Martínez dominates en route to first Cy Young Award
Pedro Martínez did not lead the National League in victories in 1997. But Martínez topped the charts in practically every other meaningful pitching category, making history along the way as he won the NL Cy Young Award.
On Nov. 11, 1997, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced that Martínez had been named the winner of the award, earning 25 first-place votes compared to three for runner-up Greg Maddux of the Braves. Maddux, Shawn Estes, Darryl Kile and Denny Neagle all totaled more wins than Martínez, but none dominated hitters like the 26-year-old right-hander from Manoguayabo of the Dominican Republic.
Martínez finished the year 17-8 with MLB-bests in ERA (1.90), complete games (13), hits per nine innings (5.9) and WHIP (0.932). He also struck out 305 batters, becoming the first Latin American pitcher to top the 300 mark in a single season.
“To me, it was a great accomplishment – to compete with Maddux, I’m really proud, because he’s the best pitcher in baseball,” Martínez told the Montreal Gazette after he won the award. “If I’m the best, it’s for this year, because he’s still the best.”
Over the next few years, Martínez would be acknowledged as baseball’s best. But first, he would be traded away by the Expos – who had little time to celebrate Martínez becoming the first Cy Young Award winner in franchise history.
Trade rumors were already swirling when Martínez was named the Cy Young Award winner as expectations were rampant that Montreal could no longer afford him. A week after winning the award, Martínez was dealt to the Red Sox in a deal for Tony Armas and Carl Pavano.
“I’m more sad about them than mad at them,” Martínez told the Gazette about the Expos. “But that’s their policy (trading players as they earn more money), and I’ve known that since I first got there.”
Martínez battled through a sprained ligament on the inside of his right thumb in September but still worked 241.1 innings, which turned out to be a career high.
“I’m pretty deep into the number of pitches (thrown) right now,” Martínez told the Montreal Gazette in early September, when he had already made 111 consecutive turns in the rotation for the Expos.
Martínez learned he had won the award when he was back home in the Dominican Republic, which was enduring a general strike during that time. Martínez hoped the celebration surrounding the award would serve as a unifying force for his countrymen – and he also dedicated the award to fellow Dominican Juan Marichal, who would one day welcome Martínez to Cooperstown and the Hall of Fame.
“(Marichal) deserved it but never (got) it,” Martínez told the Gazette about the Cy Young Award. “This is a country where baseball is the No. 1 sport.”
Martínez finished his career with three Cy Young Awards after winning back-to-back trophies in 1999 and 2000 with the Red Sox. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2015.
Craig Muder is the director of communications for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
