1956-2024
The Cy Young Award was then Commissioner Ford Frick's idea to honor the best pitcher in Major League Baseball. Hard lessons were learned by the Chalmers Award (1911-1914) earlier in history so the recipients of the Cy Young Award were selected by the Baseball Writers Association of America from the inception of the award. 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.
| American League | National League |
|
2024 - Chris Sale, Atlanta 2023 - Gerrit Cole, NY Yankees 2022 - Justin Verlander, Houston 2021 - Robert Ray, Toronto 2020 -- Shane Bieber, Cleveland 2019 -- Justin Verlander, Houston 2018 -- Blake Snell, Tampa Bay 2017 -- Corey Kluber, Cleveland 2016 -- Rick Porcello, Boston 2015 -- Dallas Keuchel, Houston 2014 -- Corey Kluber, Cleveland 2013 -- Max Scherzer, Detroit 2012 -- Davis Price, Tampa Bay 2011 -- Justin Verlander, Detroit 2010 -- Felix Hernandez, Seattle 2009 -- Zack Greinke, Kansas City 2008 -- Cliff Lee, Cleveland 2007 -- C.C. Sabathia, Cleveland 2006 --*Johan Santana, Minnesota 2005 -- Bartolo Colon, LA Angels 2004 -- Johan Santana, Minnesota 2003 -- Roy Halladay, Toronto 2002 -- Barry Zito, Oakland 2001 -- Roger Clemens, New York 2000 --*Pedro Martinez, Boston 1999 --*Pedro Martinez, Boston 1998 --*Roger Clemens, Toronto 1997 -- Roger Clemens, Toronto 1996 -- Pat Hentgen, Toronto 1995 -- Randy Johnson, Seattle 1994 -- David Cone, Kansas City 1993 -- Jack McDowell, Chicago 1992 -- Dennis Eckersley, Oakland 1991 -- Roger Clemens, Boston 1990 -- Bob Welch, Oakland 1989 -- Bret Saberhagen, KC 1988 -- Frank Viola, Minnesota 1987 -- Roger Clemens, Boston 1986 --*Roger Clemens, Boston 1985 -- Bret Saberhagen, KC 1984 -- Willie Hernandez, Detroit 1983 -- LaMarr Hoyt, Chicago 1982 -- Pete Vuckovich, Milwaukee 1981 -- Rollie Fingers, Milwaukee 1980 -- Steve Stone, Baltimore 1979 -- Mike Flanagan, Baltimore 1978 --*Ron Guidry, New York 1977 -- Sparky Lyle, New York 1976 -- Jim Palmer, Baltimore 1975 -- Jim Palmer, Baltimore 1974 -- Jim Hunter, Oakland 1973 -- Jim Palmer, Baltimore 1972 -- Gaylord Perry, Cleveland 1971 -- Vida Blue, Oakland 1970 -- Jim Perry, Minnesota 1969 -- (tie) Mike Cuellar, Baltimore 1970 -- Denny McLain, Detroit 1968 --*Denny McLain, Detroit 1967 -- JimLonborg, Boston |
2024 - Tarik Skubal, Detroit 2023 - Blake Snell, San Diego 2022 - Sandy Alcantara, Miami 2021 - Corbin Burnes, Milwaukee 2020 -- Trevor Bauer, Cincinnati 2019 -- Jacob deGrom, NY Mets 2018 -- Jacob deGrom, NY Mets 2017 -- Max Scherzer, Washington 2016 -- Max Scherzer, Washington 2015 -- Jake Arrieta, Chicago 2014 -- Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles 2013 -- Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles 2012 -- R.A. Dickey, NY Mets 2011 -- Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles 2010 -- *Roy Halladay, Philadelphia 2009 -- Tim Lincecum, San Francisco 2008 -- Tim Lincecum, San Francisco 2007 --*Jake Peavy, San Diego 2006 -- Brandon Webb, Arizona 2005 -- Chris Carpenter, St. Louis 2004 -- Roger Clemens, Houston 2003 -- Eric Gagne, Los Angeles 2002 -- Randy Johnson, Arizona 2001 -- Randy Johnson, Arizona 2000 -- Randy Johnson, Arizona 1999 -- Randy Johnson, Arizona 1998 -- Tom Glavine, Atlanta 1997 -- Pedro Martinez, Montreal 1996 -- John Smoltz, Atlanta 1995 --*Greg Maddux, Atlanta 1994 --*Greg Maddux, Atlanta 1993 -- Greg Maddux, Atlanta 1992 -- Greg Maddux, Chicago 1991 -- Tom Glavine, Atlanta 1990 -- Doug Drabek, Pittsburgh 1989 -- Mark Davis, San Diego 1988 --*Orel Hershiser, LA 1987 -- Steve Bedrosian, Phila. 1986 -- Mike Scott, Houston 1985 -- Dwight Gooden, NYM 1984 --*Rick Sutcliffe, Chicago 1983 -- John Denny, Philadelphia 1982 -- Steve Carlton, Philadelphia 1981 -- Fernando Valenzuela, L.A. 1980 -- Steve Carlton, Philadelphia 1979 -- Bruce Sutter, Chicago 1978 -- Gaylord Perry, San Diego 1977 --*Steve Carlton, Phila. 1976 -- Randy Jones, San Diego 1975 -- Tom Seaver, New York 1974 -- Mike Marshall, LA 1973 -- Tom Seaver, New York 1972 --*Steve Carlton, Phila. 1971 -- Ferguson Jenkins, Chicago 1970 -- Bob Gibson, St. Louis 1969 -- Tom Seaver, New York 1968 --*Bob Gibson, St. Louis 1967 -- Mike McCormick, SF |
Only one winner was selected in the major leagues from 1956 to 1966
1966 --*Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles (NL)
1965 --*Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles (NL)
1964 -- Dean Chance, Los Angeles (AL)
1963 --*Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles (NL)
1962 -- Don Drysdale, Los Angeles (NL)
1961 -- Whitey Ford, New York (AL)
1960 -- Vernon Law, Pittsburgh (NL)
1959 -- Early Wynn, Chicago (AL)
1958 -- Bob Turley, New York (AL)
1957 -- Warren Spahn, Milwaukee (NL)
1956 -- Don Newcombe, Brooklyn (NL)
*winner was a unanimous selection
Listed by Date Achieved
| Pitcher | Wins | Team | League | Age | Date | Opponent |
| Randy Johnson |
303 |
San Fran.
