Encyclopedia, Difference between revisions of "Cy Young" - New World
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Not much is know about Cy Young and his personal life. Young left behind little in terms of personal written documents, such as diaries or correspondence. Young was also unlike some of the more colorful players in baseball at the time. Young was a quiet, unassuming, and well-mannered young man, a predictable product of rural Ohio during the post-Civil War era. (3) The combination of these two facts leads to our lack of information about his personal life. One of the most comprehensive and recent biographies on Cy Young is “Cy Young: A Baseball Life” written by Reed Browning in 2003. | Not much is know about Cy Young and his personal life. Young left behind little in terms of personal written documents, such as diaries or correspondence. Young was also unlike some of the more colorful players in baseball at the time. Young was a quiet, unassuming, and well-mannered young man, a predictable product of rural Ohio during the post-Civil War era. (3) The combination of these two facts leads to our lack of information about his personal life. One of the most comprehensive and recent biographies on Cy Young is “Cy Young: A Baseball Life” written by Reed Browning in 2003. | ||
| − | “Denton True Young” was born the son of a civil war veteran on March 29, 1967 in Gilmore, Ohio. Young grew up in the nearby rural farming town of Newcomerstown. Young attended formal schooling up until then sixth grade before dropping out and working on the family farm full time. As a teenager, Young worked up a strong reputation in town baseball circles and eventually played a year for his first organized team, the Canton club of the Tri-State League in 1889. | + | “Denton True Young” was born the son of a civil war veteran on March 29, 1967 in Gilmore, Ohio. Young grew up in the nearby rural farming town of Newcomerstown. Young attended formal schooling up until then sixth grade before dropping out and working on the family farm full time. As a teenager, Young worked up a strong reputation in town baseball circles and eventually played a year for his first organized team, the Canton club of the Tri-State League in 1889. |
| − | The only relationship we know that Young had was with a childhood sweetheart named Robba Miler. Young wanted to waited until he had a thousand dollars in his bank account before asking her to marry him. | + | The only relationship we know that Young had was with a childhood sweetheart named Robba Miler. Young wanted to waited until he had a thousand dollars in his bank account before asking her to marry him. Young married Robba Miller on November 8, 1892. They remained married for the entirety of their lives but had no children. After his retirement at the age of 44, Young moved back to Peoli (Newcomerstown), Ohio, where he had a small farm. Young worked odd jobs to make money and sometimes took part in old timers’ games. Robba died in 1933. Young died in quietly on November 4th, 1955 in Newcomerstown, Ohio at the age of 88. |
==Professional Career== | ==Professional Career== | ||
| − | It was during his time with the Canton club that Denton True Young received his nickname, though it was originally “The Cyclone” and wasn’t shortened to “Cy” until later on. There are several different stories as to how Young earned the nickname, however they all acknowledge that it is short for "[[Tornado|Cyclone]]" and had to do with the speed with which he pitched. One version says that, while in the minor leagues with Canton, Ohio, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound right-hander warmed up by throwing pitches against a wooden fence. When someone said that the fence looked like a cyclone hit it after Young had completed his warmups. | + | It was during his time with the Canton club that Denton True Young received his nickname, though it was originally “The Cyclone” and wasn’t shortened to “Cy” until later on. There are several different stories as to how Young earned the nickname, however they all acknowledge that it is short for "[[Tornado|Cyclone]]" and had to do with the speed with which he pitched. One version says that, while in the minor leagues with Canton, Ohio, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound right-hander warmed up by throwing pitches against a wooden fence. When someone said that the fence looked like a cyclone hit it after Young had completed his warmups. Another version states that the it was a wild pitch that tore a couple of wooden planks loose from the grandstand and caused an observer to say that it looked like a cyclone hit. The most common version of the myth is that Young received the nickname merely because his fastball was so overwhelmingly fast. |
| − | During Cy Young’s career, a tremendous amount of change occurred to the rules for pitching. When Young first began pitching, pitchers were only allowed to throw underhand. That didn’t change until the mid-1880s. | + | During Cy Young’s career, a tremendous amount of change occurred to the rules for pitching. When Young first began pitching, pitchers were only allowed to throw underhand. That didn’t change until the mid-1880s. Most pitchers didn’t wear gloves and Young himself didn’t start using one until 1896. When he began as a pitcher, the pitching rubber was a pitching box that was 50 feet from the plate at its closest point. At the beginning of Young’s career, home plate was a diamond shape, which sometimes made it difficult for pitchers and umpires to differentiate a strike from a ball. The rules stated that a foul ball was not a strike. Many pitchers effected by these rule changes, but Young and a few others remained unbothered. |
| − | With the Canton team, Young compiled a 15-15 record and before being offered a chance to play for a professional team. In 1890, the Cleveland Spiders offered Young the chance to play in the majors for the sum of $500. | + | With the Canton team, Young compiled a 15-15 record and before being offered a chance to play for a professional team. In 1890, the Cleveland Spiders offered Young the chance to play in the majors for the sum of $500. Young debuted on August 6, 1890 against the Chicago White Stockings (now the Chicago Cubs), allowing only three hits and receiving the win. |
