Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael Schatz
Throughout baseball history, several pitchers have delivered remarkable seasons only to be overlooked for the Cy Young Award. From Nolan Ryan’s strikeout-filled 1973 campaign to Roger Clemens’ dominant 2005 season, these snubs have sparked debates among fans and analysts alike. Here are the 11 most controversial Cy Young Award decisions that still have baseball enthusiasts talking.
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11. Nolan Ryan’s Strikeout Masterpiece (1973)
In 1973, Nolan Ryan put together one of the most dominant pitching seasons in baseball history. Despite leading the league with 383 strikeouts, a 2.87 ERA, and an impressive 7.9 WAR, Ryan lost to Jim Palmer, who had significantly fewer strikeouts (158) and a lower WAR (6.1). The voters’ emphasis on Palmer’s 22-9 record over Ryan’s 21-16 mark resulted in one of baseball’s most controversial award decisions.
| Nolan Ryan Jr. — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 324 |
| L | 292 |
| ERA | 3.19 |
| G | 807 |
| IP | 5386.0 |
| SO | 5714 |
| WHIP | 1.25 |
| SV | 3 |
| All-Star selections | 8 |
| World Series titles | 1 |
10. Randy Johnson’s Superior Season (2004)
The Big Unit’s 2004 season was a masterclass in pitching excellence. Johnson posted superior numbers across the board with a 2.60 ERA, 290 strikeouts, and league-leading stats in complete games and WHIP. Despite clearly outperforming Roger Clemens in most categories, Johnson’s 16-14 record on a weaker team cost him the award against Clemens’ 18-4 mark.
| Randy Johnson — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 303 |
| L | 166 |
| ERA | 3.29 |
| G | 618 |
| IP | 4135.1 |
| SO | 4875 |
| WHIP | 1.17 |
| SV | 2 |
| Cy Young | 5 |
| All-Star selections | 10 |
| World Series titles | 1 |
9. Pedro Martinez’s Brilliant Campaign (2002)
Martinez dominated the American League in 2002, leading in ERA (2.26), WHIP (0.92), and strikeouts (239). Despite superior metrics and a stellar 20-4 record, he lost to Barry Zito’s 23-5 campaign. Martinez’s higher WAR and better strikeout-to-walk ratio showcased his superior performance, making this snub particularly noteworthy.
| Pedro Martínez — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 219 |
| L | 100 |
| ERA | 2.93 |
| G | 476 |
| IP | 2827.1 |
| SO | 3154 |
| WHIP | 1.05 |
| SV | 3 |
| Cy Young | 3 |
| All-Star selections | 8 |
| World Series titles | 1 |
8. Mike Mussina’s Overlooked Excellence (2001)
Mussina’s 2001 season showcased his pitching mastery with a 3.15 ERA, 214 strikeouts, and league-leading 7.1 WAR. Roger Clemens won the award primarily due to his 20-3 record, despite Mussina’s superior WHIP and more innings pitched. This decision exemplified voters’ overreliance on win-loss records rather than comprehensive performance metrics.
| Mike Mussina — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 270 |
| L | 153 |
| ERA | 3.68 |
| G | 537 |
| IP | 3562.2 |
| SO | 2813 |
| WHIP | 1.19 |
| SV | 0 |
| All-Star selections | 5 |
| Gold Gloves | 7 |
7. Dave Stieb’s Forgotten Gem (1982)
Stieb’s remarkable 1982 season saw him lead the AL in WAR (7.7), complete games (19), and ERA+ (138). Despite these achievements, he finished fourth in voting behind Pete Vuckovich, who had inferior numbers across the board. Stieb’s 288 innings pitched and dominant peripheral stats make this one of the decade’s most egregious oversights.
| Dave Stieb — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 176 |
| L | 137 |
| ERA | 3.44 |
| G | 443 |
| IP | 2895.1 |
| SO | 1669 |
| WHIP | 1.25 |
| SV | 3 |
| All-Star selections | 7 |
6. Johan Santana’s Statistical Dominance (2005)
Santana’s 2005 season was a masterpiece of pitching efficiency, leading the league in strikeouts (238), WHIP (0.97), and FIP (2.80). Bartolo Colon won the award mainly due to his 21-8 record, despite Santana’s superior 7.2 WAR and better overall performance metrics. This decision highlights the historical overvaluation of win-loss records.
