2011 Cy Young Awards: 20 Greatest Pitchers to Never Win a Cy Young

Named after one of the best pitchers of all time, the Cy Young Award is the best individual honor that a pitcher can earn.

A number of pitchers have made their mark in earning this distinction multiple times, but at the same time many remarkable seasons have come up just short, leaving pitchers on the outside looking in.

Here are some of the best pitchers (individual season or career) that have failed to take home the Cy Young Award during their illustrious careers.

Mike Mussina

Mike Mussina finished his career with a 270-153 record in 18 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees, five times making All-Star appearances.

Despite six seasons of 18 or more wins, he only once finished in the top three of Cy Young voting.

Bert Blyleven

After so many years on the Hall of Fame ballot, Bert Blyleven finally made his way into Cooperstown this year.

He had a very long and successful career, winning nearly 300 games and finishing his tenure with a 3.31 ERA.

He never did win the Cy Young Award despite four 17-win seasons with ERAs below 2.75.

Phil Niekro

Phil Niekro's best season arguably came in 1969, when he won an impressive 23 games and posted a 2.56 ERA.

That was only good enough for second in the Cy Young voting and would prove to be the closest he'd ever get to hoisting the hardware.

Kevin Brown

While pitching with the Texas Rangers in 1992, Kevin Brown led the league with 21 wins.

With the Florida Marlins in 1996 and Los Angeles Dodgers in 2000 he led the league in ERA (1.89 and 2.56 respectively).

Despite the impressive stat lines, his 1996 season was the only year that he even finished in the top five in Cy Young voting.

Don Sutton

A consistent career may have earned Don Sutton a place in the Hall of Fame, but a lack of individual seasons where the stat lines jump out prevented him from ever getting Cy Young honors.

His closest season came in 1976, when he won 21 games while putting up a 3.06 ERA in 267 innings pitched—good enough for third in voting.

Andy Pettitte

After breaking into the league with the New York Yankees in 1995, Andy Pettitte finished third in Rookie of the Year voting thanks to a 12-9 record posted during his 175 innings pitched.

There was sophomore slump to be had in 1996, as he'd emerge as one of the best pitchers in the league, winning 21 games while striking out nearly seven batters per nine innings.

It would prove to be the closest he'd get to a Cy Young Award, finishing a close second to Pat Hentgen.

Juan Marichal

Juan Marichal won 25 games three different times, each season posting an ERA below 2.50.

In almost any other era that'd be plenty to take home a Cy Young Award. Marichal, unfortunately, played during the same time as Sandy Koufax, losing out to him in two of those seasons and Bob Gibson in the other.

Roy Oswalt

During Roy Oswalt's 10 seasons with the Houston Astros he was one of the most consistent pitchers in the National League with an average of 14 wins per season and an ERA of 3.24.

After winning 13 games in 2010, Oswalt finished with a disappointing 9-10 record this season with the Phillies.

Jim Maloney

Between 1963 and 1966, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Jim Maloney averaged 235 strikeouts and 19 wins per season.

He kept his ERA low but was hampered by higher than average walk numbers, which quite possibly prevented him from being more seriously considered for individual awards.

Curt Schilling

The best stretch of Curt Schilling's career came in 2001 and 2002, when he won a combined 45 games, striking out more than 10 batters per nine innings while walking only one.

During both seasons he finished runner-up in Cy Young voting to none other than Arizona Diamondbacks teammate Randy Johnson.

J.R. Richard

J.R. Richard did have his career cut short, playing in only 10 seasons, but he made the most of his time on the mound.

Richard won at least 18 games in each season between 1976 and 1979, compiling a sub-3.00 ERA.

During his best season in 1976 he finished seventh in Cy Young voting behind players like Steve Carlton, Don Sutton and winner Randy Jones.

Rick Reuschel

Rick Reuschel won more than 200 games during his 19-year career, spanning four different teams.

His best season in Chicago was 1977, when he won 20 games, posting a 2.79 ERA. Despite such a stat line, Reuschel came up short, as Steve Carlton took home the trophy after a 23-10 season.

Mario Soto

Mario Soto emerged as an impactful pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds in the early 1980s, posting ERAs below 2.75 in 1982 and 1983 while striking out better than 240 batters in each season.

He made three All-Star appearances during his career and four times finished in the top 10 in Cy Young voting.

Danny Jackson

Danny Jackson's 1988 season would have been good enough for almost any other pitcher to earn one of baseball's highest honors.

Despite a 23-8 record and 2.73 ERA, including an impressive 15 complete games, Jackson came in second to Orel Hershiser, who was the unanimous choice.

Jack Morris

During Jack Morris' 18-year career he three times won more than 20 games and played vital roles in World Series championship teams.

Despite his successful individual seasons, however, Morris failed to place higher than third in Cy Young voting.

Jim Bunning

Hall of Famer Jim Bunning's ability to stay on the mound made him a valuable member of multiple teams, most notably the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies.

In eight different seasons he threw more than 250 innings and five times won at least 19 games.

Dennis Martinez

Despite playing on teams that weren't always in contention for postseason play, Dennis Martinez remained effective on the field, as he won 245 games in a long 23-year career.

His 3.70 career ERA isn't representative of his best years, as in six different seasons he posted an ERA nearly a full run lower.

Nolan Ryan

Nolan Ryan is certainly considered one of the best fireballers this game has ever seen with 10 seasons averaging better than 10 strikeouts per nine innings. 

He did finish in the top five of Cy Young voting six times, but his walk totals likely prevented him from earning top pitching honors.

Jamie Moyer

Jamie Moyer's 24-year career seemingly ended after the 2010 season, as he didn't make it onto an MLB roster in 2011.

There is speculation that he could be headed for a return in 2012, which would be remarkable since he'll be turning 49 this week.

His best years were undoubtedly with the Seattle Mariners, where he won 145 games in 11 seasons.

Mariano Rivera

Mariano Rivera is certainly the best closer this game has ever seen, and while relievers typically don't win the Cy Young Award, Rivera had made his case on multiple occasions.

Of his 17 seasons with the Yankees, he saved at least 40 games eight times.

Perhaps more impressive than that, he's only four times posted an ERA above 2.50, going sub-2.00 in 11 seasons.