Should MLB replace Cy Young awards with the "C. Mathewson" and "W. Johnson" awards?

[Beatles Guy]

If I was forced to choose two names to be on the batting awards, it would have been Ted Williams and Stan Musial.

[Rookiemonster]

I get why cy young had it named after him. I just think the game has changed a ton since then. It's like the nfl mov award being called the red grange. It's
In the 56 it made more sense to name it cy young . If they were to name it today I don't think it should have any of the early players.

[KCRfan1]

Originally Posted by Rookiemonster

I get why cy young had it named after him. I just think the game has changed a ton since then. It's like the nfl mov award being called the red grange. It's
In the 56 it made more sense to name it cy young . If they were to name it today I don't think it should have any of the early players.

Dustin, you're going to have to help out a bit.

How has the game changed " a ton "?

The basics, fundamentals, foundation of the game are still in place. In fact you can go to any neighborhood park and find people playing a ball game that's easily recognizable from current day or 100 years ago.

Sure there are teams throughout the country now, and bats have weight limits, and the mound is just a bit lower. But other than that, not much seems to have changed, imo.

[packs]

I'm surprised at the reaction to Gwynn. In my opinion he is an extremely worthy pick. The guy hit 300 19 years in a row. That's incredible. I am however really disappointed with the Carew pick. I don't care if he has the batting titles, Ted Williams is the obvious pick for AL. No one will think of Rod Carew when you ask them to name the top ten hitters of all time.

[Steve D]

Well, MLB could do like the NHL where all the awards are known by a player's name (ie, the Calder Trophy for the ROY)

Let's see:

Jackie Robinson Award - ROY

Cy Young Award - Best pitcher in baseball
Christy Mathewson Award - NL
Walter Johnson Award - AL

Ty Cobb Award - Best hitter/highest BA in baseball
Honus Wagner/Tony Gwynn Award - NL
Ted Williams - AL

Hank Aaron Award - Most HRs in baseball
Babe Ruth Award - AL
Willie Mays Award - NL

Fielding Awards:

OF - Tris Speaker Award
2B - Joe Morgan Award
C - Johnny Bench Award
SS - Ozzie Smith Award
3B - Brooks Robinson Award

The only one I have a concern with would be the Walter Johnson Award. I'm afraid the name would be shortened, and it would euphemistically be known as "The Johnson Award"

Steve

Edited to correct the name of the Calder Trophy (thanks to Paul H for the correction).

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Originally Posted by Steve D

Well, MLB could do like the NHL where all the awards are known by a player's name (ie, the Hobey Baker Award for the ROY)



Let's see:



Jackie Robinson Award - ROY



Cy Young Award - Best pitcher in baseball

Christy Mathewson Award - NL

Walter Johnson Award - AL



Ty Cobb Award - Best hitter/highest BA in baseball

Honus Wagner/Tony Gwynn Award - NL

Ted Williams - AL



Hank Aaron Award - Most HRs in baseball

Babe Ruth Award - AL

Willie Mays Award - NL



Fielding Awards:



OF - Tris Speaker Award

2B - Joe Morgan Award

C - Johnny Bench Award

SS - Ozzie Smith Award

3B - Brooks Robinson Award



The only one I have a concern with would be the Walter Johnson Award. I'm afraid the name would be shortened, and it would euphemistically be known as "The Johnson Award"



Steve

Change Aaron to Bonds (Aaron already has an award after him too), Bench to Pudge, OF Andruw Jones.


HoFAutoRookies.com

[FourStrikes]

Originally Posted by Steve D

Well, MLB could do like the NHL where all the awards are known by a player's name (ie, the Hobey Baker Award for the ROY)

Let's see:

Jackie Robinson Award - ROY

Cy Young Award - Best pitcher in baseball
Christy Mathewson Award - NL
Walter Johnson Award - AL

Ty Cobb Award - Best hitter/highest BA in baseball
Honus Wagner/Tony Gwynn Award - NL
Ted Williams - AL

Hank Aaron Award - Most HRs in baseball
Babe Ruth Award - AL
Willie Mays Award - NL

Fielding Awards:

OF - Tris Speaker Award
2B - Joe Morgan Award
C - Johnny Bench Award
SS - Ozzie Smith Award
3B - Brooks Robinson Award

The only one I have a concern with would be the Walter Johnson Award. I'm afraid the name would be shortened, and it would euphemistically be known as "The Johnson Award"

Steve

+1

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by Steve D

The only one I have a concern with would be the Walter Johnson Award. I'm afraid the name would be shortened, and it would euphemistically be known as "The Johnson Award"

Steve

Be glad we're not talking about Randy Johnson, because then it would be "The Big Unit Award."

[sreader3]

I think all MLB awards should have the name of a great player attached. For me, it doesn't even have to be the "best" player. Attaching names to awards encourages people to think (and care) about the the history of the game.

Same goes for other sports. I especially like the college football awards -- Heisman, Lombardi, Nagurski, Thorpe etc. etc.

[pherbener]

Originally Posted by Steve D

Well, MLB could do like the NHL where all the awards are known by a player's name (ie, the Hobey Baker Award for the ROY)



Steve

Steve, The NHL ROY is the Calder award. The Hobey Baker award is for college hockey's best player. BTW I'm always looking for Hobey items if anyone has any

That being said, I like the idea of the Matty and WaJo awards but it will never happen!

[steve B]

Originally Posted by pherbener

Steve, The NHL ROY is the Calder award. The Hobey Baker award is for college hockey's best player. BTW I'm always looking for Hobey items if anyone has any

That being said, I like the idea of the Matty and WaJo awards but it will never happen!

