The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award

The Sporting News established the Pitcher of the Year Award in 1944 to recognize the most outstanding pitchers in Major League Baseball. It was given annually to one pitcher each in the American League and National League. In 2013, the Pitcher of the Year Award was split into the Starting Pitcher of the Year Award and Relief Pitcher of the Year Award, which are given annually to a starting pitcher and relief pitchers in each league, as judged by The Sporting News baseball experts.

History

By the Second World War, The Sporting News, had been giving Player of the Year Award|Player of the Year] and Manager of the Year awards since 1936, and an annual Most Valuable Player Award since 1929. In 1944, The Sporting News inaugurated its Pitcher of the Year Award, which has been given each year since to the most outstanding pitcher in each league, with a brief hiatus from 1946 to 1947. Beginning in 2013, Sporting News issues two awards per league—one to the most outstanding starting pitcher, and one to the most outstanding reliever.
This award was established before there was a Cy Young Award, MLB's official honor for the best pitcher in each league. The Cy Young Award is voted by baseball writers from each city, and critics claim that the writers who follow a particular team or player throughout a season are naturally inclined to vote for him.
Three knuckleball pitchers have won the award: Joe Niekro, Wilbur Wood and R. A. Dickey.

Award firsts

In 1946, Hal Newhouser could have narrowly won the award or tied with Bob Feller based upon his statistics. It would have been Newhouser's third consecutive win, a feat not yet accomplished by an American League pitcher; however, Sporting News did not issue the award in 1946 or 1947.
In 1981, Fernando Valenzuela won three The Sporting News awards: Pitcher of the Year, Rookie Pitcher of the Year, and Player of the Year.

Winners

American League

Listed below in reverse chronological order are the American League pitchers chosen by Sporting News as recipients of the Pitcher of the Year Award.

American League starting pitchers

Year	Pitcher	Team	Record	ERA	K	References
		Detroit Tigers		2.21	241
		Detroit Tigers		2.39	228
		New York Yankees		2.63	222
		Houston Astros	18-4	1.75	185
		New York Yankees		3.23	243
				1.63	122
		Houston Astros		2.50	326
		Boston Red Sox		2.11	237
		Boston Red Sox		2.90	308
				3.14	227
		Houston Astros		2.48	216
		Seattle Mariners		2.14	248
		Detroit Tigers		2.90	240

American League relief pitchers

Year	Pitchers	Team	Record	ERA	Saves	References
		Boston Red Sox		1,17	32
		Cleveland Guardians		0.61	47
		Baltimore Orioles		1.48	33
		Cleveland Guardians		1.36	42
		Chicago White Sox		2.54	38
				1.78	14
				1.80	25
		Seattle Mariners		1.96	57
		Boston Red Sox		1.43	35
		Baltimore Orioles		0.54	47
		New York Yankees		1.50	9
		New York Yankees		1.40	1
		Kansas City Royals		1.21	47

