1999 CY Young winner Pedro Martinez

Pedro Martínez receives his 1999 Cy Young Award.

When he won the NL Cy Young Award two years ago with the Montreal
Expos, he accepted it on behalf of his countryman and Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal, the first pitching star from the Dominican Republic. A year after, Martinez picks up his 1999 AL Cy Young plaque at the Boston Baseball Writers Association dinner and he gives credit to his brother and teammate Ramon Martinez, who was the presenter.
"Even though I am the one with the trophy, I want you to know the trophy has more of you than me," Pedro Martinez said, "because you are the one who taught me how to play the game."

But in 1999 - and many other years - no one played quite like Pedro.

Pedro Martínez dominated most major pitching categories last season and won the pitchers' triple crown, leading the AL with a 23-4 record, strike outs with 313 (#1 in the majors) and ERA with an incredible 2.07 (#1 in the majors) which was more than a full run better than that of his closest rival (David Cone's 3.44), in a year when the average ERA for all pitchers in the American League was 4.86. His 37 walks were the fewest ever for a pitcher with 300 strikeouts.

Martínez was the 1999 season's showman. He held his opponents to a .205 average and was best when the heat was on. In the September pennant race, he struck out 17 Yankees on his way to a one-hitter. As the American League starter in the All-Star Game, he struck out five of the six batters he faced, including Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa and was named All-Star MVP.
And when his team most needed him, he delivered six innings of no-hit, eight-strikeout relief in the decisive game of the Division Series (despite a back injury). Martínez also posted the Boston Red Sox's only victory in the championship game against the Yankees.
Martinez won the pitchers' triple crown, leading the AL with a 23-4 record, 2.07 ERA and 313 strikeouts en route to his second Cy Young Award. In 1997, he won the Cy Young award while pitching for the Montreal Expos, of the National League.

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