| − | Young spent the ten years from 1890 to 1900 in the National league. For the first 9 years he pitched for the Cleveland Spiders. What Cleveland got was a reliable and durable pitcher. Young was able to pitch games every other day | + | Young spent the ten years from 1890 to 1900 in the National league. For the first 9 years he pitched for the Cleveland Spiders. What Cleveland got was a reliable and durable pitcher. Young was able to pitch games every other day and on one day in October 1890, Young even pitched both games of a double header, winning both with 5-1 and 7-3 results. In 1892, Young set his career high for wins in a single season with a 36-12 record. Young also helped the Spiders to the National League Championship, then known as the Temple Cup, in 1895. In 1899, Young and the rest of the Cleveland team were transferred to the St. Louis Perfectos, who would become the St. Louis Cardinals the next year. This swapping of rosters was only possible because the Spiders and Cardinals had the same owner. |
In 1901, Young moved from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Boston Americans of the newly formed American League. Young again showed his consistency and durability by leading the American League in wins for three straight season between 1901 and 1903, with 33, 32, and 28 wins in consecutive years. In 1901, Young won the Triple Crown for pitchers, which includes leading the league in wins, strikeouts, and ERA (Earned Run Average). | In 1901, Young moved from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Boston Americans of the newly formed American League. Young again showed his consistency and durability by leading the American League in wins for three straight season between 1901 and 1903, with 33, 32, and 28 wins in consecutive years. In 1901, Young won the Triple Crown for pitchers, which includes leading the league in wins, strikeouts, and ERA (Earned Run Average). | ||
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In 1903, Young would lead the Boston Americans to the American League pennant. The Americans would play against the National League pennant winning Pittsburgh Pirates in the first World Series. Young threw the first pitch in the first game of that World Series, but would get the loss in a 7-3 Pittsburgh win. Young would come back and win two games in the best-of-nine series (the World Series wasn’t reduced to the modern best-of-seven series format until 1922) to help his team win the series, 5-3. | In 1903, Young would lead the Boston Americans to the American League pennant. The Americans would play against the National League pennant winning Pittsburgh Pirates in the first World Series. Young threw the first pitch in the first game of that World Series, but would get the loss in a 7-3 Pittsburgh win. Young would come back and win two games in the best-of-nine series (the World Series wasn’t reduced to the modern best-of-seven series format until 1922) to help his team win the series, 5-3. | ||
| − | Young would spend seven years playing for the Boston organization, who became known as the Boston Red Sox in his last year, 1908. | + | Young would spend seven years playing for the Boston organization, who became known as the Boston Red Sox in his last year, 1908. During the 1907 season, Young even took up the role of manager while playing for the team. On August 13, 1908, the American League honored Young by celebrating Cy Young Day. On this day, the league suspended all league games, brought together an All-Star team to visit the Boston stadium, then the Huntington Avenue Grounds, and play against Young and the Boston team. Young pitched the first few innings and the game was interrupted several times to make presentations to Young. |
| − | In 1909, Young was trades back to the Cleveland organization, now know as the Naps, and compiling a 19-15 record. Young continued to play, but age and weight started to take its toll. In the following two years, Young combined for only 14 wins. Midway through his last season in 1911, he was waived by the Cleveland Naps and then signed with the Boston Braves. But Young’s arm was not the same as it once was and Young did not return for the 1912 season. | + | In 1909, Young was trades back to the Cleveland organization, now know as the Naps, and compiling a 19-15 record. Young continued to play, but age and weight started to take its toll. In the following two years, Young combined for only 14 wins. Midway through his last season in 1911, he was waived by the Cleveland Naps and then signed with the Boston Braves. But Young’s arm was not the same as it once was and Young did not return for the 1912 season. |
==Career Achievements== | ==Career Achievements== | ||
| Line 195: | Line 195: | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
* Browning, Reed, ‘’Cy Young: A Baseball Life‘', Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 2003. ISBN 0-585-32329-1 | * Browning, Reed, ‘’Cy Young: A Baseball Life‘', Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 2003. ISBN 0-585-32329-1 | ||
| − | * [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/ "Baseball Almanac"], | + | * [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/ "Baseball Almanac"], ''Cy Young : A Life in Baseball Book Review'', ''Cy Young Obituary'', Retrieved March 28, 2007. |
| + | * [http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016661.html "A Pitcher Worthy of A Trophy"], Retrieved March 28, 2007. | ||
| + | * [http://www.haroldseymour.com/article.asp?articleid=43025 "Cy Young: A Baseball Life"], ''Book Review'', Retrieved March 28, 2007. | ||
| + | * [http://www.cmgww.com/baseball/young/index.php "The Official Website of Cy Young"], Retrieved March 28, 2007. | ||
| + | * [http://www.answers.com/topic/cy-young-award Answers.com], Retrieved March 30, 2007. | ||
| + | * [http://mlb.mlb.com/index.jsp The Official Website of Major League Baseball], Retrieved March 30, 2007. | ||
| + | |||
== Footnotes == | == Footnotes == | ||
| Line 201: | Line 207: | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
| − | *[http://www. | + | *[http://www.baseball-reference.com/ Baseball Reference], Basball Statistics Reference |
| − | + | *[http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/ National Baseball Hall of Fame] | |
Revision as of 17:38, 30 March 2007
- For the Disney animator, see Cy Young (animator).
