Profile of the Day: Cy Young

Posted March 29, 2021 by Amanda | No Comment

Are you a baseball fan? On this day in 1867, legendary baseball player Cy Young was born. During his 22-season career, Young pitched for five different teams and established numerous pitching records, some of which he still holds today.

Image: Cy Young / Wikimedia Commons

He was born Denton True Young on March 29, 1867 in Gilmore, Ohio to McKinzie Young, Jr. and Nancy Miller. Growing up in a small farming community, Young stopped going to school after the sixth grade to help out on the family’s farm.

Before joining the major leagues, Young played for a professional minor league team, where he earned the nickname “Cyclone,” which shortened to “Cy,” for his fastballs. By 1890, he signed on to his first National League team, the Cleveland Spiders. Over 22-seasons, Young ended up pitching for five different teams. By the time of his retirement from baseball, Young had 511 wins under his belt. Over a century later, Young still holds the record for most career wins by a pitcher in Major League history. In 1937, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Young died on November 4, 1955 at the age of 88. About a year after his death, the Cy Young Award was created in his memory.

Explore Cy Young’s family tree on Geni and share how you’re connected to the iconic baseball player.