Cy Young, the greatest pitcher in baseball history

On my drive to the hilly, rural community of Peoli, Ohio, I followed a Mennonite family traveling by horse and buggy until I finally arrived at Peoli Church. In the quiet churchyard, surrounded by farmland with no one in sight, with my glove and ball in hand, I discovered the grave of the greatest pitcher ever to wear a Major League uniform: Denton “Cy” Young. Early in his career, he threw so hard that people said his pitches looked like a cyclone, earning him the nickname “Cy,” short for “Cyclone.”

Despite his dominance, Young had a reputation as a quiet, decent man. His pitching mechanics on the mound were not flashy or erratic, but calm and methodical, and what set him apart was his extraordinary control and endurance.

To truly understand Cy Young’s dominance is to understand his accomplishments:

• 511 career wins — the most ever. No one alive is even remotely close

• Pitched from 1890 to 1911, spanning over 21 years of baseball (Cleveland Spiders, St. Louis Perfectos/Cardinals, Boston Rustlers/Red Sox, Cleveland Naps). 

• Holds the records for most career innings pitched and most complete games.

• In 1904, he pitched three complete games in two days, a feat unimaginable in the modern era.

• In 1908, at age 41, he threw the first perfect game in modern Major League history.

Cy #11 at the age of 41. 

After retiring in 1911, Young returned to Peoli, Ohio, the same rural community where he’d grown up. He never pursued publicity tours or coaching opportunities. He farmed, attended church, and lived quietly among neighbours who treated him like just another local.

Cy Young (born Denton True Young) ran for County Treasurer of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, as the Republican candidate in 1916. He campaigned with printed promotional cards bearing his name and the office he was seeking. However, he did not win the election.

Cy Young was a Freemason and achieved at least the 32nd degree, which reflects significant involvement and status in the fraternity. (Inscribed on his monument).

Cy attended Peoli Church (Methodist).  I learned his funeral was held in the sanctuary followed by burial in the churchyard. 

Despite being the most dominant pitcher ever, Cy Young did not make a fortune playing baseball. Salaries in his era were modest, and he lived simply. Late in life, friends and former teammates occasionally helped him financially.

Cy Young outside the Peoli, Ohio, Post Office in 1954. Young would pass away the following year, and the post office would close the year after that. In his eighties, Cy was responsible for much of the mail coming into Peoli and twice successfully fought efforts to shut the office down—his celebrity status still carried real weight, as lawmakers in Washington quickly learned.

Cy lived as a permanent guest of family friends the Bendums. He moved into the house after his wife Roba died in 1933. Today, the house is owned by Amish and serves as a general store. 

Denton True “Cy” Young, died in Newcomerstown, Ohio on November 4, 1955. He was 88.

1867-1955

Cy Young Award wasn’t created until 1956, one year after his death. Awarded to the best pitcher in a given season in the major leagues.

See my related site for another MLB great, Bob Feller. 

Bob Feller one of the greatest pitchers in Major League Baseball history