- For the Major League Baseball award named the 'Cy Young Award', see Cy Young Award.
{{{image caption}}}
| |
| Personal Info | |
|---|---|
| Birth | March 29, 1867, Gilmore, OH |
| Death: | November 4, 1955, Newcomerstown, OH |
| Professional Career | |
| Debut | August 6, 1890, Cleveland Spiders |
| Team(s) | Cleveland Spiders (1890-1898) St. Louis Pefectos and Cardinals (1899-1900) Boston Americans, Somersets, Pilgrims and Red Sox (1901-1908) Cleveland Naps and Indians (1909-1911) Boston Braves (1911) |
| HOF induction: | 1936 |
| Career Highlights | |
| |
Denton True Young (March 29, 1867 – November 4, 1955) was an American baseball pitcher during the 1890s and 1900s. The Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Young in 1937 and he won one championship in 1903 as a member of the Boston Americans. An accomplished athlete, Young won the 1901 AL Triple Crown for Pitchers. The annual award given for the pitcher of the year in each league is named the Cy Young Award. Young played twenty-two years of professional baseball. He set the records for most wins all-time, most innings pitched all-time, most games started all-time, and most complete games all-time. His longevity also allowed him to set the record for the most career losses, despite winning 62% of his decisions.
.
There are several different stories as to how Young earned the nickname "Cy", however they all acknowledge that it is short short for "Cyclone." One version is that when pitching he twisted his body around and whipped around with such speed, it resembled a cyclone. Another story says that barns and fences would show cyclone-like damage after Young hit them with a throw.[citation needed] He was born in Gilmore, Ohio, and raised in Newcomerstown, Ohio. Young later died in Newcomerstown, where the local park bears his name and a memorial to the pitcher stands.
Life Outside Baseball
Not much is know about Cy Young and his personal life. Young left behind little in terms of personal written documents, such as diaries or correspondence. Young was also unlike some of the more colorful players in baseball at the time. Young was a quiet, unassuming, and well-mannered young man, a predictable product of rural Ohio during the post-Civil War era. (3) The combination of these two facts leads to our lack of information about his personal life. One of the most comprehensive and recent biographies on Cy Young is “Cy Young: A Baseball Life” written by Reed Browning in 2003.
“Denton True Young” was born the son of a civil war veteran on March 29, 1967 in Gilmore, Ohio. Young grew up in the nearby rural farming town of Newcomerstown. Young attended formal schooling up until then sixth grade before dropping out and working on the family farm full time. As a teenager, Young worked up a strong reputation in town baseball circles and eventually played a year for his first organized team, the Canton club of the Tri-State League in 1889.
The only relationship we know that Young had was with a childhood sweetheart named Robba Miler. Young wanted to waited until he had a thousand dollars in his bank account before asking her to marry him. Young married Robba Miller on November 8, 1892. They remained married for the entirety of their lives but had no children. After his retirement at the age of 44, Young moved back to Peoli (Newcomerstown), Ohio, where he had a small farm. Young worked odd jobs to make money and sometimes took part in old timers’ games. Robba died in 1933. Young died in quietly on November 4th, 1955 in Newcomerstown, Ohio at the age of 88.
