Inasmuch as Christy Mathewson won more games in a single season than Cy Young...?

Question

and every year the Cy Young award goes to the best pitcher for the season, shouldn't the award be named after Christy Mathewson in the National League....instead of Cy Young....?

As charismatic and popular as any player in the early 1900s, the college-educated Christy Mathewson won 373 games over 17 seasons, primarily for the New York Giants. Using his famous fade-away pitch, "Matty" won at least 22 games for 12 straight years beginning in 1903, winning 30 games or more four times. A participant in four World Series, Mathewson's lone title came in 1905 when he tossed three shutouts in six days against the Athletics. He set the modern National League mark with 37 wins in 1908.

And, would you keep the award in honor of Cy Young in the American League ?...If not, who would you name the Award after for the best pitcher for a season in the American League ?

Answer 1

Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn was the author of the winningest season in big league history: 60 victories in 1884. He finished the season with astounding totals of 441 strikeouts and 73 complete games. Though his career spanned just 11 seasons, Radbourn amassed 310 victories, winning 20 or more games nine times and finishing 484 of the 497 games he started. Radbourn would be a better choich than Cy young as a seasonal award given to the best pitcher.

"Happy Jack" Chesbro was an early spitball ace whose 1904 performance with the New York Highlanders still rates among the game's most remarkable seasons. He started 51 games, completed 48 and was the victor in 41 while hurling 455 innings. From 1901 to 1906, he won 154 games - an average of 25 per season. Hurling for pennant winners in Pittsburgh and New York, Chesbro was a league leader in winning percentage three times; wins, appearances and games started twice each; and once each in complete games, innings and shutouts. Jack Chasbro would be a great choice for the American League's award for best pitcher.

The operative phrase in this question is .... WON MORE GAMES IN A SINGLE SEASON....

Answer 2

Although Mathewson is considered by some sportswriters and baseball ‘historians’ to be a better pitcher than Cy Young, the reality is that Young was a better pitcher.

Mathewson is considered to be better by some ‘historians’ for basically two reasons:

1)He played in New York
2)He died a heroic death, having been exposed to poison gas at the end of World War I. He finally passed away of these ailments in 1925, just as the ’25 World Series was getting started. The fact that Walter Johnson was pitching in that World Series of course brought many comparisons with Mathewson as well (Johnson was a far better pitcher than Mathewson).

Mathewson only had one year (1905) when he was the best pitcher in baseball, plus three other years in which he was the best pitcher in the N.L (1908, 1912 and 1913). , but was not as good as the best A.L. pitcher that year.

Matty was really only the fourth best pitcher of his time, behind Walter Johnson, Cy Young, and Grover Cleveland Alexander.

As to why the award was named after Young, it was done because of his career win total, never approached by anyone before or since. Besides, it’s much easier to say “Cy Young Award” than “Christy Mathewson Award”!

I like the comment above about Chesbro…good point!

Answer 3

To be perfectly honest,since you are looking at it from a single season prospective. Christy Mathewson does have the better season standing..
I think that the Award should remain The Cy Young award for the simple fact that that is how it was original named.To strip The name from Cy Young to Christy Mathewson would take from the accomplishments of Cy Young.
IChristy Mathewson was impressive pitcher, however Walter Johnson has accomplished more for baseball than just exemplary pitching..There should be an award in his honor..

Walter Johnson started his career at the bottom as a manager. He also played outfield 13 times in his career.
During his career, He struck out 3,508 batters(second only to Nolan Ryan in 193.)
He was the only pitcher to win games and hit .400 in a season.

He pitched 56 consecutive scoreless innings and had an earned run average of 2.17

He won the Pitching Triple Crown three times(1913,1918,1924)

He led the American League in strikeouts 12 times. and shutouts 7 times.

He was the first pitcher to receive the Chambers Award.
In 1925 his batting average was .433


Walter Johnson gets my vote.

Answer 4

You make a very valid point. Christy was a very well thought of pitcher of incredible skill using that famed fadeaway pitch which is kin to the screw ball. He also won 3 games in the 1905 World Series vs the Athletics all shutouts! So I like your idea as he deserves to be honored. If not the Christy Mathewson, at least another award given to National League pitchers. I like your question and you know your baseball!

Answer 5

NL- Christy Mathewson
AL- Cy Young

Next question

Answer 6

By your reasoning why not make it the Old Haas Radburn award, He won more than double the number of games Cy Young won in a single season

Answer 7

Cy won 511 games, Christy never did that. No other pitcher has won 500 games in a career.

Answer 8

The award is named after Cy young for his career stats. No one will ever get 511 career wins. Clemens is ninth all time with 344 wins. He would need to average 20 wins for 9 more years to reach that level.

Answer 9

All the wonderful explanations above notwithstanding, the simple fact of the matter is that "Cy Young" not only sounds very lyrical tripping off the tongue, but with only 7 letters it fits much easier on the award.

Answer 10

Well Cy Young won 511 games and lost 323
No other pither can ever come close to him. He lost more games than pitchers win games.
He was the ultimate pitcher. Period.