American League pitchers

Year	Pitcher	Team	Record	ERA	K	References
		Detroit Tigers	17–8	2.64	239
		Tampa Bay Rays	20–5	2.56	205
	*	Detroit Tigers	24–5	2.40	250
		Seattle Mariners	13–12	2.27	232
		Kansas City Royals	16–8	2.16	242
			22–3	2.54	170
			19–7	3.21	209
		Minnesota Twins	19–6	2.77	245
			21–8	3.48	157
		Minnesota Twins	20–6	2.61	265
		Toronto Blue Jays	22–7	3.25	204
			23–5	2.75	182
		New York Yankees	20–3	3.51	213
		Boston Red Sox	18–6	1.74	284
		Boston Red Sox	23–4	2.07	313
		Toronto Blue Jays	20–6	2.65	271
		Toronto Blue Jays	21–7	2.05	292
		Toronto Blue Jays	20–10	3.22	177
		Seattle Mariners	18–2	2.48	294
		New York Yankees	17–4	2.48	177
		Chicago White Sox	22–10	3.37	158
			7–1	1.91	93
		Boston Red Sox	18–10	2.62	241
			27–6	2.95	127
		Kansas City Royals	23–6	2.16	193
		Minnesota Twins	24–7	2.64	193
		Toronto Blue Jays	17–8	2.76	161
	*	Boston Red Sox	24–4	2.48	238
		Kansas City Royals	20–6	2.87	143
		Detroit Tigers	9–3	1.92	112
		Chicago White Sox	24–10	3.66	148
		Toronto Blue Jays	17–14	3.25	138
		Detroit Tigers	14–7	3.05	97
		Baltimore Orioles	25–7	3.23	149
		Baltimore Orioles	23–9	3.08	190
	*	New York Yankees	25–3	1.74	248
			19–16	2.77	341
		Baltimore Orioles	22–13	2.51	159
		Baltimore Orioles	23–11	2.09	193
			25–12	2.49	143
		Baltimore Orioles	22–9	2.40	158
		Chicago White Sox	24–17	2.51	193
			24–8	1.82	301
			20–12	2.92	304
		Detroit Tigers	24–9	2.80	181
	*	Detroit Tigers	31–6	1.96	280
		Boston Red Sox	22–9	3.16	246
		Minnesota Twins	25–13	2.75	205
		Minnesota Twins	21–7	3.30	142
		Los Angeles Angels	20–9	1.65	207
		New York Yankees	24–7	2.74	189
			20–10	3.59	94
		New York Yankees	25–4	3.21	209
		Baltimore Orioles	18–11	3.58	144
	*	Chicago White Sox	22–10	3.17	179
	*	New York Yankees	21–7	2.97	168
		Chicago White Sox	20–12	3.26	171
		Chicago White Sox	20–9	3.32	192
		New York Yankees	18–7	2.63	137
			23–7	2.72	110
			22–10	3.35	77
			24–7	2.48	152
			22–8	3.50	111
			23–11	3.84	170
		Boston Red Sox	23–6	3.36	138
			20–14	2.82	147
	*	Detroit Tigers	25–9	1.81	212
		Detroit Tigers	29–9	2.22	187

National League

Listed below in reverse chronological order are the National League pitchers chosen by Sporting News as recipients of the Pitcher of the Year Award.

National League starting pitchers

Year	Pitchers	Team	Record	ERA	K	References
		Pittsburgh Pirates		1.97	216
		Atlanta Braves		2.38	225
		San Diego Padres		2.25	234
		Miami Marlins		2.28	207
		Washington Nationals/Los Angeles Dodgers		2.46	236
		New York Mets		2.38	104
		New York Mets		2.43	255
		New York Mets		1.70	269
		Washington Nationals		2.51	268
		Washington Nationals		2.96	284
		Los Angeles Dodgers		1.66	200
	*	Los Angeles Dodgers		1.77	239
		Los Angeles Dodgers		1.83	232

National League relief pitchers

Year	Pitchers	Team	Record	ERA	Saves	References
		New York Mets		1.63	28
		St. Louis Cardinals		2.04	49
		Atlanta Braves		1.95	34
		Milwaukee Brewers		1.56	36
		New York Mets		1.31	32
		Milwaukee Brewers	4–2	1.23	34
		Milwaukee Brewers	4–1	0.33	0
		San Diego Padres	0–5	1.19	41
		Milwaukee Brewers	6–1	2.43	12
		Los Angeles Dodgers	5–0	1.32	41
		Los Angeles Dodgers	3–2	2.20	47
		Pittsburgh Pirates	3–2	2.23	51
		Atlanta Braves	0–3	1.61	47
		Atlanta Braves	4–3	1.21	50

