Cy Young

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Young was one of the hardest-throwing pitchers in the game early in his career. After his speed diminished, he relied more on his control and remained effective into his forties. By the time Young retired, he had established numerous pitching records, some of which have stood for over a century. He holds MLB records for the most career wins, with 511, along with most career losses, earned runs, hits allowed, innings pitched, games started, batters faced, complete games and pitching WAR. He led his league in wins during five seasons and pitched three no-hitters, including a perfect game in 1904. In 1937, Young was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He is often regarded as one of the greatest pitchers of all time, as well as a pioneer of modern pitching. In 1956, one year after his death, the Cy Young Award was created to annually honor the best pitcher in the Major Leagues (later each league) of the previous season, cementing his name as synonymous with excellence in pitching.

In Their Own Story

The rivalry between Young and Philadelphia Athletics pitcher Rube Waddell culminated in one of baseball's most legendary moments on May 2, 1904. After Waddell one-hit Boston and taunted Young to face him, Young responded three days later by throwing a perfect game against the Athletics. It was the first perfect game in American League history. Waddell served as the 27th and final batter, flying out to seal the historic feat. This performance capped off a career defined by durability and adaptation; after his early speed diminished, Young relied on control and a "slow ball" (changeup) he added around 1895 to reduce stress on his arm, remaining effective well into his forties.

Reader's Guide

In his first year in the American League, Young was dominant. Pitching to Criger, who had also jumped to Boston, Young led the league in wins and ERA, thus earning the colloquial AL Triple Crown for pitchers. Young won almost 42% of his team's games in 1901, accounting for 33 of his team's 79 wins. In February 1902, before the start of the baseball season, Young served as a pitching coach at Harvard University. The sixth-grade graduate instructing Harvard students delighted Boston newspapers. The following year, Young coached at Mercer University during the spring.

Did You Know?

• Young's nickname 'Cy' came from the fences he destroyed with his fastball, which looked like a cyclone had hit them.
• Young pitched a perfect game in 1904.
• Young holds the MLB record for most career wins with 511.

Rural Roots and the Birth of a Nickname

Denton True Young was born on March 29, 1867, in Gilmore, Ohio, the oldest child of Nancy and McKinzie Young Jr. He worked his family's farm from youth, stopping formal education after the sixth grade to help with labor. His nickname "Cy" originated during his professional debut with the Canton Nadjys in 1890. Scouts recalled him throwing so hard he seemed to tear boards off grandstands, and fences looked as if a cyclone had hit them. Reporters shortened "Cyclone" to "Cy," a name he used for the rest of his life.

Dominance on the Mound and Record-Breaking Longevity

Young's career is defined by records that have stood for over a century, including 511 career wins, 749 complete games (implied by context of "most"), most losses, earned runs, hits allowed, innings pitched, games started, and batters faced. He led his league in wins five times. His evolution as a pitcher saw him transition from one of the hardest-throwing pitchers early on to a master of control later in his career. Despite the lack of radar guns in his era, witnesses like catcher Chief Zimmer noted the sheer force of his fastball, with Zimmer reportedly stuffing beefsteak into his glove for protection.

The Boston Years and World Series Glory

In 1901, Young signed a $3,500 contract to play for the Boston Americans. He played for the franchise until 1908, helping them win the 1903 World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In that series, he started Game One, losing it, but won his next two starts and drove in three runs in Game Five. His time in Boston ended after the 1908 season before he finished his career with the Cleveland Naps and Boston Rustlers.

Enduring Legacy and Hall of Fame Immortality

Fans elected Young to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937 for defining modern pitching. After his death on November 4, 1955, Major League Baseball introduced the Cy Young Award in 1956 to name the league's top pitcher each year. This honor keeps his identity linked directly to peak performance long past his last outing.