[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 21] [Senate] [Pages 29942-29943] [From the U.S. 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 [[Page 29943]] 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 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. ____________________