The Baseball Writers Association of America presented Felix Hernandez of the Mariners with the Cy Young award at a banquet in New York City Saturday night. Fernandez not only won the award with the fewest (13) wins in history, he became the first pitcher from a 100-loss team to receive baseball’s most prestigious pitching prize. The following are the only pitchers since the inception of the Cy Young Award in 1956 to receive the plaque after playing on losing teams. They are ranked according to the team’s won-lost percentage.
| Year | Cy Young Winner | Team | Record | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Felix Hernandez (AL) | Mariners | 61-101 | .377 |
| 1972 | Steve Carlton (NL) | Phillies | 59-97 | .378 |
| 2009 | Zack Greinke (AL) | Royals | 65-97 | .401 |
| 1976 | Randy Jones (NL) | Padres | 69-93 | .426 |
| 2008 | Tim Lincecum (NL) | Giants | 72-90 | .444 |
| 1996 | Pat Hentgen (AL) | Blue Jays | 74-88 | .457 |
| 1972 | Gaylord Perry (AL) | Indians | 72-84 | .462 |
| 1970 | Bob Gibson (NL) | Cardinals | 76-86 | .469 |
| 1997 | Roger Clemens (AL) | Blue Jays | 76-86 | .469 |
| 2006 | Brandon Webb (NL) | D-Backs | 76-86 | .469 |
| 1987 | Roger Clemens (AL) | Red Sox | 78-84 | .481 |
| 1992 | Gregg Maddux (NL) | Cubs | 78-84 | .481 |
| 1997 | Pedro Martinez (NL) | Expos | 78-84 | .481 |
| 1979 | Bruce Sutter (NL) | Cubs | 80-82 | .494 |
| 1987 | Steve Bedrosian (NL) | Phillies | 80-82 | .494 |
*Note that Roger Clemens is the only pitcher to twice win the Cy Young Award while pitching for losing clubs.