Professional Career
It was during his time with the Canton club that Denton True Young received his nickname, though it was originally “The Cyclone” and wasn’t shortened to “Cy” until later on. There are several different stories as to how Young earned the nickname, however they all acknowledge that it is short for "Cyclone" and had to do with the speed with which he pitched. One version says that, while in the minor leagues with Canton, Ohio, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound right-hander warmed up by throwing pitches against a wooden fence. When someone said that the fence looked like a cyclone hit it after Young had completed his warmups. Another version states that the it was a wild pitch that tore a couple of wooden planks loose from the grandstand and caused an observer to say that it looked like a cyclone hit. The most common version of the myth is that Young received the nickname merely because his fastball was so overwhelmingly fast.
During Cy Young’s career, a tremendous amount of change occurred to the rules for pitching. When Young first began pitching, pitchers were only allowed to throw underhand. That didn’t change until the mid-1880s. Most pitchers didn’t wear gloves and Young himself didn’t start using one until 1896. When he began as a pitcher, the pitching rubber was a pitching box that was 50 feet from the plate at its closest point. At the beginning of Young’s career, home plate was a diamond shape, which sometimes made it difficult for pitchers and umpires to differentiate a strike from a ball. The rules stated that a foul ball was not a strike. Many pitchers effected by these rule changes, but Young and a few others remained unbothered.
With the Canton team, Young compiled a 15-15 record and before being offered a chance to play for a professional team. In 1890, the Cleveland Spiders offered Young the chance to play in the majors for the sum of $500. Young debuted on August 6, 1890 against the Chicago White Stockings (now the Chicago Cubs), allowing only three hits and receiving the win.
Young spent the ten years from 1890 to 1900 in the National league. For the first 9 years he pitched for the Cleveland Spiders. What Cleveland got was a reliable and durable pitcher. Young was able to pitch games every other day and on one day in October 1890, Young even pitched both games of a double header, winning both with 5-1 and 7-3 results. In 1892, Young set his career high for wins in a single season with a 36-12 record. Young also helped the Spiders to the National League Championship, then known as the Temple Cup, in 1895. In 1899, Young and the rest of the Cleveland team were transferred to the St. Louis Perfectos, who would become the St. Louis Cardinals the next year. This swapping of rosters was only possible because the Spiders and Cardinals had the same owner.
In 1901, Young moved from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Boston Americans of the newly formed American League. Young again showed his consistency and durability by leading the American League in wins for three straight season between 1901 and 1903, with 33, 32, and 28 wins in consecutive years. In 1901, Young won the Triple Crown for pitchers, which includes leading the league in wins, strikeouts, and ERA (Earned Run Average).
In 1903, Young would lead the Boston Americans to the American League pennant. The Americans would play against the National League pennant winning Pittsburgh Pirates in the first World Series. Young threw the first pitch in the first game of that World Series, but would get the loss in a 7-3 Pittsburgh win. Young would come back and win two games in the best-of-nine series (the World Series wasn’t reduced to the modern best-of-seven series format until 1922) to help his team win the series, 5-3.
Young would spend seven years playing for the Boston organization, who became known as the Boston Red Sox in his last year, 1908. During the 1907 season, Young even took up the role of manager while playing for the team. On August 13, 1908, the American League honored Young by celebrating Cy Young Day. On this day, the league suspended all league games, brought together an All-Star team to visit the Boston stadium, then the Huntington Avenue Grounds, and play against Young and the Boston team. Young pitched the first few innings and the game was interrupted several times to make presentations to Young.
In 1909, Young was trades back to the Cleveland organization, now know as the Naps, and compiling a 19-15 record. Young continued to play, but age and weight started to take its toll. In the following two years, Young combined for only 14 wins. Midway through his last season in 1911, he was waived by the Cleveland Naps and then signed with the Boston Braves. But Young’s arm was not the same as it once was and Young did not return for the 1912 season.
Career Achievements
- On September 18, 1897, Young pitched the first no-hitter of his career. On that day, Young and the Boston Americans defeated the Cincinnati Red Stockings 6-0. On June 30, 1908, Young threw another no-hitter against the New York Highlanders in an 8-0 Boston win.
- On one day in October, 1890, Cy Young pitched both games of a double header, winning 5-1 and 7-3. This achievement is even more striking in today’s game, as pitchers usually pitch one game every five days in a rotation.
- In 1901, Cy Young won the Triple Crown by leading the league in wins (33), strikeouts (158), and ERA (1.62).
- On May 5, 1904 Cy Young pitched the third perfect game in Major League Baseball history, the first in American League history, and the first of the twentieth century. A perfect game is defined as a game in which no batter reaches first base safely, thus no hits, walks, or errors can occur. Young struck out eight as Boston defeated the Philadelphia Athletics 3-0.
