Irv Young

Irving Melrose Young
(Young Cy or Cy The Second)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 10", Weight 170 lb.

• Debut April 14, 1905
• Final Game August 25, 1911
• Born July 21, 1877 in Columbia Falls, ME USA
• Died January 14, 1935 in Brewer, ME USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Irv Young holds the post-1900 record for most wins in a season with a sub-.500 winning percentage. In 1905, he won 20 games but had a winning percentage of only .488 with the Boston Beaneaters.

Young pitched the best game of his career on August 22, 1908. In the heat of a thrilling three-team pennant race, Young tossed a 17-inning shutout and scored the winning run for the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1-0 victory over the Brooklyn Superbas. The win kept the Pirates in first place, although they eventually finished in a tie for second place with the New York Giants, one game behind the Chicago Cubs.

In addition to his pitching, he worked a couple of National League games as a fill-in umpire, one in 1905 and another in 1907.

Notable Achievements

• 2-times NL Complete Games Leader (1905 & 1906)
• 2-times NL Innings Pitched Leader (1905 & 1906)
• 15 Wins Seasons: 2 (1905 & 1906)
• 20 Wins Seasons: 1 (1905)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 3 (1905-1907)
• 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (1905 & 1906)

Further Reading

• Gary Belleville: "August 22, 1908: Irv Young tosses 17-inning shutout, scores winning run to keep Pirates in first place," SABR Baseball Games Project.

Related Sites

• Irv Young at the SABR Bio Project