MLB

MLB Cy Young Award: list of winners

The best pitchers in the 2023 Major League Baseball season are to be honoured today with the Cy Young Award, a prize named after an MLB legend.

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The Cy Young Award, whose 2023 winners are about to be announced, is handed out each year to the outstanding pitcher in each of Major League Baseball’s two leagues - the American League (AL) and the National League (NL).

Created in 1956, the accolade is named after Hall of Fame pitcher Denton ‘Cy’ Young, who was a World Series champion in 1903 and, over the course of a two-decade playing career in MLB, won a record 511 games.

The Cy Young Award was initially given to just one pitcher across MLB, before being split into two prizes in 1967.

Who chooses the Cy Young Award recipients?

The two Cy Young Award winners are voted for by the members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, who are also responsible for choosing the recipients of the MLB’s Valuable Player Award, Manager of the Year Award and Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award.

When are the 2023 Cy Young winners announced?

The winners of the AL and NL’s 2023 Cy Young Awards are to be revealed today, Wednesday 15 November 2023, at 6pm ET/3pm PT.

The Houston Astros' Justin Verlander won the 2022 Cy Young Award in the American League, while the Miami Marlins' Sandy Alcantara took the National League prize. KEN MURRAYEFE

Who has won the Cy Young Award in the past?

Cy Young Award winners: full list

American League:

  • 2022: Justin Verlander - Houston Astros
  • 2021: Robbie Ray - Toronto Blue Jays
  • 2020: Shane Bieber - Cleveland Indians
  • 2019: Justin Verlander - Houston Astros
  • 2018: Blake Snell - Tampa Bay Rays
  • 2017: Corey Kluber - Cleveland Indians
  • 2016: Rick Porcello - Boston Red Sox
  • 2015: Dallas Keuchel - Houston Astros
  • 2014: Corey Kluber - Cleveland Indians
  • 2013: Max Scherzer - Detroit Tigers
  • 2012: David Price - Tampa Bay Rays
  • 2011: Justin Verlander - Detroit Tigers
  • 2010: Felix Hernandez - Seattle Mariners
  • 2009: Zack Greinke - Kansas City Royals
  • 2008: Cliff Lee - Cleveland Indians
  • 2007: CC Sabathia - Cleveland Indian s
  • 2006: Johan Santana - Minnesota Twins
  • 2005: Bartolo Colon - LA Angels
  • 2004: Johan Santana - Minnesota Twins
  • 2003: Roy Halladay - Toronto Blue Jays
  • 2002: Barry Zito - Oakland Athletics
  • 2001: Roger Clemens - NY Yankees
  • 2000: Pedro Martinez - Boston Red Sox
  • 1999: Pedro Martinez - Boston Red Sox
  • 1998: Roger Clemens - Toronto Blue Jays
  • 1997: Roger Clemens - Toronto Blue Jays
  • 1996: Pat Hentgen - Toronto Blue Jays
  • 1995: Randy Johnson - Seattle Mariners
  • 1994: David Cone - Kansas City Royals
  • 1993: Jack McDowell - Chicago White Sox
  • 1992: Dennis Eckersley - Oakland Athletics
  • 1991: Roger Clemens - Boston Red Sox
  • 1990: Bob Welch - Oakland Athletics
  • 1989: Bret Saberhagen - Kansas City Royals
  • 1988: Frank Viola - Minnesota Twins
  • 1987: Roger Clemens - Boston Red Sox
  • 1986: Roger Clemens - Boston Red Sox
  • 1985: Bret Saberhagen - Kansas City Royals
  • 1984: Willie Hernandez - Detroit Tigers
  • 1983: LaMarr Hoyt - Chicago White Sox
  • 1982: Pete Vuckovich - Milwaukee Brewers
  • 1981: Rollie Fingers - Milwaukee Brewers
  • 1980: Steve Stone - Baltimore Orioles
  • 1979: Mike Flanagan - Baltimore Orioles
  • 1978: Ron Guidry - NY Yankees
  • 1977: Sparky Lyle - NY Yankees
  • 1976: Jim Palmer - Baltimore Orioles
  • 1975: Jim Palmer - Baltimore Orioles
  • 1974: Catfish Hunter - Oakland Athletics
  • 1973: Jim Palmer - Baltimore Orioles
  • 1972: Gaylord Perry - Cleveland Indians
  • 1971: Vida Blue - Oakland Athletics
  • 1970: Jim Perry - Minnesota Twins
  • 1969: Denny McLain - Detroit Tigers
  • 1969: Mike Cuellar - Baltimore Orioles
  • 1968: Denny McLain - Detroit Tigers
  • 1967: Jim Lonborg - Boston Red Sox