| Johan Santana — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 139 |
| L | 78 |
| ERA | 3.20 |
| G | 360 |
| IP | 2025.2 |
| SO | 1988 |
| WHIP | 1.13 |
| SV | 1 |
| Cy Young | 2 |
| All-Star selections | 4 |
| Gold Gloves | 1 |
5. Justin Verlander’s Controversial Loss (2016)
In one of the closest Cy Young votes ever, Verlander led the AL in strikeouts (254), WHIP (1.00), and WAR (6.4), yet lost to Rick Porcello. Two voters inexplicably left Verlander off their ballots entirely, proving decisive in the final tally. His superior 3.04 ERA and dominant peripheral stats made this loss particularly controversial.
| Justin Verlander — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 266 |
| L | 159 |
| ERA | 3.33 |
| G | 556 |
| IP | 3571.1 |
| SO | 3554 |
| WHIP | 1.14 |
| SV | 0 |
| MVP | 1 |
| Cy Young | 3 |
| All-Star selections | 10 |
| World Series titles | 2 |
| Rookie of the Year | 1 |
4. Bob Gibson’s Post-1968 Brilliance (1969)
Following his historic 1968 season, Gibson’s 1969 campaign was nearly as impressive with a 2.18 ERA and 269 strikeouts. Despite comparable numbers to winner Tom Seaver, Gibson didn’t receive a single first-place vote. His higher WAR (7.3) and more complete games suggested he deserved stronger consideration in what became a notable award oversight.
| Bob Gibson — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 251 |
| L | 174 |
| ERA | 2.91 |
| G | 528 |
| IP | 3884.1 |
| SO | 3117 |
| WHIP | 1.19 |
| SV | 6 |
| MVP | 1 |
| Cy Young | 2 |
| All-Star selections | 8 |
| Gold Gloves | 9 |
| World Series titles | 2 |
3. Kevin Brown’s Dominant Season (1996)
Brown’s exceptional 1996 season featured a 1.89 ERA and 159 ERA+, yet he lost to John Smoltz’s more traditional success. Despite leading the league in ERA and posting a higher WAR (7.9), Brown’s 17-11 record couldn’t compete with Smoltz’s 24-8 mark in voters’ minds, denying Brown his only realistic shot at a Cy Young Award.
| Kevin Brown — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 211 |
| L | 144 |
| ERA | 3.28 |
| G | 486 |
| IP | 3256.1 |
| SO | 2397 |
| WHIP | 1.22 |
| SV | 0 |
| All-Star selections | 6 |
| World Series titles | 1 |
2. Kevin Appier’s Underappreciated Excellence (1993)
Appier’s 1993 campaign was a model of pitching excellence, leading the AL in ERA (2.56) and WAR (9.3). Despite these impressive numbers, he finished third behind Jack McDowell and Randy Johnson. Appier’s superior performance in advanced metrics suggested he deserved the award, making this one of the most overlooked seasons in Cy Young history.
| Kevin Appier — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 169 |
| L | 137 |
| ERA | 3.74 |
| G | 414 |
| IP | 2595.1 |
| SO | 1994 |
| WHIP | 1.29 |
| SV | 0 |
| All-Star selections | 1 |
| World Series titles | 1 |
1. Roger Clemens’ Final Masterpiece (2005)
The Rocket’s 2005 season was a testament to his longevity and skill, leading in ERA (1.87), WHIP (1.01), and WAR (7.8). Chris Carpenter won the award largely due to his 21-5 record compared to Clemens’ 13-8 mark, despite Clemens’ superior performance in nearly every other category. This denied the legendary pitcher what could have been his eighth Cy Young Award.
| Roger Clemens — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 354 |
| L | 184 |
| ERA | 3.12 |
| G | 709 |
| IP | 4916.2 |
| SO | 4672 |
| WHIP | 1.17 |
| SV | 0 |
| MVP | 1 |
| Cy Young | 7 |
| All-Star selections | 11 |
| World Series titles | 2 |
