[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 163 (Wednesday, November 17, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14691-S14692]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        PEDRO MARTINEZ WINS 1999 AMERICAN LEAGUE CY YOUNG AWARD

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, all of us in Massachusetts know that 
Pedro Martinez, the great pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, is the class 
of the American League. Yesterday, the Baseball Writers' Association of 
America confirmed that judgment by unanimously selecting Pedro Martinez 
as the winner of the Cy Young Award for the American League for 1999.
  Pedro's record this year was brilliant. His 23 victories, his earned 
run average of 2.07, and his 313 strikeouts led the league in all three 
of those categories, and his dramatic victory over the New York Yankees 
in the third game of the American League Championship Series last month 
was the crowning achievement in his extraordinary season.
  All of us in Boston are proud of the Red Sox and proud of Pedro 
Martinez. I congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition, and I 
ask unanimous consent that a ``Red Sox News Flash'' about the award be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                   Red Sox News Flash, Nov. 16, 1999

       This afternoon Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez was selected 
     the 1999 American League Cy Young award winner by the 
     Baseball Writers' Association of America. The voting was 
     unanimous, with Pedro finishing with 140 points, including 
     all 28 first place votes.
       Martinez led the American League in seven major pitching 
     categories, including wins (23), ERA (2.07) and strikeouts 
     (313), becoming the first Red Sox pitcher to lead the AL in 
     those three categories since Cy Young in 1901. Martinez' 2.07 
     ERA was more than a run less than New York's David Cone, who 
     ranked 2nd in ERA at 3.44. The right-hander also became the 
     third pitcher to win the award in both leagues, joining Randy 
     Johnson (1995 in AL & 1999 in NL) and Gaylord Perry (1972 in 
     AL & 1978 in NL). He also becomes the fifth pitcher to win 
     the award with two different clubs.
       Pedro's 313 strikeouts in 1999 set a new Red Sox single 
     season record. Martinez became the first American League 
     pitcher with 300 or more strikeouts in a season since Randy 
     Johnson in 1993 with Seattle (308) and he is one of 14 
     different pitchers to have struck out 300 or more batters in 
     a season. He is the second pitcher in Major League History to 
     achieve 300 or more strikeouts in both leagues (Randy Johnson 
     is the other). Pedro is only the 9th player in Major League 
     History to strike out 300 or more batters in a season more 
     than once: joining Nolan Ryan (6x), Sandy Koufax (3x), Randy 
     Johnson (3x, including '99), Sam McDowell (2x), Curt 
     Schilling (2x), Walter Johnson (2x) and J.R. Richard (2x).
       The Dominican Republic native tossed his 2nd career 1 
     hitter on September 10th at New York and set a career high 
     with 17 strikeouts (tying the Major League season-high in 
     1999). Martinez became the first Red Sox pitcher to win 20 
     games since Roger Clemens in 1990 (21-6) and the first Sox 
     pitcher other than Clemens since Dennis Eckersley in 1978. He 
     also set a team record by striking out 10 or more batters 19 
     times in a season. He became the first right-handed pitcher 
     to record 15 or more strikeouts 6 times in a season since 
     Nolan Ryan in 1974. Pedro struck out the side 18 times in his 
     213.1 IP and has struck out 10 or more batters 54 times in 
     his career, 27 times as a Red Sox.
       Pedro Martinez becomes the third Red Sox pitcher to win the 
     Cy Young award, joining Roger Clemens (1986, 1987 & 1991) and 
     Jim Lonborg (1967). He is only the fifth AL Cy Young Award 
     winner to be selected unanimously since 1967, when the award 
     was first presented to a pitcher in both the American League 
     and National League.
       Previous AL Cy Young Award Winners:
     1998  Roger Clemens, Toronto Blue Jays
     1997  Roger Clemens, Toronto Blue Jays
     1996  Pat Hentgen, Toronto Blue Jays
     1995  Randy Johnson, Seattle Mariners
     1994  David Cone, Kansas City Royals
     1993  Jack McDowell, Chicago White Sox
     1992  Dennis Eckersley, Oakland Athletics
     1991  Roger Clemens, Boston Red Sox
     1990  Bob Welch, Oakland Athletics
     1989  Bret Saberhagen, Kansas City Royals
     1988  Frank Viola, Minnesota Twins
     1987  Roger Clemens, Boston Red Sox
     1986  Roger Clemens, Boston Red Sox
     1985  Bret Saberhagen, Kansas City Royals
     1984  Guillermo (Willie) Hernandez, Detroit Tigers
     1983  LaMarr Hoyt, Chicago White Sox
     1982  Pete Vockovich, Milwaukee Brewers
     1981  Rollie Fingers, Milwaukee Brewers
     1980  Steve Stone, Baltimore Orioles
     1979  Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles

[[Page S14692]]

     1978  Ron Guidry, New York Yankees
     1977  Sparky Lyle, New York Yankees
     1976  Jim Palmer, Baltimore Orioles
     1975  Jim Palmer, Baltimore Orioles
     1974  Jim (Catfish) Hunter, Oakland Athletics
     1973  Jim Palmer, Baltimore Orioles
     1972  Gaylord Perry, Cleveland Indians
     1971  Vida Blue, Oakland Athletics
     1970  Jim Perry, Minnesota Twins
     1969  (tie) Mike Cuellar, Baltimore Orioles; Denny McLain, 
         Detroit Tigers
     1968  Denny McLain, Detroit Tigers
     1967  Jim Lonborg, Boston Red Sox
     1964  Dean Chance, Los Angeles Angels
     1961  Whitey Ford, New York Yankees
     1959  Early Wynn, Chicago White Sox
     1958  Bob Turley, New York Yankees

     Note: One award from 1956-66; NL pitchers won in 1956-57, 
     1960, 1962-63, 1965-66.

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