Smoltz Unseats Maddux New Ace Of Braves Wins N.L. Cy Young

Tue., Nov. 12, 1996

Associated Press

John Smoltz ended Greg Maddux’s Cy Young streak at four, easily winning the N.L. award Monday and giving the Atlanta Braves four straight winners.

“Aside from us winning the World Series, this is the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me,” Smoltz said.

He received 26 first-place votes and two second-place votes for 136 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Florida’s Kevin Brown was second with two firsts, 26 seconds and 88 points.

Atlanta’s prized pitching staff became the first to win four consecutive Cy Young Awards and has won five of six, dating back to Tom Glavine in 1991.

“Everybody felt I needed this to be on par with Greg and Tommy,” Smoltz said. “At least winning the award takes the pressure off of that. I know down the road I’ll be honored to have played with those two guys.”

The past six winners are all on the current Braves staff, as Maddux won for the Chicago Cubs in 1992 and then won in each of his first three seasons with the Braves.

Smoltz, a 29-year-old right-hander, was 24-8 with a 2.94 ERA, winning 14 consecutive decisions from April 9-June 19. He led the majors in wins and his total was the Braves’ highest since 1965, when Tony Cloninger went 24-11. Smoltz also led the majors in strikeouts with 276 and the N.L. in innings with 253-2/3.

He earned a $250,000 bonus for winning the award on top of his $5.25 million salary and became a free agent after the World Series.

“There’s a lot of pressure to stay here, a lot of pressure from people to do the right thing, do the nice thing,” Smoltz said. “My idea of a perfect situation would be to stay here, but I’m not going to close any doors.”

Brown got a $25,000 bonus for finishing second, Andy Benes of the Cardinals got a $75,000 bonus for finishing third (nine points) and Maddux got a $50,000 bonus for finishing in a fifth-place tie (three points).

Hideo Nomo of L.A. was fourth. Tied with Maddux for fifth were Trevor Hoffman of the Padres and Todd Worrell of the Dodgers.

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Smoltz Unseats Maddux New Ace Of Braves Wins N.L. Cy Young

Jesse Tinsley

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Rob Curley

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