Unexpected Dominance by Relievers: Historic Cy Young Achievements
When we reflect on some of the most remarkable seasons in Major League Baseball history, the 1974 campaign by Mike Marshall stands out as extraordinary. Marshall didn’t earn his National League Cy Young Award by the conventional means of racking up wins as a starter. Instead, he achieved this accolade by pitching an incredible 200 innings in relief, setting a new paradigm for what a reliever could accomplish.
Marshall’s unprecedented achievement in 1974 paved the way for relievers to be considered seriously for awards traditionally dominated by starting pitchers. His success showed that those coming out of the bullpen could dominate to the same extent as starters, thus broadening the scope of the Cy Young Award's relevance. The impact of Marshall’s season is felt even today, as it redefined the potential contributions of relief pitchers.
Reliever success in Cy Young voting didn't stop with Marshall. Sparky Lyle continued the trend, capturing the 1977 American League Cy Young Award. This proved that the remarkable feats of relievers weren’t limited to just a single fluke season.
Bruce Sutter, one of the most formidable closers of his era, further cemented the influence of relief pitching by winning the 1979 NL Cy Young Award. Sutter established himself as a dominant force, making it clear that the bullpen could harbor some of the game's top talents.
Rollie Fingers was another benchmark in the annals of baseball history. In 1981, Fingers not only took home the AL Cy Young but also the AL MVP Award. His 78 innings pitched were enough to earn him such accolades, underscoring the significant impact a reliever could have on an entire season.
In 1984, Willie Hernandez replicated Fingers' feat by securing both the AL MVP and Cy Young awards. Hernandez’s performance was defined by a minuscule 1.92 ERA over 140 1/3 innings pitched, a testament to his efficiency and dominance coming out of the bullpen.
Two years later, in 1986, Steve Bedrosian followed with his own successful run at the Cy Young Award. Bedrosian’s 40 saves and 89 innings pitched made him the standout in the league, showing once again that a reliever could be fundamental to a team's success.
Mark Davis continued this impressive lineage with his 1989 NL Cy Young win, converting 44 saves out of 48 opportunities and pitching 92 2/3 innings. Davis's contributions highlighted the reliability and clutch performances expected from elite relievers.
Then came Dennis Eckersley in 1992, taking home both the AL MVP and Cy Young Awards. Eckersley's 80 innings of relief work were crucial to his team's success, reinforcing the idea that a top-tier reliever could handle high-pressure situations and deliver consistently.
The most recent reliever to earn a Cy Young Award was Eric Gagne in 2003. Gagne's sensational performance, marked by a record-breaking streak of converted saves, remains the only instance of a reliever winning the award post-Eckersley.
While we have not seen another reliever adding a Cy Young to their accolades since Gagne, the landscape of dominant bullpen arms continues to flourish. Craig Kimbrel has been a stalwart in the bullpen since being drafted directly as a reliever. Notably, Kimbrel didn’t start a single game in the minors up until a brief rehabilitation stint in 2016.
Another prominent figure in the bullpen is Aroldis Chapman, who transitioned to relief pitching in 2010. Chapman's transition marked the beginning of another chapter in relievers’ impact on the game.
A current standout is Emmanuel Clase. Clase saved 38 games in 41 chances, sporting an eye-popping 0.59 ERA and 0.67 WHIP. His 53 strikeouts alongside only seven unintentional walks over 61 1/3 innings highlight his precision and potency.
Despite Clase's extraordinary metrics, other pitchers like Tarik Skubal, Erick Fedde, Tyler Anderson, and Cole Ragans have ranked higher in AL pitcher WAR. Significantly, Fedde has transitioned to the National League, while Skubal is expected to adopt a careful approach through September. Anderson, sporting a 4.46 FIP and 1.23 WHIP, and Ragans, who continues to impress despite recent injuries, indicate just how competitive the pitching landscape remains.
Ultimately, the historical narrative of relievers clinching the Cy Young Award offers a fascinating lens into the evolution of the role. Mike Marshall, Rollie Fingers, and their ilk set benchmarks that have inspired successive generations. As we watch current and future seasons unfold, the echoes of these extraordinary performances remind us that greatness can emerge from anywhere on the pitching mound, starter or reliever alike.