It’s repetitive to say that Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers had a good year in the 1960s.
The 1965 season marked the second time in Koufax’s career he claimed the Cy Young Award unanimously as he led the Dodgers to a World Series victory.
On the other side of things in the American League, Mudcat Grant of the Minnesota Twins would have likely won the Cy Young Award if there had been two honors. He was named the Sporting News Pitcher of the Year.
Grant topped the league in wins and shutouts with a 21-7 record, while blanking six opponents. He also made the all-star team for the second time and pitched two innings in the mid-summer classic.
The Florida native had his top performance near the end of the season as he had a one-hit 5-0 victory at Washington as he picked up his 20th win. The only blemish was a double by Don Blasingame in the third inning.
In the 1965 World Series against the Dodgers, Grant started three games and was 2-1 with a 2.74 ERA. He pitched complete game victories in the opener and in the sixth contest, while dropping the fourth affair. A highlight for Grant came in the sixth game when he blasted a three-run homer off Howie Reed.
Beginning his 14-year career in Cleveland in 1958, Grant pitched for the Indians until 1964 when he was traded to the Twins in June.
Grant was sent to the Dodgers before the 1968 season and in December of that year, he was selected by the Montreal Expos in the expansion draft. He finished his career with the Expos (1969), St. Louis Cardinals (1969), Pittsburgh Pirates (1970-1971) and the Oakland A’s (1971).
The last game of Grant’s career was the third contest the 1971 AL Championship Series when he worked the final two innings against Baltimore. He finished with a 145-119 record.
1965 VOTING FOR CY YOUNG AWARD
Sandy Koufax (Los Angeles Dodgers) 20, unanimous
PRESS ROOM PASS CY YOUNG AWARD WINNERS (1956-1966)
1956 – Billy Pierce Chicago White Sox (20-9)
1957 – Jim Bunning Detroit Tigers (20–8)
1958 – Warren Spahn Milwaukee Braves (22–11)
1959 – Sam Jones San Francisco Giants (21–15)
1960 – Chuck Estrada Baltimore Orioles (18-11)
1961 – Joey Jay Cincinnati Reds (21–10)
1962 – Dick Donovan Cleveland Indians (20–10)
1963 – Whitey Ford New York Yankees (24-7)
1964 – Larry Jackson Chicago Cubs (24–11)
1965 – Mudcat Grant Minnesota Twins (21–7)
CY YOUNG AWARD WINNERS (1956-1966)
1956 – Don Newcombe Brooklyn Dodgers (27–7)
1957 – Warren Spahn Milwaukee Braves (21–11)
1958 – Bob Turley New York Yankees (21–7)
1959 – Early Wynn Chicago White Sox (22–10)
1960 – Vern Law Pittsburgh Pirates (20–9)
1961 – Whitey Ford New York Yankees (25–4)
1962 – Don Drysdale Los Angeles Dodgers (25–9)
1963 – Sandy Koufax Los Angeles Dodgers (25–5)
1964 – Dean Chance Los Angeles Angels (20–9)
1965 – Sandy Koufax Los Angeles Dodgers (26–8)
1966 – Sandy Koufax Los Angeles Dodgers (27–9)
Since 1967, the Cy Young Award has been handed out to the best pitcher in the American and National leagues. However, during the first 11 years of the award there was only one winner.
This series will take a look at who might have won the award, if there had been winners in both leagues in the early years.