Cy Young

Pitcher

Class of 1937

Cy Young

Pitcher

Class of 1937
Cy Young left a legacy that is unlikely to ever be matched.

Games

Birth year

About Cy Young

Cy Young left a legacy as a pitcher that is unlikely to ever be matched.

The right-hander won 511 games during his tenure in baseball, almost 100 more than any other pitcher in history. He recorded 30 victories on five occasions and won 20-or-more games 16 times.

Young’s best season came in 1901 when he led in strikeouts (158), wins (33) and ERA (1.62). It was the first year of the American League and he set the bar high, winning its pitchingTriple Crown.

In 1903, he won two games in the first modern World Series, helping Boston defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates.

On May 5, 1904, Young pitched the first perfect game of the 20th century, a day he considered to be his greatest in baseball. Young totaled three no-hitters throughout his career. He still holds the records for most career innings pitched with 7,356, games started with 815 and complete games with 749. He is the fourth all-time with 76 career shutouts.

Young threw his first no-hitter on Sept. 18, 1897. He did not walk a batter, but his team committed four errors. One was originally ruled a hit, but Cleveland’s third baseman sent a note to the press box after the eighth inning indicating that he had actually made an error, so the ruling on the field was changed. Young considered the game to be a one-hitter, despite a valiant effort from his teammate.

In 1908, he pitched his third no-hitter at 41 years and three months old, setting a record for oldest pitcher to throw a no-hitter that stood for 82 years.

Young led his league in victories on five occasions: In 1892, 1895, and from 1901 to 1903. In 1892, he reached a career-high in wins with 36. He led the league in ERA twice with a 1.93 in 1892 and a 1.62 in 1901, and was second three times in the same category.

For 19 straight years, the right-handed pitcher was in the Top 10 in his league for number of innings pitched.

Young was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1937. He passed away on Nov. 4, 1955.

The Basics

Year inducted
1937
Birth Place
Gilmore, Ohio
Birth Year
1867
Died
1955, Newcomerstown Ohio

Career at a Glance

Primary Team
Cleveland Spiders
Primary Position
Pitcher
Played For
Cleveland Spiders, 1890-1898
St. Louis Cardinals, 1899-1900
Boston Red Sox, 1901-1908
Cleveland Indians, 1909-1911
Boston Braves, 1911

Career MLB Stats

Games
906
Wins
511
Losses
315
Winning %
.619
Saves
18
Hits
7,092
Walks
1,217
Runs
3,167
Games Started
815
Innings Pitched
7,356
Completed Games
749
Shutouts
76
Earned Runs
2,147
Strikeouts
2,803
ERA
2.63
WHIP
1.130

Cy Young Stories

Explore the archives and go deep into the lives, careers, and stories of the Hall of Fame's honorees.

Red Sox trade Cy Young to Cleveland

Second BBWAA election brings Lajoie, Speaker, Young to Cooperstown

Oral history provides rare look into Cy Young’s life after baseball

Grover Cleveland Alexander of the Phillies defeats Cy Young of the Braves 1-0