- Young’s perfect game came in the middle of an amazing stretch of pitching. During that period, Young set the then-record 45 consecutive scoreless innings streak and the still standing 23 consecutive hitless innings streak.
Career Records
Cy Young’s records are all related to his amazing consistency and durability. To understand the astounding nature of some of Cy Young’s Records, just look at the career numbers of other players in baseball history. Young’s career records include:
- Career Wins: 511.
The next highest number of wins in a career belongs to Walter Johnson (417 wins), who has 94 less wins. The active player with the closest number of wins is Roger Clemens (348 wins). A player would need to average a little more then 25 wins a year for 20 wins to catch up with Young. However, the last player to win more the 25 games was Bob Welch, who won 27 seven games in 1990. It is unlikely that this record will ever be challenged.
- Career Losses: 316.
There are actually many players close to Cy Young in number of losses, though there is some discrepancy on the internet on whether Pud Galvin’s (310 losses) numbers are official, but he is second and Nolan Ryan (292 losses) is third. The fact that Young is so far ahead in wins but not in losses just shows how good he really was. Young’s career record for losses is attributed to the shear number of games he pitched.
- Career Innings Pitched: 7,356.
Again, Pud Galvin (6,003.1 innings) is second. That is a difference of 1,353 innings, or just over 150 complete nine-inning games.
- Career Games Started: 815.
Next on the list is Nolan Ryan (773 games). There is a small difference here, but as the five man rotation, each pitching throwing every fifth game, is now the standard, this is unlikely to be equaled.
- Career Complete Games: 749
Next on the list is Pud Galvin (646 games). This is another record that will likely never be broken. The use of the “Set-up man” and the “Closer” to finish out games in the modern era make this record untouchable. Roger Clemens (118 games) has the most complete games among active players. In 2005 and 2006, the league leaders in those years seven and six complete games, respectively.
Accolades
- In 1937, Cy Young was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. This was the second year of the Hall of Fame and Young’s second year of eligibility.
- In 1956, one year after the death of Cy Young, then Commissioner of Baseball Ford Frick created the “Cy Young Award”. This award would be given to the best pitcher in Major League Baseball as decided by a vote of the Baseball Writer’s Association of America. From 1956 to 1966, the award was given to only one pitcher. In 1967 this was changed so that one pitcher from each league, the National and American Leagues, was selected to receive the award.
- In 1993, Northeastern University unveiled a statue of Young outside the Cabot Center, one of its athletic complexes. The statue stands near the spot of the pitcher's mound from Huntington Avenue Grounds, the home field of the Red Sox in Young's time.
- In 1999, 88 years after his final major league appearance and 44 years after his death, he ranked Number 14 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was elected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team, even though half of his career took place in the 19th century.
Career statistics
Pitching statistics
| W | L | ERA | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO |
| 511 | 316 | 2.63 | 906 | 815 | 749 | 76 | 17 | 7356 | 7,092 | 2,147 | 138 | 1,217 | 2,803 |
Hitting statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | TB | SH | HBP |
| 918 | 2960 | 325 | 623 | 87 | 35 | 18 | 290 | 29 | --- | 81 | 151 | .210 | --- | .282 | 834 | --- | 10 |
For at least some portion of Young's, statistics such as on-base percentage, sac hits and caught stealing were not yet officially counted, thus making his career numbers unknown.
| Preceded by: Monte Ward |
Perfect game pitcher May 5, 1904 |
Succeeded by: Addie Joss |
| Preceded by: Chick Stahl |
Boston Red Sox manager 1907 |
Succeeded by: George Huff |
| |||||||||||
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Browning, Reed, ‘’Cy Young: A Baseball Life‘', Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 2003. ISBN 0-585-32329-1
- "Baseball Almanac", Cy Young : A Life in Baseball Book Review, Cy Young Obituary, Retrieved March 28, 2007.
- "A Pitcher Worthy of A Trophy", Retrieved March 28, 2007.
- "Cy Young: A Baseball Life", Book Review, Retrieved March 28, 2007.
- "The Official Website of Cy Young", Retrieved March 28, 2007.
- Answers.com, Retrieved March 30, 2007.
- The Official Website of Major League Baseball, Retrieved March 30, 2007.
Footnotes
There are some discrepancies between “The Official Website of Major League Baseball” and “The National Baseball Hall of Fame” website on the statistics of certain players. Thus, “The Official Website of Major League Baseball” was used for the statistics in this article.
External links
- Baseball Reference, Basball Statistics Reference
- National Baseball Hall of Fame
Credits
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