Cy Young
Cy Young: Hall of Fame pitcher with 511 career wins and the namesake of the Cy Young Award.
Denton True "Cy" Young (March 29, 1867 – November 4, 1955) pitched and managed in Major League Baseball. He grew up on a family farm in Gilmore, Ohio, and began his pro career after working the land. Young debuted in the majors in 1890 with the National League's Cleveland Spiders, staying there through 1898. He then moved to the St. Louis Cardinals organization. In 1901, he switched to the American League, playing for the Boston Red Sox franchise until 1908 and helping them win the 1903 World Series. His final seasons were with the Cleveland Naps and Boston Rustlers, and he retired in 1911.
Early in his career, Young threw as hard as anyone in the game. When his velocity dropped, he leaned on pinpoint control and stayed effective into his forties. By the time he hung up his spikes, he had set a pile of pitching records, many still standing more than a century later. He holds MLB marks for most career wins (511), most losses, earned runs allowed, hits allowed, innings pitched, games started, batters faced, complete games, and pitching WAR. He led his league in wins five times and threw three no-hitters, including a perfect game in 1904.
Young was voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937. He is widely considered one of the greatest pitchers ever and a pioneer of modern pitching. The Cy Young Award, created in 1956—a year after his death—honors the best pitcher in the majors each season, making his name a lasting symbol of pitching excellence.
- born
- March 29, 1867, Gilmore, Ohio
- died
- November 4, 1955
- field
- Major League Baseball pitcher and manager
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- MLB records for most career wins (511), most career losses, earned runs, hits allowed, innings pitched, games started, batters faced, complete games, and pitching WAR; three no-hitters including a per
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.
Reader's Guide
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.
Young’s playing style evolved significantly over his long career. Early on, he was among the hardest-throwing pitchers in the game, with a fastball so forceful that it reportedly tore boards off a grandstand during a minor-league tryout, earning him the nickname “Cy” (short for cyclone). His catcher, Chief Zimmer, sometimes placed beefsteak inside his glove to protect his hand from the velocity. As his speed declined, Young adapted by relying on exceptional control, remaining effective into his forties. This longevity allowed him to set numerous career records that have stood for over a century, including most wins (511), most losses, most innings pitched, most complete games, and most batters faced. He led his league in wins five times and threw three no-hitters, one of which was a perfect game in 1904. Young’s dominance also influenced the game’s rules: the modern pitching distance of 60 feet 6 inches was established in 1893 partly because of the extreme velocity of pitchers like Young, Amos Rusie, and Jouett Meekin. Beyond his statistics, Young is considered a pioneer of modern pitching, and his name remains permanently linked to the highest honor for pitchers in Major League Baseball.
Did You Know?
- Young's nickname 'Cy' came from the fences he destroyed with his fastball, which looked like a cyclone had hit them.
- He pitched a perfect game in 1904.
- Young led his league in wins during five seasons.
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