Yankees Legend Introduces Cy Young Winner At BBWAA Dinner

New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole got his hands on his first Cy Young award, but not before a special guest introduced him.

A New York Yankees legend introduced American League Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole during the Baseball Writers Association of American’s annual awards dinner this weekend in New York City.

For Cole, it was his first Cy Young after falling short in voting previously. Before he won the award in November, he finished in the Top 5 in Cy Young voting three times.

Cole finally got his hardware at the dinner, but the BBWAA surprised Cole by having one of the Yankees’ former Cy Young winners introduce him — Ron Guidry.

The 1978 Cy Young winner played his entire career with the Yankees and went 170-91 in 14 seasons. He made four All-Star teams and won two World Series rings. He also won five Gold Gloves at pitcher.

Guidry is one of a half-dozen Yankees pitchers to win the award. Along with Cole, the other four are Bob Turley (1958), Whitey Ford (1961), Sparky Lyle (1977) and Roger Clemens (2001).

Your 2023 American League Cy Young, @GerritCole45 👏 pic.twitter.com/kimMURseAo

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) January 28, 2024

Plus, as MLB.com reported, Guidry has become a mentor to Cole since he arrived in New York before the 2020 season.

“I’m very humbled by this award,” Cole said. “It’s a truly special honor that fills me with pride and validation for the hard work and effort we put into our craft. … I still dream most nights of the perfect pitch, of the biggest execution in the biggest moment. And it’s hard for me to believe that those dreams I had as a boy are the same dreams I have today.”

Cole went 15-4 with a 2.63 ERA in 2023, making 33 starts, and his ERA led the American League. He made 33 starts for the second straight season.

He threw 209 innings, giving up 157 hits, 64 runs (61 earned) and 20 home runs. He struck out 222 and walked 48. He finished with a 0.81 WHIP and allowed hitters to bat .206 against him. It was the second straight season in which Cole held batters below a .210 average.