Chris Carpenter was named the National League’s Cy Young Award winner on Thursday, giving the St. Louis Cardinals their first Cy Young winner since 1970. The New Hampshire native edged out Florida’s Dontrelle Willis in the closest vote since 1998.
Carpenter received 132 points in the 5-3-1 voting system used by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Out of 32 ballots, the right-hander received 19 first-place votes and 12 second-place mentions, with just one voter placing him third.
He is the second pitcher in Cardinals history to win the Cy Young, joining Bob Gibson, who won the award in 1968 and 1970. It was the third award for Carpenter this fall, following recognition as NL pitcher of the year by The Sporting News and in the Players’ Choice Awards.
“That is an amazing thing,” Carpenter said of being in a class with Gibson.
“I was just telling my wife after I found out that I won, you think about the Cardinals organization and the history of this organization, how many people, how may pitchers came through this organization, how many great pitchers came through this organization, how many great seasons all those guys had, and to be the only one besides Mr. Gibson to win the Cy Young is crazy. This organization has been around for a long time with a lot of great history, a lot of great pitchers, and to be in that company is just crazy.”