Major League Baseball’s Cy Young Award

The history of Major League Baseball (MLB) dates back to the founding of the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs in 1876. For nearly 150 years, the league has developed several individual and team awards to recognize outstanding achievements. The Cy Young Award, for example, is used to honor the league’s most accomplished pitchers every season.

The Cy Young Award is named after Cy Young, the greatest pitcher in MLB history. Young began his professional career in 1890 with the Cleveland Spiders of the National League. Between 1901 and 1908, he pitched in the American League, helping the Boston Red Sox win the 1903 World Series. During his first year in Boston, he led the league with 158 strikeouts, 33 wins, and an earned run average (ERA) of 1.62, a feat known as the pitching triple crown.

Young won two games during the 1903 World Series and recorded three no-hitters. His all-time league records range from most innings pitched, at 7,356, and most games started, at 815. He pitched nearly 80 shutouts during his career.

The Cy Young Award was established in 1956, and for over a decade, the honor was awarded to a single pitcher. Don Newcombe of the Brooklyn Dodgers was MLB’s first Cy Young winner, going 27-7 during the 1956 season with an ERA of 3.06. In 1966, Sandy Koufax became the first pitcher to win more than one Cy Young Award and consecutive awards.

The following year the award expanded to include pitchers from both leagues. Bob Gibson won the National League Cy Young Award, while Denny McClain was named the American League Cy Young Award winner. Gibson’s 1.12 ERA remains the best mark since Mordecai Brown in 1906. Luis Tiant finished the same season with a 1.60 ERA for Cleveland, the best ERA for an American League pitcher since 1919, but could not compete with McClain’s 31 wins. It remains the last 30-win season in MLB history and the most wins for a Cy Young winner.

In 1969, McClain tied with Mike Cuellar as American League winners, resulting in the first and only season with three award winners. Roger Clemens has won seven awards, more than any other pitcher, with wins spanning from 1986 to 2004. Randy Johnson ranks second with five Cy Young Awards, including four straight wins from 1999 to 2002.

Fernando Valenzuela is the only player to win the Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season. He led professional baseball with eight shutouts in 1981. Gaylord Perry and Roger Clemens remain the only pitchers to win the Cy Young Award at age 40 or older.

Starting pitchers are typically the beneficiaries of Cy Young honors. The organizers consider their total wins and strikeouts to choose the recipient. That said, several relief pitchers have also won the award. Most recently, Eric Gagne was named the National League Cy Young Award winner in 2003, winning two games and recording 55 saves. Dennis Eckersley had 51 saves in 1992, and Mark Davis recorded 44 saves in 1989.

Following the conclusion of the 2022 MLB season, the recipients of the Cy Young Awards were Justin Verlander of the American League and Sandy Alcantara from the National League. 2022 marked Verlander’s second win in four seasons with the Houston Astros and Alcantara’s first. Verlander and Alcantara posted ERAs of 1.75 and 2.28, respectively, though Alcantara completed more than 53 innings.

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Some Houseboating Locations in Northern California

An educator from Grass Valley, California who holds a Ph.D. in psychology, Dr. Robert Fettgather serves as an associate faculty in psychology at Mission College in Santa Clara. When not working, Robert Fettgather Ph.D. spends some of his time houseboating.

Houseboating is the use of a boat that is equipped with home amenities while enjoying a getaway on the lake. Several locations in northern California can perfectly accommodate houseboating.

Lake Berryessa is one of the largest man-made lakes in California. The Vaca Mountains, the grassy hills that surround the lake, serve as a habitat for diverse species of vegetation, animals, and wildlife like deer, eagles, and hawks. A popular weekend destination for houseboaters, Lake Berryessa lies only 55 miles north of San Francisco.

Located just 15 miles from the city of Susanville, Eagle Lake provides the perfect spot for houseboating and trout fishing. Its 24,000-acre water body and 66-mile shoreline have been home to the largest trout fish in the country. Trout in Eagle Lake typically grow to 18 inches long and weigh 2 pounds, although the largest catch on record in Eagle Lake was a 114-pound rainbow trout.

Lake Tahoe, one of the largest lakes in California, has a surface area of 112,000 acres. It suits those who want to fish from a boat since the lake has a limited shoreline. Several marinas located around Lake Tahoe serve the needs of houseboaters.

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Houseboat Safety Tips

A graduate of Santa Clara University (MA Education), Robert Fettgather is an associate faculty member at Mission College. He has taught courses tackling general, developmental, and abnormal psychology. Outside of work, Robert Fettgather is interested in houseboating.

Houseboats are essentially boats that have been re-designed and altered to serve as a home or weekend getaway. To make the most out of the experience of being on a houseboat, it is important to be aware of safety measures.

Houseboats require water pumps to protect them from sinking. The pumps help in case of leaks or natural calamities. It is advisable to refrain from placing certain water pumps in the lower parts of the houseboat because they would be hard to reach in the case of emergencies. Bilge pumps are an important component of most boats. These motorized devices regulate the water levels within the boat.

Waterskiing behind a houseboat or swimming and wakeboarding around the houseboat with its engine on is unsafe. The boat’s propellers could cause injuries.

Although houseboats operate on water, fire outbreaks are still risky. Keeping fire extinguishers, especially those that put out flammable liquid fires, will help prevent flame-induced casualty.

Carbon monoxide can be a destructive element in the air inside houseboats. Carbon monoxide detectors warn houseboaters when the gas is in the air. Proper ventilation reduces carbon monoxide in houseboats.

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