They named a sports award after a sculptor?



Used to go past one of his workshops pretty regularly as a kid, and some of the local towns had small lawn sculptures until they got expensive enough that people stole a couple, after that they all got sent to art auctions.

Steve B

[ZenPop]

...with the history of baseball, the idea of having an Andruw Jones award is kind of hilarious.

...and I think Willie Mays should be on more awards:

Best Pitcher - NL = Willie Mays
Best Pitcher - AL = Willie Mays
MVP - NL = Willie Mays
MVP - AL = Willie Mays
ROY - AL = Willie Mays
ROY - NL = Willie Mays

(kind of brings to mind... "At first base, Bugs Bunny. At second base Bugs Bunny. At third base, Bugs Bunny...")

[clydepepper]

IMHO there are already enough awards named after players. The 'age of specialization' lends itself to even more possibilities: Best set-up man; best seventh inning reliever; best OF performing in a platooned roll; etc. etc.

Statues are another thing - I'm not sure if Burger King has one in the works for me yet.

Too much celebrating for just performing whether as a player or an eater.

They have their piles of money and they can make their own statues - as Ivan Rodriguez has in his back yard (S.I. story).

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by ZenPop

...with the history of baseball, the idea of having an Andruw Jones award is kind of hilarious.

...and I think Willie Mays should be on more awards:

Best Pitcher - NL = Willie Mays
Best Pitcher - AL = Willie Mays
MVP - NL = Willie Mays
MVP - AL = Willie Mays
ROY - AL = Willie Mays
ROY - NL = Willie Mays

(kind of brings to mind... "At first base, Bugs Bunny. At second base Bugs Bunny. At third base, Bugs Bunny...")

No- Who's on First, What's on second, and I don't know is on third

[mattsey9]

Originally Posted by Steve D

2B - Joe Morgan Award


Steve

You spelled Sandberg wrong.

[ValKehl]

David, I'm ok with your suggestion, except that I prefer the "Big Train" rather than "Barney."

[BicycleSpokes]

Originally Posted by Beatles Guy

If I was forced to choose two names to be on the batting awards, it would have been Ted Williams and Stan Musial.

I would certainly be OK with that AL/NL duo as well.

Sent from my GT-I8190 using Tapatalk

[packs]

In my opinion the Cy Young award has little to do with Cy Young and its association is a historical one known only to purists. If you asked Kershaw to tell you anything about Cy Young I don't think he could. For that reason I don't really see any real need to change the name. It has taken on a different meaning and naming it after another pitcher I think would be a distraction. The award Cy Young has surpassed the player and man.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by packs

In my opinion the Cy Young award has little to do with Cy Young and its association is a historical one known only to purists. If you asked Kershaw to tell you anything about Cy Young I don't think he could. For that reason I don't really see any real need to change the name. It has taken on a different meaning and naming it after another pitcher I think would be a distraction. The award Cy Young has surpassed the player and man.

What is a Kershaw? Is it something like this?

[Hot Springs Bathers]

The awards should be left as is! If you don't know who Cy Young is and what he did you should follow bowling or polo.

[bravos4evr]

It should stay how it is, I think you'd be surprised by how many players know who the old timer are.

But, if you wanted to be a stickler and name the awards after the greatest players you'd have to go as follows:

AL MVP- Babe Ruth Award

NL MVP- Wille Mays Award

AL pitcher- Walter Johnson Award

NL Pitcher- Greg Maddux Award


AL Best Hitter- Ted Williams Award

NL Best Hitter- Rogers Hornsby Award


Gold Gloves by position:

C- Johnny Bench

1b- Keith Hernandez

2b-Bill Mazeroski

SS- Ozzie Smith (for now)

3b- Brooks Robinson

LF-Yastrzremski

CF- Andruw Jones

RF- Roberto Clemente

P- Jim Kaat Award (since Maddux already gets the nl pitching)

[Vintageclout]

Originally Posted by bravos4evr

It should stay how it is, I think you'd be surprised by how many players know who the old timer are.

But, if you wanted to be a stickler and name the awards after the greatest players you'd have to go as follows:

AL MVP- Babe Ruth Award

NL MVP- Wille Mays Award

AL pitcher- Walter Johnson Award

NL Pitcher- Greg Maddux Award


AL Best Hitter- Ted Williams Award

NL Best Hitter- Rogers Hornsby Award


Gold Gloves by position:

C- Johnny Bench

1b- Keith Hernandez

2b-Bill Mazeroski

SS- Ozzie Smith (for now)

3b- Brooks Robinson

LF-Yastrzremski

CF- Andruw Jones

RF- Roberto Clemente

P- Jim Kaat Award (since Maddux already gets the nl pitching)

Right on with Hornsby as best NL hitter. He averaged .401 over 5 consecutive seasons and .399 over 6 years...that's amazing! Have to disagree with NL pitcher...Mathewson, Alexander and Seaver better than Maddux with Seaver & Alexander both posting better WAR & JAWS figures than Maddux. Also, one of the stats that gets lost with post 90's to present day pitchers is the fact that they simply didnt or don't complete games. The toughest outs for a pitcher is the final 3-6 outs and starters don't have to get them anymore. Not their fault of course because that's the way the game is played, but it's hard to say a 7/8 inning pitcher is better than a hurler who completed 50%+ of his games during his prime.

Regards,
Joe T.

[horzverti]

Originally Posted by Leon

What is a Kershaw? Is it something like this?

That is great! I almost fell out of my chair.