National League pitchers

Year	National League Pitchers	Team	Record	ERA	K	References
		New York Mets	20–6	2.73	230
		Los Angeles Dodgers	21–5	2.28	248
		Philadelphia Phillies	21–10	2.44	219
		San Francisco Giants	15–7	2.48	261
		San Francisco Giants	18–5	2.62	265
		San Diego Padres	19–6	2.54	240
		St. Louis Cardinals	15–8	3.09	184
		St. Louis Cardinals	21–5	2.83	213
		San Francisco Giants	18–7	3.49	206
		Los Angeles Dodgers	2–3	1.20	137
		Arizona Diamondbacks	23–7	3.23	316
		Arizona Diamondbacks	22–6	2.98	293
		Atlanta Braves	21–9	3.40	152
		Houston Astros	22–4	2.90	177
		San Diego Padres	18–7	2.38	257
		Montreal Expos	17–8	1.90	305
		Atlanta Braves	24–8	2.94	276
		Atlanta Braves	19–2	1.63	181
		Atlanta Braves	16–6	1.56	156
		Atlanta Braves	20–10	2.36	197
		Chicago Cubs	20–11	2.18	199
		Atlanta Braves	20–11	2.55	192
		Pittsburgh Pirates	22–6	2.76	131
		San Diego Padres	4–3	1.85	92
	*	Los Angeles Dodgers	23–8	2.26	213
		Chicago Cubs	18–10	3.68	174
		Houston Astros	18–10	2.22	306
		New York Mets	24–4	1.53	268
		Chicago Cubs	16–1	2.69	155
		Philadelphia Phillies	19–6	2.37	139
		Philadelphia Phillies	23–11	3.10	286
	* **	Los Angeles Dodgers	13–7	2.48	180
		Philadelphia Phillies	24–9	2.34	286
		Houston Astros	21–11	3.00	119
		San Francisco Giants	18–10	2.79	171
		Philadelphia Phillies	23–10	2.64	198
		San Diego Padres	22–14	2.74	93
		New York Mets	22–9	2.38	243
		Los Angeles Dodgers	15–12	2.42	143
		San Francisco Giants	24–12	3.53	143
		Philadelphia Phillies	27–10	1.97	310
		Chicago Cubs	24–13	2.77	263
		St. Louis Cardinals	23–7	3.12	274
		New York Mets	25–7	2.21	208
		St. Louis Cardinals	22–9	1.12	268
		San Francisco Giants	22–10	2.85	150
		Los Angeles Dodgers	27–9	1.73	317
	*	Los Angeles Dodgers	26–8	2.04	382
		Los Angeles Dodgers	19–5	1.74	223
	*	Los Angeles Dodgers	25–5	1.88	306
	*	Los Angeles Dodgers	25–9	2.83	232
			21–13	3.02	115
		Pittsburgh Pirates	20–9	3.08	120
		San Francisco Giants	21–15	2.83	209
			22–11	3.07	150
			21–11	2.69	111
			27–7	3.06	139
		Philadelphia Phillies	23–14	3.28	160
			21–7	2.30	152
			23–7	2.10	148
	*	Philadelphia Phillies	28–7	2.59	148
			22–3	2.93	146
		Philadelphia Phillies	16–7	2.66	56
		St. Louis Cardinals	20–9	2.77	108
			24–15	2.60	137
		Chicago Cubs	11–2	2.12	47
			21–16	3.02	161

Players

Multiple wins

Several players have won the Pitcher of the Year Award more than once:

Bob Lemon was the first player to win the award 3 times.
Warren Spahn was the first to win the award 4 times and won his last award at the age of 40.
Roger Clemens was the first to win the award 5 times.
Sandy Koufax and Greg Maddux won the award 4 consecutive years.
Pedro Martínez, Roy Halladay, Vida Blue, Zack Greinke, and Edwin Díaz won the award in the National League and American League.
Max Scherzer won the award 4 times, once in AL and three times in NL.

