Not many people remember that the Phillies had a reliever win the Cy Young
40 – John Denny (1983), Steve Bedrosian (1987)
Denny was a key part of the 1983 NL Championship team, putting together the best season of his career at the age of 30. A youngster compared to many on the “Wheeze Kids”, Denny was a workhorse, logging 242 2/3 innings in 36 starts, completing seven games. His 19 wins led the National League. Denny allowed only nine home runs and posted a nifty 2.37 ERA. All told, his efforts for the season earned him a Cy Young Award.
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Denny had a very good ERA of 2.45 the following season, but was limited to 22 starts due to injury. Still solid in 1985, Denny worked 230 2/3 innings with an ERA of 3.82. He was traded to the Reds and pitched one more season before retiring with 123 wins.
Steve Bedrosian spent the first several seasons in the Major Leagues with the Braves mainly as a starting pitcher. At the end of 1985, the Phillies acquired Bedrosian along with Milt Thompson for Ozzie Virgil and Pete Smith.
After a 29-save season with a 3.39 ERA in 1986, Bedrosian had his best overall season in 1987 after a rocky start, blowing two saves by the middle of April with an ERA over 11. However, he saved 40 for the season and posted an ERA of 2.83 in a year that runs were scored in bunches throughout the league.
Bedrosian’s efforts earned him his first and only All-Star appearance and the Cy Young Award.