As the World Series concluded earlier this week, this question will be my last for the 2010 baseball season. Many thanks to readers who offered comments (or provided questions) during the season!
Since 1960, seven individuals have won both the league MVP award and the Cy Young award in the same year. Only three, however, played in the World Series during their award-winning season (two on winning teams, and one on the losing team). Name the three players (pitchers, obviously).
Pictured: Hall of Fame member Dennis Eckersley (card #152 in the 2006 SP Legendary Cuts set), who was the last player to capture both the league MVP award and the league Cy Young award in the same season. But his Oakland Athletics team (managed by Tony LaRussa) didn't make it to the World Series in 1992, losing in the playoffs to the Toronto Blue Jays in six games.
(1) Clemens in 86, for sure
(2) Koufax
(3) Denny McClain
Posted by: Lance McMillian | November 06, 2010 at 03:05 PM
Koufax, Bob Gibson, Denny McLain
Posted by: David | November 06, 2010 at 03:05 PM
Koufax (1963), Willie Hernandez(1984), Denny McLain (1968). But all 3 were on the Series winner. Who else am I missing?
Posted by: Howard wasserman | November 06, 2010 at 07:27 PM
Well, I butchered this question big time. Mea culpa.
Eight (not seven) pitchers captured both the Cy Young and the MVP award in the same season. Eckersley was a given, and other correct answers from above are Clemens, Koufax, McLain, Gibson, and Hernandez (the player I overlooked). The other two were Vida Blue and Rollie Fingers.
And five (not three) of these pitchers played in the World Series at the end of their awards-winning season. Three played for the winning team (Koufax, McLain, and Hernandez) and two played on the losing side (Gibson and Clemens).
And this question will haunt me now during the entire off-season.
Posted by: Tim Zinnecker | November 06, 2010 at 09:01 PM