Country United States First awarded 1944 | Presented by Sporting News | |
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Awarded for Most Outstanding Starting and Relief Pitcher in each League. Currently held by NL – SP Scherzer & RP Jansen
AL – SP Kluber & RP Britton | ||
Sporting News established the Pitcher of the Year Award in 1944. Until the award was replaced by two separate awards in 2013, it was given annually to the pitcher in each league having the most outstanding season. No awards were given in 1946 or 1947. This award was established before there was a Cy Young Award. The Cy Young Award is voted by baseball writers from each city, and critics claim the writers who follow a particular team or player throughout a season are naturally disposed to vote for him. Starting in 2013, the Starting Pitcher of the Year Award and Relief Pitcher of the Year Award are given annually to the starting and relief pitchers in each league judged by Sporting News baseball experts as having had the most outstanding season, and is one of the oldest and most prestigious pitching awards in Major League Baseball.
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History
By the Second World War, the Sporting News (formerly TSN, now SN), had been giving Player of the Year and Manager of the Year awards since 1936, and an annual Most Valuable Player Award since 1929. In 1944, the Sporting News inaugurated its Pitcher of the Year Award, which has been given each year since to the most outstanding pitcher in each league, with a brief hiatus from 1946–47. Beginning in 2013, the Sporting News issues two awards per league—one to the most outstanding starting pitcher, and one to the most outstanding reliever.
First and youngest players to win awards
Hal Newhouser (W-L: 26–9, ERA: 1.94, Ks: 275) could have narrowly won the award or tied with Bob Feller (W-L: 26–15, ERA: 2.18, Ks: 348) for a third time in 1946 based upon his statistics. The AL youngest is very close between Dean Chance (born June 1) and Hal Newhouser (born May 20) with only 12 days difference.
American League Awardees
Listed below in chronological order are the American League Pitchers chosen by Sporting News as recipients of the Pitcher of the Year Award.
National League Awardees
Listed below in chronological order are the National League Pitchers chosen by Sporting News as recipients of the Pitcher of the Year Award.
Multiple Wins
Several players have won the Pitcher of the Year Award more than once. Bob Lemon was the first player to win the award 3 times. Warren Spahn was the first to win the award 4 times and won his last award at the age of 40 years. Roger Clemens was the first to win the award 5 times. Sandy Koufax (1963–1966) and Greg Maddux (1992–1995) have won the award 4 consecutive years. Pedro Martínez, Roy Halladay, Vida Blue, Zack Greinke and Max Scherzer have won the award in the National League and American League. Joe Niekro, Wilbur Wood and R.A. Dickey are knuckleball pitchers that have won the Pitcher of the Year Award.
MLB Triple Crown
Only four Pitcher of the Year Award winners have led the major leagues in wins, ERA and strikeouts which is commonly called Major League Pitching Triple Crown. Sandy Koufax is the only player to achieve it more than once. Koufax achieved it three times in a four-year period. Hal Newhouser, age 24 and Dwight Gooden, age 20 were the youngest individuals. Johan Santana, age 27, is the fourth individual.
MLB Hall of Fame predictor
Winning three (3) or more Pitcher of the Year Awards has been seen as a guaranteed admission to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. All of the eligible pitchers with three or more awards have been elected to the Hall of Fame with the exception of Roger Clemens. Roger Clemens has the most (five) Pitcher of the Year Awards, is in the top ten for all-time wins and strikeouts, and is considered to be one of the best pitchers of all time. Clemens alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs is the major stumbling block to be elected to the Hall of Fame. Active players are not eligible for the Hall of Fame.
Pitchers that have won three or more Pitcher of the Year Awards and the year they were inducted into Major League Baseball Hall of Fame sorted by the year they entered the Hall of Fame. Kershaw's statistics are through the 2016 season.
Battle of Pitchers of the Year
It is a rare occurrence when reigning Pitcher of the Year winners face off against each other. A pitching duel occurred on August 28, 1989, when Frank Viola (9IP, 5K, 3H, 0BB, 0ER) of New York Mets pitched a complete game shutout defeating Orel Hershiser (8IP, 4K, 8H, 1BB, 1ER) of the Dodgers 1–0. On May 9, 2013 Toronto's R. A. Dickey pitched against David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays won in 10 innings 5–4, neither starting pitcher got a decision. Arizona's Zach Greinke (7IP, 4H, 0R, 11K) bested (3-0) Houston's Dallas Keuchel (6IP 6H, 3 ER, 6K) on June 2, 2016.
Organizations
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the only organization whose pitchers have won the Pitcher of the Year Award in 5 consecutive years: 1962–1966 (Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax). Los Angeles (Brooklyn) Dodgers pitchers have won the award 16 times; Atlanta (Boston and Milwaukee) Braves pitchers have won the award 13 times. The following organizations have never had a pitcher win the award: Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, Florida Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers.
The Detroit Tigers have three pitchers who have won consecutive awards — Hal Newhouser (1944–45), Denny McLain (1968–69) and Justin Verlander (2011–12). Each was also Player of the Year and AL MVP at least once while being Pitcher of the Year.
The Atlanta (Boston and Milwaukee) Braves also have three pitchers who have won consecutive awards — Warren Spahn (1957–58), Greg Maddux (1992–95) and Craig Kimbrel (2013–14).