Fansided

Top 30 Cy Young Award Winners of all-time

By Jason Evans

Apr 10, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (28) poses with the Cy Young Award before the game between the Cleveland Indians and the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (28) poses with the Cy Young Award before the game between the Cleveland Indians and the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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24. Randy Johnson 1995

18 wins

294 strikeouts

8.7 WAR

Baseball in 1995 was at a bit of a crossroads. The players strike cancelled the last few weeks of the season, including all of the postseason. For the first time, there would be three divisions, not two, and a Wild Card.

I may have only been 11 years old at the time, but I remember Randy Johnson just dominating everyone that year, including the Angels in a one game playoff for the AL West crown. It was just a microcosm of his season which is number 24 on the list.

Johnson went on an absolute tear in the shortened season of 1995.

His 8.7 WAR led all AL players. He was second in wins with 18. He led the AL in ERA at 2.48. His 1.04 WHIP led the league. He was first in strikeouts with 294 in 214.1 innings which was fourth in the league. Can you imagine if it had been a full season and he got maybe three more starts?

His 2.08 FIP was best and it wasn’t even close. Kevin Appier (remember him?) was second that year at 3.48.

Johnson was known as a tall lefty with control problems. Once he figured out his mechanics, he became one of the best lefties in the game. 1995 was just a preview of things to come.

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