LONG AND SHORT OF THE LONG BALL
In 25 starts during the strike-shortened 1994 season, Greg Maddux allowed four home runs – four – a in 202 innings. This is the lowest number of home runs allowed by a starting pitcher Cy winner. Maddux is also second and third in low-HR totals having allowed seven in 1992 and eight in 1995. In 946.2 innings during his four-year run of N.L. Cy Young awards, Maddux allowed 33 home runs.
Dean Chance allowed just seven home runs in his 1964 Cy season in 278.1 innings.
These home-runs-allowed numbers are most remarkable in comparison to 2019 A.L. winner Justin Verlander allowing 36 home runs (the most ever by a winner). But allowing a lot of home runs is not exactly new. The first Cy Young Award winner, Don Newcombe, allowed 33 home runs in 1956.
STRIKEOUTS ARE FACIST
Leading the league in strikeouts has a high correlation with placing high in Cy Young voting. It is possible to win the award, however, without being a dominant pitcher.
Randy Jones holds the record for the fewest strikeouts by a Cy winner. Jones pitched 315.1 innings for the San Diego Padres in 1976 and struck out just 93. In 40 starts, he went 22-14 with a 2.74 ERA.
LET SOME RUNS IN, BUT STILL WIN
Of the 111 starting pitchers who were Cy winners from 1956 through 2020, 91 had earned-run averages under 3; 21 were under 2. Occasionally, a high ERA will work if wins are there.
The highest ERA of a Cy winner was LaMarr Hoyt’s 3.66 for the White Sox in 1983. He won 24 games, to lead the American League. Roger Clemens (3.51 in 2004) and Bartolo Colon (3.48 in 2005) have the next highest ERAs for Cy winners. The only category Colon led the A.L. in during his 2005 Cy season was wins (21).
Earned-run averages can climb even more and still earn Cy support. The worst ERA to earn a Cy vote was Mike Mussina’s 4.81 in 1996 for Baltimore. He was 19-11 for the Orioles. Aaron Sele in 1999 was a close second at 4.79. when we won 18 games for the Rangers. Twelve pitchers have posted ERAs over 4 and still earned Cy votes.
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