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First-time Cy Young winners Chris Sale, Tarik Skubal secure MLB's most prestigious pitching award after drastically different journeys

For just the third time in the honor’s illustrious history, the Cy Young Awards in both leagues have been won by left-handers: Detroit’s Tarik Skubal and Atlanta’s Chris Sale.

In 1977, Yankees closer Sparky Lyle became the first reliever in American League history to win the award, and Phillies ace Steve Carlton claimed the second of what would be four total Cy Youngs over the course of his 24-year Hall of Fame career. Twenty-five years later, a young southpaw named Barry Zito broke out with Oakland to claim the 2002 AL Cy Young, and legendary lefty Randy Johnson punctuated his unparalleled run of dominance in the desert with his fourth consecutive NL Cy Young and fifth total.