Rank	Pitcher	# of Awards	Years
1		5	1986, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001
2		4	1972, 1977, 1980, 1982
2		4	1963, 1964, 1965, 1966
2		4	1993, 1994, 1995, 1996
2		4	1953, 1957, 1958, 1961
2		4	2013, 2016, 2017, 2021
7		3	1955, 1961, 1963
7		3	1948, 1950, 1954
7		3	1997, 1999, 2000
7		3	1973, 1975, 1976
7		3	2019, 2021, 2023
7		3	2018, 2019, 2020
7		3	2019, 2022, 2025
7		3	2019, 2020, 2021
7		3	2011, 2013, 2014
7		3	2013, 2014, 2017
7		3	2017, 2018, 2024
7		3	2011, 2012, 2022
19		2	1968, 1970
19		2	1991, 2000
19		2	2003, 2010
19		2	1944, 1945
19		2	1952, 1953
19		2	1969, 1975
19		2	1971, 1978
19		2	2005, 2006
19		2	2009, 2015
19		2	1987, 1994
19		2	1968, 1969
19		2	1956, 1957
19		2	1985, 1989
19		2	2004, 2006
19		2	2001, 2002
19		2	1984, 1987
19		2	2008, 2009
19		2	2014, 2015
19		2	2018, 2021
19		2	2010, 2014
19		2	2016, 2017
19		2	2024, 2025
19		2	2019, 2023

MLB Triple Crown

Only five Pitcher of the Year Award winners have led the major leagues in wins, ERA and strikeouts which is commonly called the Pitching Triple Crown. Below is a complete list including individuals before the award was created.

Sandy Koufax is the only player to achieve it more than once. Koufax achieved it three times in a four-year period.
Hal Newhouser, age 24 and Dwight Gooden, age 20 were the youngest individuals.
Shane Bieber, age 26 was the last player to achieve this feat.
Johan Santana, age 27, is the fifth individual.
Walter Johnson and Lefty Grove achieved it twice before the award began.

Year	Player	Team	League	ERA	W	K	Rating	Ref
			AL	1.14*	36*	243*	12.71
		Philadelphia Phillies	NL	1.22*	31*	241*	12.62
			AL	1.27*	23*	162*	10.00
			NL	2.16*	28*	262*	9.80
			AL	2.54*	28*	209*	8.47
			AL	2.06*	31*	175*	9.09
		Detroit Tigers	AL	1.81*	25*	212*	9.62
		Los Angeles Dodgers	NL	1.88*	25*	306*	10.41
		Los Angeles Dodgers	NL	2.04*	26*	382*	11.39
		Los Angeles Dodgers	NL	1.73*	27*	317*	11.15
		New York Mets	NL	1.53*	24*	268*	9.88
		Minnesota Twins	AL	2.77*	19*	245*	6.96
			AL	1.63*	8*	122*	3.32

MLB Hall of Fame predictor

Winning three or more Pitcher or Starting Pitcher of the Year Awards has been seen as a strong indicator of future admission to the National [Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Major League Baseball Hall of Fame]. All of the eligible pitchers with three or more awards have been elected to the Hall of Fame, with one exception: Roger Clemens has the most Pitcher of the Year Awards, is in the top ten for all-time wins and strikeouts, and is considered to be one of the best pitchers of all time. Clemens' alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs is the major stumbling block to be elected to the Hall of Fame.
Starting pitchers that have won three or more Pitcher of the Year Awards and the year they were inducted into Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. Active player statistics are through the 2023 season.

Pitcher	# of Awards	Years	HOF Year	Wins	ERA	Ks	References
	4	1972, 1977, 1980, 1982	1994	329	3.22	4,136
	4	1963, 1964, 1965, 1966	1972	165	2.76	2,396
	4	1993, 1994, 1995, 1996	2014	355	3.16	3,371
	4	1953, 1957, 1958, 1961	1973	363	3.09	2,583
	4	2013, 2016, 2017, 2021	Active-Not Eligible	221	3.22	3,489
	3	1955, 1961, 1963	1974	236	2.75	1,956
	3	1948, 1950, 1954	1976	207	3.23	1,277
	3	1997, 1999, 2000	2015	219	2.93	3,154
	3	1973, 1975, 1976	1990	268	2.86	2,212
	3	2019, 2021, 2023	Active-Not Eligible	153	3.18	2,251
	3	2018, 2019, 2020	Active-Not Eligible	96	2.57	1,851
	3	2017, 2018, 2024	Active-Not Eligible	145	3.01	2,579
	3	2011, 2013, 2014	Active-Not Eligible	223	2.53	3,052
	3	2011, 2012, 2022	Active-Not Eligible	266	3.32	3,553
	5	1986, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001	–	354	3.12	4,672

