Two-time Cy Young Award-winner Gaylord Perry reflects on making history in both leagues

Perry made history in 1978 by becoming the first pitcher to win the Cy Young Award in both the National and the American League. He first received the honor in 1972 following his debut season with the Cleveland Indians, shortly after a 10-year stint with the San Francisco Giants. Forty-four years later, he admits that his first Cy Young Award meant more to him, because of that trade.

“The thing about the first Cy Young is that I signed with the San Francisco Giants first thing out of high school. I loved the Giants – I still love them – they’re my number one team. In 1970 and 1971 I had won a total of 40 games. I thought I had it made,” Perry remarked. “I felt more pressure playing for Cleveland, because we didn’t have as good of a team as San Francisco. We had five Hall of Famers on that Giants team – Cepeda, Mays, McCovey, Marichal and myself. The pressure in Cleveland was to show that I could win anywhere.”

“Before I won my second Cy Young I thought I was too old – I didn’t think the writers would vote for me,” Perry recalled. “But they voted on my performance, so I won it.”

Finding himself on the flipside of the 1972 trade, this time Perry wound up on a team with multiple Hall of Famers: The San Diego Padres. One in particular played a big role in what would be his 21-6 record that year.

“It was [Dave] Winfield, myself, Ozzie Smith and Rollie Fingers,” Perry remembers. “Rollie saved 16 games of mine, so we’ve been good friends ever since.”

Perry finished 1978 with a 2.72 ERA through 260.2 innings pitched and a win-loss percentage of .778 – leading the Padres to their first winning record (at 84-78) in their 10 seasons in the National League.

“[The press] kept saying, “You’re too old to do this and that,’ but I think I showed them,” Perry told the Associated Press with delight. “I’m going to dedicate it to people 40 or over.”