National League:

  • 2022: Sandy Alcantara - Miami Marlins
  • 2021: Corbin Burnes - Milwaukee Brewers
  • 2020: Trevor Bauer - Cincinnati Reds
  • 2019: Jacob deGrom - NY Mets
  • 2018: Jacob deGrom - NY Mets
  • 2017: Max Scherzer - Washington Nationals
  • 2016: Max Scherzer - Washington Nationals    
  • 2015: Jake Arrieta - Chicago Cubs
  • 2014: Clayton Kershaw - LA Dodgers
  • 2013: Clayton Kershaw - LA Dodgers
  • 2012: RA Dickey - NY Mets
  • 2011: Clayton Kershaw - LA Dodgers
  • 2010: Roy Halladay - Philadelphia Phillies
  • 2009: Tim Lincecum - San Francisco Giants
  • 2008: Tim Lincecum - San Francisco Giants
  • 2007: Jake Peavy - San Diego Padres
  • 2006: Brandon Webb - Arizona Diamondbacks
  • 2005: Chris Carpenter - St Louis Cardinals
  • 2004: Roger Clemens - Houston Astros
  • 2003: Eric Gagne - LA Dodgers
  • 2002: Randy Johnson - Arizona Diamondbacks
  • 2001: Randy Johnson - Arizona Diamondbacks
  • 2000: Randy Johnson - Arizona Diamondbacks
  • 1999: Randy Johnson - Arizona Diamondbacks
  • 1998: Tom Glavine - Atlanta Braves
  • 1997: Pedro Martinez - Montreal Expos
  • 1996: John Smoltz - Atlanta Braves
  • 1995: Greg Maddux - Atlanta Braves
  • 1994: Greg Maddux - Atlanta Braves
  • 1993: Greg Maddux - Atlanta Braves
  • 1992: Greg Maddux - Chicago Cubs
  • 1991: Tom Glavine - Atlanta Braves
  • 1990: Doug Drabek - Pittsburgh Pirates
  • 1989: Mark Davis - San Diego Padres
  • 1988: Orel Hershiser - LA Dodgers
  • 1987: Steve Bedrosian - Philadelphia Phillies
  • 1986: Mike Scott - Houston Astros
  • 1985: Dwight Gooden - NY Mets
  • 1984: Rick Sutcliffe - Chicago Cubs
  • 1983: John Denny - Philadelphia Phillies
  • 1982: Steve Carlton - Philadelphia Phillies
  • 1981: Fernando Valenzuela - LA Dodgers
  • 1980: Steve Carlton - Philadelphia Phillies
  • 1979: Bruce Sutter - Chicago Cubs
  • 1978: Gaylord Perry - San Diego Padres
  • 1977: Steve Carlton - Philadelphia Phillies    
  • 1976: Randy Jones - San Diego Padres
  • 1975: Tom Seaver - NY Mets
  • 1974: Mike Marshall - LA Dodgers
  • 1973: Tom Seaver - NY Mets
  • 1972: Steve Carlton - Philadelphia Phillies
  • 1971: Fergie Jenkins - Chicago Cubs
  • 1970: Bob Gibson - St Louis Cardinals
  • 1969: Tom Seaver - NY Mets
  • 1968: Bob Gibson - St Louis Cardinals
  • 1967: Mike McCormick - San Francisco Giants

MLB-wide:

  • 1966: Sandy Koufax - LA Dodgers
  • 1965: Sandy Koufax - LA Dodgers
  • 1964: Dean Chance - LA Angels
  • 1963: Sandy Koufax - LA Dodgers
  • 1962: Don Drysdale - LA Dodgers
  • 1961: Whitey Ford - NY Yankees
  • 1960: Vern Law - Pittsburgh Pirates
  • 1959: Early Wynn - Chicago White Sox
  • 1958: Bob Turley - NY Yankees
  • 1957: Warren Spahn - Milwaukee Braves
  • 1956: Don Newcombe - Brooklyn Dodgers

Who has won the most Cy Young Awards?

Since its inception nearly 70 years ago, 84 pitchers have won the Cy Young Award, with 21 of them scooping the trophy on more than one occasion.

Roger Clemens stands out as the man with the most Cy Young Awards. The two-time World Series champion received the gong seven times across three decades, and is one of only 11 players to claim Cy Young and MVP honours in the same season, having doubled up in 1986.

Meanwhile, Greg Maddux and Randy Johnson share the record for the most consecutive Cy Young Awards. Maddux won all four of his Cy Youngs between 1992 and 1995, before Johnson bagged four on the trot between 1999 and 2002. The latter also picked up the prize in 1995.

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