Top 30 Cy Young Award Winners of all-time
By Jason Evans
16. Pedro Martinez 1997
1.90 ERA
17 wins
305 strikeouts
13 complete games
There are moves that teams wish they can have back. A fan base will look back on moves and think what were they thinking? Brett Favre from Atlanta to Green Bay. John Smoltz from Detroit to Atlanta. The Herschel Walker Trade.
One trade the Los Angeles Dodgers probably wish they had back was trading a slim short right-hander by the name of Pedro Martinez to the Expos for Delino Deshields.
Pedro emerged as one of the best pitchers in the game with the Expos and 1997 was one of the most dominating seasons ever.
He had an ERA of 1.90. To put it in perspective, he didn’t have a month the entire season where his ERA was above 2.00. He had double-digit strikeouts in every start in June, including throwing four straight complete games.
His 8.8 WAR was third among all NL players. He had a WHIP of 0.93 and allowed just over five hits per nine innings.
Pedro threw 13 complete games which led the league. His 305 punch-outs were second, but led the league in K/9 with 11.4. He had a FIP of 2.39 and an ERA+ of 219. Remember 100 ERA+ is league average. That’s how outstanding he was.
But his best comes later in this countdown