Chris Sale's Triumphant Season: From Doubts to Cy Young Glory

Chris Sale has achieved a remarkable feat this season, silencing his critics and reviving his Hall of Fame aspirations by winning the coveted National League Cy Young Award. The 35-year-old left-hander, now with the Atlanta Braves, has become the first Braves pitcher to receive this honor since Tom Glavine in 1998.

Sale was overwhelmingly chosen for the award, securing 26 out of 30 first-place votes from select members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler finished second, earning the remaining four first-place votes, while Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes came in third. The announcement was made by Atlanta's legendary three-time Cy Young Award winner, Greg Maddux, on MLB Network.

Reflecting on his achievement, Sale acknowledged the challenging journey to his first Cy Young Award, given his extensive injury history. "This wasn’t an easy way to get to winning this trophy for the first time," Sale remarked. "As soon as it happened, I’m thinking about people and teammates and coaches and family. It’s special to me because of all the hard work that other people put in to get me here."

This year has indeed been extraordinary for Sale, who was also named the National League's Comeback Player of the Year last week. At 35 years and 184 days old when the regular season concluded, Sale joins the ranks of other seasoned pitchers who achieved their first Cy Young Award later in their careers:

• Early Wynn (1959): 39 years, 266 days
  
• Dennis Eckersley (1992): 38 years, 1 day
  
• R.A. Dickey (2012): 37 years, 340 days
  
• Warren Spahn (1957): 36 years, 159 days
  
• Rollie Fingers (1981): 35 years, 41 days
  

Sale's career trajectory has been a rollercoaster. From 2012 to 2018, he consistently ranked among the top six in American League Cy Young voting. However, multiple injuries severely limited his innings from 2020 to 2023, reducing him to just 151 innings over those four years. Just when it seemed like his career might be winding down, Sale roared back to elite form, proving his resilience and dominance on the mound once again.

​Sale's triumphant season is a testament to his enduring talent and determination. His journey from injury and doubt to winning the Cy Young Award is an inspiring story of perseverance and excellence in the world of baseball. As Sale continues his career, he does so with renewed vigor and a well-deserved place among the game's greats.