In presenting the AL Cy Young Award to Detroit's Tarik Skubal at Saturday's BBWAA NY dinner, Tigers pitching coach Chris Fetter noted that Skubal is just the fourth lefty to win it in consecutive seasons and the others are Sandy Koufax, Randy Johnson & Clayton Kershaw. Skubal said when he received the 2024 award, he told his manager "same time next year," not knowing if he could do it, and now Skubal's hope is for a three-peat.
The Brewers' Pat Murphy, National League Manager of the Year for the second straight season, was among the honorees Sat. at the BBWAA NY dinner — and it was a family affair, as his son-in-law, former MLB player Pedro Alvarez, presented him with the award. Alvarez noted one of Murphy's sayings: "It's not where you're going, but who you're bringing." Murphy & the Guardians' Stephen Vogt, along with Bobby Cox & Kevin Cash, are the only back to back Mgr of the Yr award winners.
The first honor at the BBWAA NY chapter's 101st dinner Saturday was the Cy Young Award, presented by Dwight "Doc" Gooden to the Pirates' Paul Skenes. They are the only two winners to receive it the year after being named Rookie of the Year — Gooden, then 20, is the youngest to win the Cy & Skenes, 23, is the fifth youngest. Skenes said, "As cool as the award is, that's probably the coolest thing — to be introduced by Doc Gooden." Gooden is among the dinner's honorees from the 1986 Mets.