Greatest pitchers to never win a Cy Young award

It’s hard to believe it, but baseball’s all-time strikeout leader never won a Cy Young award. Ryan, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999, came closest to winning a Cy Young in 1973, when he finished second in the voting to fellow Hall of Famer, Jim Palmer.

Mariano Rivera, the man who some baseball writers and pundits consider to be the greatest pitcher of the live-ball era, never won a Cy Young award, as closers are rarely ever crowned Cy Young winners. Baseball all-time leader in saves with 652 came closest to winning the award in 2005 when he finished second in the voting.

A 10-time All-Star, former San Francisco Giants great Juan Marichal could never quite garner enough votes to win a Cy Young. Marichal’s best season came in 1961, when he won 25 games, posted an ERA of 2.41, and a WHIP of 0.99. Marichal was inducted into Cooperstown in 1983.

If Curt Schilling didn’t have a teammate by the name of Randy Johnson, there is no way he would be on this list. Although he played the majority of his career for the Philadelphia Phillies, Schilling’s most dominant years came with Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox. The famed “bloody sock game” pitcher finished as the runner-up three times in Cy Young voting.

Despite winning 270 games in the live-ball era, and proving himself to be one of baseball best big game pitchers in recent memory, former Orioles and Yankees great Mike Mussina never was awarded a Cy Young. A seven-time Gold Glove winner as well, Mussina came closest in 1999 with the Orioles, finishing second in the voting to Pedro Martinez.

Despite winning 324 games and striking out over 3,500 batters in his 23 year career, Hall of Famer Don Sutton never won a Cy Young award. In fact, Sutton never even finished higher than third in the voting.

Although his career has been marred in the eyes of many baseball fans due to his admission of PED use, it is still surprising to know that former Yankees and Astros pitcher Andy Pettitte never won a Cy Young. Pettitte came closest in 1996 when his finished second in the voting to Pat Hentgen of the Toronto Blue Jays. Hentgen never won more than 15 games in a season for the rest of his career after winning the 1996 Cy Young award.

He may never have been a truly dominant pitcher, but Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven was as consistent a pitcher you could ever ask for. Blyleven played 22 seasons in the majors, winning 287 games and totaling over 3,700 strikeouts. Still, Blyleven never finished higher than third in Cy Young voting.

Inducted into Cooperstown in 1997, former Atlanta Braves star pitcher Phil Niekro never won a Cy Young award. With 318 wins on his resume, Niekro came closest to winning the award in 1969, when he went 23-13 with an ERA of 2.56.

There were very few pitchers in baseball in the late 80s/early 90s who were better than former Oakland Athletics great Dave Stewart. From the 1987 to 1990, Stewart posted four straight 20 win seasons, and helped lead the A’s to three World Series, while winning one in 1989. The MVP of the 1989 World Series came closest to winning a Cy Young that same year, finishing second to Bret Saberhagen in the voting.

Former Tigers and Phillies great Jim Bunning is another Hall of Fame pitcher never to win a Cy Young. Bunning came closest to winning the award in 1967 when he finished second in the voting, posting 17 wins, over 300 inning pitched, and an ERA of 2.29 for the Phillies. Bunning went on to represent his home state of Kentucky in both Congress and the Senate after he retired from baseball in 1971.

Blue Jays lefty Mark Buehrle has quietly carved out a remarkable career. Buerhle, who was the work horse that lead the Chicago White Sox to their first World Series title since 1917 in 2005, is a four-time Gold Glove winner, and has pitched both a no-hitter and perfect game. Currently sitting with 204 career wins, Buehrle has never finished higher than fifth in Cy Young voting.

Former Padres great Trevor Hoffman saved 601 games over his 18 year career. Still, like several other closers on this list, Hoffman found himself the runner-up in Cy Young voting multiple times over his career. Now eligible for the Hall of Fame, expect Hoffman to be enshrined in Cooperstown sooner rather than later.

One of best left-handed pitchers of the live-ball era, David Wells played 21 years in the majors winning 239 games in the process. Nicknamed “Boomer,” Wells, who claims to have pitched his 1998 perfect game hungover, never finished higher than third in Cy Young voting.

In perhaps the greatest single postseason performance ever, Jack Morris pitched 10 shutout innings in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series against the Atlanta Braves, leading the Minnesota Twins to that years World Series title. The 1991 World Series MVP also won 254 games over his 18 year career, but never a Cy Young award.

Somewhat forgotten by baseball fans, former Blue Jays, Yankees, and Orioles starting pitcher Jimmy finished second twice in AL Cy Young voting over his career. In fact, Key lead the AL in ERA (2.76) and the AL in wins (17) when he just barely lost out on winning the award to Roger Clemens and David Cone in 1987 and 1994 respectively.

Southpaw Frank Tanana racked up 240 wins over his 21 career in the Majors playing for the Angels, Red Sox, Tigers, Rangers, Mets, and Yankees. Tanana actually led the AL in strikeouts as a 21-year-old in 1975, with a grand total of 269. Still, the highest Tanana ever finished in Cy Young voting was third.

A three time All-Star, 2005 NLCS MVP Roy Oswalt could never do quite enough to earn himself a Cy Young award. Playing his best years with the Astros, Oswalt was a pitcher who paint the corners of the strike zone at an elite level. Now retired, Oswalt came closest to winning the award in 2004 when he won 20 games and finished third in the voting.

Dan Quiesenberry was baseball’s premier closer in the early 1980s. One of the key players to help lead the Royals to a World Series victory in 1985, Quisenberry was the bridesmaid in Cy Young voting in both 1983 and 1984. In fact, Quisenberry even finished third in AL MVP voting in the 1984 season just behind Willie Hernandez and Kent Hrbek.

Six time All-Star and two time NL ERA champion Kevin Brown could never do quite enough to win a Cy Young award. When Brown was in his prime pitching for the Marlins and Dodgers, he had a split finger fastball that was nearly impossible to hit. Despite having such a deadly pitch, the closest Brown came to winning a Cy Young was in 1997, when finished second in the voting to Braves Hall of Famer John Smoltz.

Known best for the innovative surgery that has saved many pitchers careers, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Tommy John had an immensely successful career in the majors as well. John won 288 games over his 26 year career, and finished second in Cy Young voting in 1977 and 1979.

Tim Hudson has quietly been one baseball’s most consistent pitchers for the last 15 years. With 217 career wins and counting, Hudson came closest to winning a Cy Young award in 2000 with the Athletics, when he finished second in the voting after winning an AL leading 20 games that season.

The younger brother of Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro, Joe Niekro had a tremendously successful MLB career in his own right. Winning 221 games over his 22 year career, Niekro came closest to winning a Cy Young in 1979 when he went 21-11 with a 3.00 ERA for the Astros. Niekro missed out on winning the award by just one first place vote; a vote that ultimately went to Bruce Sutter of the Chicago Cubs.

A three-time World Series Champion, southpaw Al Leiter is yet another baseball great never to win a Cy Young. Leiter came closest to winning the award in 1998 when he went 17-6 with a 2.47 ERA for the Mets. The former Mets, Blue Jays, Yankees, and Marlins pitcher is currently an analyst for the MLB network.

Very seldom due knuckleball pitchers have long careers in baseball; but Tim Wakefield is one of the few exceptions. Although Wakefield never finished higher than third in Cy Young voting, he actually has the third highest win total in Boston Red Sox history with 180, just behind Roger Clemens and Cy Young himself. Wakefield retired after the 2011 season with exactly 200 career wins to his name.