Saturday, August 6, 2011

Denton True Young


There, on this day in 1890, well before the so-called Modern Era of baseball, stood Denton True (Cy) Young, pitching for the Cleveland Stingers in his first professional game. Cy pitched in Cleveland, St. Louis and Boston before his amazing 22-year career was complete, amassing 511 wins.

Cy was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1937. The Cy Young Award, given to the best pitcher in each league, was instituted in 1956.

"Let others hunt, or fish, or sail
Afar o'er ocean's foam;
Give me the game that's played among
The sweet green fields of home.

Bases pitch on a level spot,
Beneath a smiling sky,
No sport for pleasure or for health,
With Base Ball then can vie..."


The Base Ball Song, by W.J. Bullock, 1874

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