American League Cy Young Award

David Price, Tampa Bay

Why he won:

Tampa Bay lefty David Price, who was nearly a Royal, edged Detroit right-hander Justin Verlander in the American League’s tightest Cy Young balloting in 43 years.

Price collected 14 of the 28 first-place votes – one more than Verlander, who was a unanimous selection in 2011. The other first-place vote, cast by Drew Davison of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, went to Tampa Bay closer Fernando Rodney.

The winning margin of four points, 153-149, was the closest in AL since the 1969 balloting resulted in a tie between Baltimore’s Mike Cuellar and Detroit’s Denny McLain.

Price, 27, finished 20-5 with a 2.56 ERA compared to Verlander’s 17-8 and 2.64. Los Angeles right-hander Jered Weaver was a distant third. Price placed second to Seattle’s Felix Hernandez in the 2010 balloting.

Tampa Bay took Price with the first selection in the 2007 draft after the Royals fell to the second pick by closing the season with a three-game sweep at Detroit. Price was viewed overwhelming as the draft’s best prospect.

The Royals chose then-shortstop Mike Moustakas with the second pick.

In his words:

“My legs are shaking right now…,” Price said upon learning the result on MLB Network. “I don’t set individual goals. So for me to be able to do this…I’ve got a lot of emotions going through my body right now.”

The voting

Player, Team,First,Second,Third,Fourth,Fifth,Total

David Price, Tampa Bay,14,13,1,0,0,153

Justin Verlander, Detroit,13,13,2,0,0,149

Jered Weaver, Los Angeles,0,2,14,9,2,70

Felix Hernandez, Seattle,0,0,5,10,6,41

Fernando Rodney, Tampa Bay,1,0,5,4,8,38

Chris Sale, Chicago,0,0,1,4,6,17

Jim Johnson, Baltimore,0,0,0,1,3,5

Matt Harrison,Texas,0,0,0,0,2,2

Yu Darvish, Texas,0,0,0,0,1,1

The voting panel consists of two BBWAA members from each of the 14 chapters in American League cities. Players receive seven points for a first-place vote, four for a second-place vote, three for a third-place vote, two for a fourth-place vote and one for a fifth-place vote. Balloting is conducted prior to post-season play.

Kansas City Chapter ballots

Sam Mellinger, Kansas City Star: Verlander, Price, Hernandez, Weaver, Rodney.

Joe Posnanski, SI.com: Verlander, Price, Weaver, Hernandez, Sale.

Previous winners

2011: Justin Verlander*, Detroit; 2010: Felix Hernandez, Seattle; 2009: Zack Greinke, Royals; 2008: Cliff Lee, Cleveland; 2007: CC Sabathia, Cleveland; 2006: Johan Santana*, Minnesota; 2005: Bartolo Colon, Los Angeles; 2004: Johan Santana*, Minnesota; 2003: Roy Halladay, Toronto; 2002: Barry Zito, Oakland; 2001: Roger Clemens, New York; 2000: Pedro Martinez*, Boston.

1999: Pedro Martinez*, Boston; 1998: Roger Clemens*, Toronto; 1997: Roger Clemens, Toronto; 1996: Pat Hentgen, Toronto; 1995: Randy Johnson, Seattle; 1994: David Cone, Royals; 1993: Jack McDowell, Chicago; 1992: Dennis Eckersley, Oakland; 1991: Roger Clemens, Boston; 1990: Bob Welch, Oakland.

1989: Bret Saberhagen, Royals; 1988: Frank Viola, Minnesota; 1987: Roger Clemens, Boston; 1986: Roger Clemens*, Boston; 1985: Bret Saberhagen, Royals; 1984: Willie Hernandez, Detroit; 1983: LaMarr Hoyt, Chicago; 1982: Pete Vuckovich, Milwaukee; 1981: Rollie Fingers, Milwaukee; 1980: Steve Stone, Baltimore.

1979: Mike Flanagan, Baltimore; 1978: Ron Guidry*, New York; 1977: Sparky Lyle, New York; 1976: Jim Palmer, Baltimore; 1975: Jim Palmer, Baltimore; 1974: Catfish Hunter, Oakland; 1973: Jim Palmer, Baltimore; 1972: Gaylord Perry, Cleveland; 1971: Vida Blue, Oakland; 1970: Jim Perry, Minnesota.

1969 (tie): Mike Cuellar, Baltimore, and Denny McLain, Detroit; 1968: Denny McLain*, Detroit; 1967: Jim Lonborg, Boston; 1964: Dean Chance, Los Angeles; 1961: Whitey Ford, New York; 1959: Early Wynn, Chicago; 1958: Bob Turley, New York.

_ unanimous selection. One award given from 1956-66; NL pitchers won in 1956-57, 1960, 1962-63 and 1965-66.

National League Cy Young Award

R.A. Dickey, New York

Why he won:

New York knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, in contrast to the tight American League vote, was a runaway winner in the National League balloting after garnering 27 of the 32 first-place votes.