|
NL
|
45
|
06-05-2009
|
Washington
|
| Tom Glavine |
305
|
New York |
NL
|
41
|
09-05-2007 |
Chicago
|
| Greg Maddux |
350 |
Chicago |
NL |
38 |
08-07-2004 |
San Francisco
|
| Roger Clemens |
354 |
New York |
AL |
40 |
06-13-2003 |
St. Louis
|
| Nolan Ryan |
324 |
Texas |
AL |
43 |
07-31-1990 |
Milwaukee
|
| Don Sutton |
324 |
California |
AL |
41 |
06-18-1986 |
Texas
|
| Phil Niekro |
318 |
New York |
AL |
46 |
10-06-1985 |
Toronto
|
| Tom Seaver |
311 |
Chicago |
AL |
40 |
08-04-1985 |
New York
|
| Steve Carlton |
329 |
Philadelphia |
NL |
38 |
09-23-1983 |
St. Louis
|
| Gaylord Perry |
314 |
Seattle |
AL |
43 |
05-06-1982 |
New York
|
| Early Wynn |
300 |
Cleveland |
AL |
43 |
07-13-1963 |
Kansas City |
| Warren Spahn |
363 |
Milwaukee |
NL |
40 |
08-11-1961 |
Chicago
|
| Lefty Grove |
300 |
Boston |
AL |
41 |
07-25-1941 |
Cleveland
|
| Grover Cleveland Alexander | 373 | Chicago | NL | 37 | 09-20-1924 | New York |
| Walter Johnson |
417 |
Washington |
AL |
32 |
05-14-1920 |
Detroit
|
| Eddie Plank |
326 |
St. Louis |
FL |
39 |
09-11-1915 |
Kansas City
|
| Christy Mathewson |
373 |
New York |
NL |
32 |
06-28-1912 |
Boston
|
| Cy Young |
511 |
Boston |
AL |
34 |
07-03-1901 |
Baltimore
|
| Kid Nichols |
361 |
Boston |
NL |
30 |
07-07-1900 |
Chicago
|
| John Clarkson |
328 |
Cleveland |
NL |
31 |
09-21-1892 |
Pittsburgh
|
| Old Hoss Radbourn |
309 |
Cincinnati |
NL |
36 |
05-14-1891 |
Brooklyn
|
| Mickey Welch |
307 |
New York |
NL |
31 |
08-11-1890 |
Brooklyn
|
| Tim Keefe |
342 |
New York |
PL |
33 |
06-04-1890 |
Boston
|
| Pud Galvin |
361 |
Pittsburgh |
NL |
31 |
09-04-1888 |
Indianapolis
|
There have been three different "most valuable player" awards in baseball since 1911. The Chalmers Award was the first of those three and it was presented by between 1911 and 1914 by Chalmers Automotive — a Detroit based automobile company. By 1915 the Chalmers Award was no longer considered popular. Rumors about possible cheating and the inability for any player to win more than once were factors which led to its demise.
National League
| Year | Player | Pos | HR | RBI | Avg |
| 1911 | Wildfire Schulte, Ch | OF | 21 | 121 | .300 |
| 1912 | Larry Doyle, NY | 2B | 10 | 90 | .330 |
| 1913 | Jake Daubert, Bklyn | 1B | 2 | 52 | .350 |
| 1914 | Johnny Evers, Bos | 2B | 1 | 40 | .279 |
American League
| Year | Player | Pos | HR | RBI | Avg |
| 1911 | Ty Cobb, Det | OF | 8 | 144 | .420 |
| 1912 | Tris Speaker, Bos | OF | 10 | 98 | .383 |
| 1913 | Walter Johnson, Wash | P | - | - | - |
| 1914 | Eddie Collins, Phi | 2B | 2 | 85 | .344 |