MLB: 6 Biggest Snubs in Cy Young Voting History

The word “snub” has negative connotations, but it gets the attention of a lot of people. In most cases, a blatant snub is the featured story rather than an article about the actual award winner or the All-Star selection.

Although there may have been obvious All-Star snubs because fan voting determines the outcome, MVP and Cy Young selections are rarely wrong.

The MVP and Cy Young voters have made a profession of following baseball. As a result, their choices tend to be right on the money, and it is difficult to find Cy Young winners who didn’t deserve the honor.

Here’s a list of the biggest snubs in Cy Young history.

6. David Price or CC Sabathia, 2010

Felix Hernandez won the Cy Young last year, but it didn’t go without controversy. Hernandez was tied for the fewest wins ever by a Cy Young award winner (13), and the Mariners didn’t even make the playoffs.

That year, either David Price or CC Sabathia would have been better options. They both played in the AL East, which is the toughest division in baseball and had playoff contending teams.

Price was 19-6, Sabathia 21-7 and Hernandez was 13-12. Hernandez did have more strikeouts and innings pitched, but winning should be a factor.

5. Tom Seaver, 1981

Fernando Valenzuela narrowly edged out Tom Seaver by two percentage points to win the Cy Young in 1981. 

Valenzuela is tied with Felix Hernandez for the position of Cy Young winner with the least amount of wins as a starting pitcher.

Seaver had a ridiculous 14-2 record compared to Valenzuela’s 13-7 mark.

4. Nolan Ryan, 1973

Although Jim Palmer pitched very well, Ryan was snubbed.

Palmer’s WAR was 6.1 compared to Ryan’s 7.9. Ryan also threw considerably more innings, and had 225 more strikeouts than Palmer.

3. Wilbur Wood, 1972

This one could have gone to either Wood or Gaylord Perry, but the voters decided to give Perry the award with 53 percent compared to 48 percent.

Wood had more shutouts (8 to 5), and pitched 35 more innings than Perry. However, Perry had a lower ERA and more strikeouts.

2. Mariano Rivera or Johan Santana, 2005

Bartolo Colon had some stiff competition in 2005. He may have led the league in wins, but other factors should have been considered.

Santana had a lower ERA, a higher WAR, more complete games, more shutouts and more strikeouts.

Rivera had a ridiculous 1.38 ERA, with 43 saves and seven wins.

1. Ernie Broglio, 1960

Do I understand how Broglio only received one percent of the vote compared to the winner, Vern Law, with 50 percent?

No.

Broglio finished third, when in reality, he should have finished first. Broglio had more wins than Law, the same amount of losses, a lower ERA (2.74 to 3.08), a better WAR and more strikeouts.

The only reason why Law won the Cy Young was more innings pitched and complete games.