A Historical Perspective on the Great Relievers Who Dominated the Cy Young Awards
The annals of Major League Baseball are filled with iconic moments and remarkable achievements. Among these, Mike Marshall’s 1974 season stands as one of the most extraordinary. In an era predominantly dominated by starting pitchers, Marshall’s 200 innings pitched in relief remains an awe-inspiring feat that earned him the National League Cy Young Award, transforming the perception of a reliever’s potential influence on the game.
Breaking Tradition
Marshall’s accomplishment was a harbinger for future relievers, illustrating they could also clinch awards traditionally reserved for starters. The groundbreaking precedent he set reverberated through successive years. Sparky Lyle exemplified this shift when he captured the 1977 American League Cy Young Award, followed by Bruce Sutter’s 1979 NL Cy Young win, affirming his status as one of the era's most formidable closers.
The momentum continued into the 1980s with Rollie Fingers’ extraordinary 1981 season, where he secured both the AL MVP and Cy Young Awards with a remarkable 78 innings pitched. His dual triumph set yet another benchmark for relievers. Willie Hernandez mirrored Fingers in 1984, achieving both accolades with a 1.92 ERA over 140 1/3 innings. These successive recognitions underscored the growing value of relievers in baseball’s upper echelon.
The Role Evolves
The late 1980s and early 1990s witnessed more relievers rise to prominence. Steve Bedrosian’s 1987 NL Cy Young win, predicated on 40 saves in 48 chances across 89 innings, and Mark Davis’s 1989 Cy Young Award, accomplished by converting 44 saves out of 48 opportunities and pitching 92 2/3 innings, demonstrated the critical impact a dominant closer could have on the game.
Dennis Eckersley further cemented the legacy of elite relievers in 1992, claiming both the AL MVP and Cy Young Awards with 80 innings of impressive relief work. His dominance encapsulated the evolving role of the reliever in the MLB hierarchy. Yet, beyond Eckersley, the Cy Young recognition for relievers dwindled, with Eric Gagne standing as the sole reliever to capture the award post-Eckersley in 2003.
The Modern Bullpen Stars
In the landscape of modern baseball, the importance of a robust bullpen remains undisputed. Craig Kimbrel’s steadfast presence in the bullpen since his draft as a reliever and Aroldis Chapman's transition in 2010 highlight the specialization and tactical deployment of relievers that define today’s game. These transitions have engendered a new era of bullpen reliance, essential for teams vying for playoff success.
Recent seasons have seen Emmanuel Clase emerge as a dominant bullpen force. Clase’s sterling 0.59 ERA and 0.67 WHIP, accompanied by 38 saves in 41 chances, underscore his efficacy. His impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio, marked by 53 strikeouts and a mere seven unintentional walks over 61 1/3 innings, signifies his precision and control on the mound.
However, the value and contributions of relief pitchers like Clase are often debated in relation to their starter counterparts. Despite Clase’s stellar statistics, pitchers such as Tarik Skubal, Erick Fedde, Tyler Anderson, and Cole Ragans rank higher in American League pitcher WAR, highlighting the continuous high regard for starters. Notably, Fedde has moved to the National League, while Skubal and Anderson continue to navigate their roles, with Skubal expected to adopt a cautious approach in September and Anderson maintaining a 4.46 FIP and 1.23 WHIP. Ragans, despite recent injuries, is projected to sustain his commendable performances.
The Reliever’s Legacy
The trajectory initiated by Mike Marshall’s historic 1974 season has profoundly influenced the role of relievers in Major League Baseball. The accolades achieved by subsequent closers underscore not only their individual excellence but also their transformative impact on the game. As the bullpen continues to be a lynchpin of modern baseball strategy, the legacy of these pioneering relievers endures, illustrating their undeniable importance and redefining what constitutes an elite pitcher in the MLB.