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It seems like only yesterday...not.
One hundred years ago today Cleveland's Cy Young reached a milestone that we'll never see again: he notched the 500th win of his legendary career in a game against Washington, 5-2 in 11 innings. The game, the backend of a doubleheader, took two hours to play before 6,000 fans.
Think about that: five hundred wins. Sitting on the Senators' bench that day was Walter Johnson, who would go on to win 417 games - three after he passed away - and is second on the all-time list, almost 100 wins behind Young's 511 total.
Young's career began in 1890, and I don't have to tell you that the game has changed immeasurably since then. It's that 500 win plateau that inspired the annual Cy Young Award, though Johnson was arguably better overall, plus the fact that the 20th century rules were more consistent than the rules in place when Young broke in. Still, a remarkable achievement, and that 500th victory took place in the District.
Also on this date 36 years ago expansion Senators' ace Dick Bosman threw a no-hitter at the Oakland A's while pitching for the Indians in Cleveland. Bozzie would've had a perfect game if not for his own throwing error in the 4th inning. Today Dick is the minor league pitching coordinator for the Tampa Bay Rays, and some of his work is on display this week at Camden Yards.
Oh, and those three post-living wins recorded by Walter Johnson? On the day he died, December 10, 1946, the Baseball Record Book showed him with 414 wins. Forty-some years later a recount showed 3 more victories. Now that's pitching.
