Sam Jones has the distinction of leading the National League in victories one season, while topping the senior circuit in losses in another.
Pitching for the San Francisco Giants in 1959, Jones was 21-15 with an ERA of 2.83, while recording four shutouts.
All of those numbers led the NL as Jones was named the Sporting News Pitcher of the Year and made his second all-star team.
His 209 strikeouts were second best to Don Drysdale of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
That may have translated into a Cy Young Award, but with only one winner that year, future National Baseball Hall of Fame member Early Wynn of Chicago White Sox was just a little better at 22–10 as he led his team to the AL pennant.
Jones had to work only seven innings against his old team the St. Louis Cardinals to earn 21st win of 1959, which was a no-hitter. (This is no longer recognized).
The right hander also fanned 10 in a one-hitter in Los Angeles, while striking out a dozen in San Francisco as he limited Philadelphia to a pair of hits.
Jones was 102-101 in his 12-year career for the Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, Cardinals, Giants, Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles.
While with the Cubs in 1955, Jones led the NL in losses with a 14-20 record. Ironically that year, he made the all-star team and threw a no-hitter in Chicago against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
1959 VOTING FOR CY YOUNG AWARD
Early Wynn (Chicago White Sox) 13
Sam Jones (San Francisco Giants) 2
Bob Shaw (Chciago White Sox) 1
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)
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.