Cy Young: Who was he, and why name an award after him?

A short time ago, a debate was opened regarding a record that would stand the test of time. This is my belief, Cy Young will never be matched.

First of all, he has 511 wins—some players may consider themselves lucky if they get to 300. It takes a lot of energy, time, and skill, to stay sharp for so long.

Take a 20 win season as a good test. If a pitcher can have 10 straight years, of 20 wins, you're at 200. Nice point for most pitchers because most have a small letdown after age 30.

Cy Young, out of the gate, was a numbers machine.

One major feat was his 30 wins in a season. The last time that happened, was with Denny McClain, Detroit Tigers. Even then, he burned up all his stuff during the season, and Micky Lolich had to bail him out.

Cy Young, on the other hand, had five 30 win seasons.

He also had 10, 20 win seasons. So in 15 seasons he accumulated 350 wins.

Over the other couple seasons, he had two 19 win seasons, a few down seasons, and got one World Series ring with the Red Sox in 1903.

Now, what sets him apart as well, is not just the wins total, but he also had 749 complete games. Some will say, that the rules back then were different for pitchers.

Yet, in today's day and age, a pitcher only goes six innings. He has two set up guys, and a relief pitcher to finish it. Back then when you pitched, you were in the game to the end.

Shutouts. Again, a case of how long a pitcher had to go, and he's in 4th place overall with 76 Shutouts.

Strikeouts? 2803, not overpowering, but had enough stuff to keep them honest.

And in the end, he faced over 30,000 batters in his career, another number one stat.

Simply put, today's pitchers, don't have the staying power. We celebrate their best each year, with a trophy, bearing the name of a true Iron Man, Cy Young, who played for the Cleveland Spiders, Boston Red Sox (Americans), Boston Rustlers (Atlanta Braves), and the Cleveland Naps.

Take a bow Cy.