Red Sox Trade Cy Young

This Day In Baseball History: February 18th

On this day in 1909, the Boston Red Sox traded Cy Young to the Cleveland Spiders, where he would remain for the rest of his career. In 1908 Young had put up a 21-win season marking the last time he would go above 20 wins. At the age of 42, he had already amassed 478 wins in his career. Let us take a quick look at his career below.

Cy Young was one of the greatest pitchers of all time, with his career spanning over two decades and two centuries. He set records that still stand to this day and was known for his dominant pitching style, which made him nearly unbeatable. In this blog, we'll take a closer look at Cy Young's career and some of his most notable accomplishments.

Early Career

Cy Young was born on March 29, 1867, in Gilmore, Ohio. He grew up on a farm and played baseball in his free time. He began his professional career with the Canton Nadjys of the Tri-State League in 1890. Young quickly made a name for himself as a dominant pitcher, and his success caught the attention of major league scouts. In 1890, he was signed by the Cleveland Spiders and made his major league debut on August 6th.

Major League Career

Young's career in the major leagues spanned 22 seasons, during which he played for five different teams. He played for the Cleveland Spiders, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Americans (later the Red Sox), Cleveland Naps (later the Indians), and Boston Rustlers (later the Braves). During his career, he won 511 games, which is a record that still stands to this day.

Young's pitching style was characterized by his fastball, which he threw with great accuracy and control. He was also known for his curveball, which he used to great effect to strike out opposing batters. His durability and longevity were also notable, as he pitched over 7,000 innings in his career and made over 800 starts. He also snagged a World Series title in 1903. This was the first World Series and was a best of nine series. Young started three games in the series, going 2-1.

One of the most memorable moments of Young's career came in 1904 when he pitched a perfect game against the Philadelphia Athletics. It was the first perfect game in American League history.

Legacy

After retiring from baseball, Young was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937, in its inaugural class of inductees. He passed away in 1955, but his legacy lives on. The Cy Young Award, which is given annually to the best pitcher in each league, was established in his honor in 1956. The award is a testament to Young's dominance on the mound and his lasting impact on the game of baseball.