MLB Hall of Famers

MLB Hall of Famers that won the SN Pitchers of the Year award.

Pitcher	# of Awards	Years	References
	4	1972, 1977, 1980, 1982
	4	1963, 1964, 1965, 1966
	4	1993, 1994, 1995, 1996
	4	1953, 1957, 1958, 1961
	3	1955, 1961, 1963
	3	1948, 1950, 1954
	3	1997, 1999, 2000
	3	1973, 1975, 1976
	2	1968, 1970
	2	1991, 2000
	2	2003, 2010
	2	1944, 1945
	2	1952, 1953
	2	1969, 1975
	1	1992
	1	1962
	1	1951
	1	1974
	1	1971
	1	1995
	1	1981
	1	1977
	1	1996
	1	1959

300 and 3,000 club members

Ten pitchers have recorded 300 wins and 3,000 strikeouts. A list of these elite pitchers with the years they won the Pitcher of the Year Award is below. Only two pitchers, Walter Johnson and Tom Seaver, have a career ERA below 3.00. Four pitchers have more than 4,000 career strikeouts. Walter Johnson is the best in wins, complete games, shutouts, ERA and WHIP. Nolan Ryan has the most strikeouts.

Pitcher	SN Pitcher of the Years	Wins	ERA	Ks	WHIP	CG	SHO	War for Pitchers	War per Year	Career Rating	Rating per Year	T	Ref
	1972, 1977, 1980, 1982	329	3.22	4,136		254	55	84.13	3.501	120.70	5.029	L
	1986, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001	354	3.12	4,672		100	38	138.7	5.78	128.34	5.35	R
	1995	303	3.29	4,875		100	37	103.53	4.71	114.41	5.20	L
	-	417	2.17	3,508		531	110	152.36	7.26	160.48	7.64	R
	1993, 1994, 1995, 1996	355	3.16	3,371		109	35	104.78	4.56	115.29	5.01	R
	-	318	3.35	3,342		245	45	96.97	4.04	109.81	4.58	R
	-	314	3.11	3,534		303	53	93.03	4.29	117.30	5.33	R
	1977	324	3.19	5,714		222	61	83.6	3.10	138.29	5.12	R
	1969, 1975	311	2.86	3,640		231	61	106.07	5.31	118.68	5.93	R
	-	324	3.26	3,574		178	58	68.28	2.97	114.10	4.96	R

Battle of Pitchers of the Year

It is a rare occurrence when reigning Pitcher of the Year winners face off against each other.

A pitching duel occurred on August 28, 1989, when Frank Viola of New York Mets pitched a complete-game shutout defeating Orel Hershiser of the Dodgers 1–0.
On May 9, 2013, Toronto's R. A. Dickey pitched against David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays won in 10 innings, 5–4, and neither starting pitcher got a decision.
Arizona's Zach Greinke bested Houston's Dallas Keuchel on June 2, 2016.

The lost years

The award was suspended for 1946–1947. A list of the lost year's top two pitchers in each league based on a pitcher rating composed of wins, ERA and strikeouts is below. A pitcher rating of 6.0 is considered very good. A rating of 9.00 is rare. Bob Feller and Hal Newhouser in 1946 AL had a rating above 9.