The award capped a magical season for Dickey, a 38-year-old who had won just 41 games in nine previous seasons before going 20-6 with a 2.73 ERA for the Mets in a league-leading 33 starts.

Los Angeles right-hander Clayton Kershaw, the 2011 recipient, finished second – just ahead of Washington lefty Gio Gonzalez. Kershaw got two first-place votes, while Gonzalez, Cincinnati’s Johnny Cueto and Atlanta reliever Craig Kimbrel each got one.

Dickey is the first knuckleballer to win the award in either league. Three knuckleballers previously finished second: Wilbur Wood in the AL in 1972; Phil Niekro in the NL in 1969 and brother Joe Niekro in the NL in 1979.

In his words:

“This is an honor to be shared,” Dickey said. “I am not a self-made man by any stretch of the imagination. There have been countless people who have poured into me in a way that has changed my life…

“A few of those men are some of the knuckleballers who have had incredible seasons and didn’t necessarily get acknowledged for their feats – Phil Niekro, Tim Wakefield, Charlie Hough. This is a victory for all of us.”

The voting

Player, Team,First,Second,Third,Fourth,Fifth,Total

R.A. Dickey, New York,27,5,0,0,0,209

Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles,2,11,10,1,6,96

Gio Gonzalez, Washington,1,12,6,8,4,93

Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati,1,4,10,10,2,75

Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta,1,0,5,5,9,41

Matt Cain, San Francisco,0,0,1,6,7,22

Kyle Lohse, St. Louis,0,0,0,2,2,6

Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati,0,0,0,0,1,1

Cole Hamels, Philadelphia,0,0,0,0,1,1

The voting panel consists of two BBWAA members from each of the 16 chapters in National League cities. Players receive seven points for a first-place vote, four for a second-place vote, three for a third-place vote, two for a fourth-place vote and one for a fifth-place vote. Balloting is conducted prior to post-season play.

Previous winners

2011: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles; 2010: Roy Halladay*, Philadelphia; 2009: Tim Lincecum, San Francisco; 2008: Tim Lincecum, San Francisco; 2007: Jake Peavy*, San Diego; 2006: Brandon Webb, Arizona; 2005: Chris Carpenter, St. Louis; 2004: Roger Clemens, Houston; 2003: Eric Gagne, Los Angeles; 2002: Randy Johnson*, Arizona; 2001: Randy Johnson, Arizona; 2000: Randy Johnson, Arizona.

1999: Randy Johnson, Arizona; 1998: Tom Glavine, Atlanta; 1997: Pedro Martinez, Montreal; 1996: John Smoltz, Atlanta; 1995: Greg Maddux*, Atlanta; 1994: Greg Maddux*, Atlanta; 1993: Greg Maddux, Atlanta; 1992: Greg Maddux, Chicago; 1991: Tom Glavine, Atlanta; 1990: Doug Drabek, Pittsburgh.

1989: Mark Davis, San Diego; 1988: Orel Hershiser*, Los Angeles; 1987: Steve Bedrosian, Philadelphia; 1986: Mike Scott, Houston; 1985: Dwight Gooden*, New York; 1984: Rick Sutcliffe*, Chicago; 1983: John Denny, Philadelphia; 1982: Steve Carlton, Philadelphia; 1981: Fernando Valenzuela, Los Angeles; 1980: Steve Carlton, Philadelphia.

1979: Bruce Sutter, Chicago; 1978: Gaylord Perry, San Diego; 1977: Steve Carlton, Philadelphia; 1976: Randy Jones, San Diego; 1975: Tom Seaver, New York; 1974: Mike Marshall, Los Angeles; 1973: Tom Seaver, New York; 1972: Steve Carlton*, Philadelphia; 1971: Ferguson Jenkins, Chicago; 1970: Bob Gibson, St. Louis.

1969: Tom Seaver, New York; 1968: Bob Gibson*, St. Louis; 1967: Mike McCormick, San Francisco; 1966: Sandy Koufax*, Los Angeles; 1965: Sandy Koufax*, Los Angeles; 1963: Sandy Koufax*, Los Angeles; 1962: Don Drysdale, Los Angeles; 1960: Vernon Law, Pittsburgh; 1957: Warren Spahn, Milwaukee; 1956: Don Newcombe, Brooklyn.

* _ unanimous selection. One award given from 1956-66; AL pitchers won in 1958-59, 1961 and 1964.

2012 BBWAA award winners/announcement schedule

AL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year: Mike Trout, Los Angeles

NL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year: Bryce Harper, Washington

AL Manager of the Year: Bob Melvin, Oakland

NL Manager of the Year: Davey Johnson, Washington

AL Cy Young Award: David Price, Tampa Bay

NL Cy Young Award: R.A. Dickey, New York

Thursday: AL and NL Most Valuable Player