • Led league in ERA (2 times)
  • Led NL in wins (2 times)
  • Led AL in wins (3 times)
  • Led league in strikeouts (2 times)
  • Led AL in innings pitched (2 times)
  • Led league in complete games (3 times)

Career Statistics

Statistics for Young in 22 seasons (1890-1911) in the major leagues include:

  • 15 seasons with over 20 wins, with a high of 36 in 1892
  • 7 seasons with 150 or more strikeouts, with a high of 210 in 1905
  • 13 seasons with an ERA under 3.00, with a low of 1.26 in 1908

Career pitching statistics for Young include:

  • 906 games played
  • 7,354.2 innings pitched
  • 511-316 win-loss record
  • 2,803 strikeouts to 1,217 walks
  • 2.63 ERA

Post Playing Career

In 1913, after finishing his career in the major leagues, Young managed a team in the Federal League for one year.

Young was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1937 on the second ballot with 76.1% of the vote.

Source for Information
Wikipedia - Cy Young
ESPN - Cy Young
Baseball Reference - Cy Young

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