Year	League	Pitcher	Team	Record	ERA	K	WHIP	Rating	Ref
	AL		Cleveland Indians	20–11	2.68	196	1.194	7.43
	AL		Philadelphia Athletics	19–9	3.22	128	1.334	5.65
	AL		Cleveland Indians	26–15	2.18	348	1.158	11.32
	AL		Detroit Tigers	26–9	1.94	275	1.069	9.83
	NL		Cincinnati Reds	22–8	2.47	193	1.179	7.59
	NL		Boston Braves	21–10	2.33	123	1.136	7.20
	NL		St. Louis Cardinals	21–10	2.10	107	1.180	7.03
	NL		Boston Braves	20–14	2.21	129	1.177	6.99

Organizations

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the only organization whose pitchers have won the Pitcher of the Year Award in 5 consecutive years: 1962–1966 and 2013–2017. Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers have won the award 18 times ; Atlanta Braves pitchers have won the award 13 times. The following three organizations have never had a pitcher win the award: Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, and Texas Rangers.
The Detroit Tigers have three pitchers who have won consecutive awards — Hal Newhouser, Denny McLain and Justin Verlander. Each was also Player of the Year and AL MVP at least once while being Pitcher of the Year.
The Atlanta Braves also have three pitchers who have won consecutive awards — Warren Spahn, Greg Maddux and Craig Kimbrel.

Rank	Team	# of Awards	Years
1	Los Angeles/Brooklyn Dodgers	18	1951, 1956, 1962–1966, 1974, 1981, 1988, 2003, 2011, 2013–2017, 2021
2	Atlanta/Milwaukee/Boston Braves	15	1948, 1953, 1957–1958, 1961, 1991, 1993–1996, 2000, 2013–2014, 2024
3	Cleveland Indians/Guardians	12	1948, 1950–1951, 1954, 1962, 1970, 2007–2008, 2016, 2020, 2022, 2024
4	Detroit Tigers	11	1944–1945, 1968–1969, 1981, 1984, 2011–2013, 2024-2025
4	New York Yankees	11	1955, 1958, 1961, 1963, 1978, 1994, 2001, 2014–2015, 2021, 2023
6	Boston Red Sox	10	1949, 1967, 1986, 1991, 1999, 2000, 2017, 2018, 2025
7	New York Mets	9	1969, 1975, 1985, 2012, 2018–2020, 2022, 2025
7	Philadelphia Phillies	9	1950, 1952, 1955, 1972, 1977, 1980, 1982–1983, 2010
7	San Francisco/New York Giants	9	1944, 1954, 1959, 1967, 1973, 1978, 2004, 2008–2009
10	Baltimore Orioles	9	1960, 1973, 1975–1976, 1979–1980, 2016, 2023
10	Oakland/Philadelphia Athletics	9	1952, 1971, 1974, 1990, 1992, 2002, 2019–2020
12	Chicago White Sox	7	1956–1957, 1959, 1972, 1983, 1993, 2021
13	Houston Astros	6	1979, 1986, 1999, 2015, 2019, 2022
13	Minnesota Twins/Washington Senators	6	1953, 1965–1966, 1988, 2004, 2006
13	San Diego Padres	6	1976, 1989, 1998, 2007, 2019, 2023
13	St. Louis Cardinals	6	1949, 1968, 1970, 2005–2006, 2024
13	Toronto Blue Jays	6	1982, 1987, 1996–1998, 2003
17	Chicago Cubs	5	1945, 1971, 1984, 1987, 1992
19	Kansas City Royals	4	1985, 1989, 2009, 2013
19	Milwaukee Brewers	4	2018, 2020, 2021, 2023
19	Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos	4	1997, 2016, 2017, 2021
19	Pittsburgh Pirates	4	1960, 1990, 2015, 2025
19	Seattle Mariners	4	1995, 2010, 2014, 2018
24	Los Angeles (California) Angels (of Anaheim)	3	1964, 1977, 2005
25	Arizona Diamondbacks	2	2001–2002
26	Miami Marlins	1	2022
26	Tampa Bay Rays	1	2012
28	Cincinnati Reds	0	none
28	Colorado Rockies	0	none
28	Texas Rangers	0	none