Hall of Fame pitcher Steve Carlton is one of MLB’s greatest left-handed pitchers.  In his twenty three year career, Carlton appeared in the All-Star game 10 times and won two World Series Championships.  In his career, Carlton also did something that no pitcher had done before him.

On this day, October 26th, in 1982, Steve Carlton became the first player ever to win four Cy Young Awards.  All four of Carlton’s Cy Young Awards, 1972, 1977, 1980 and 1982, were won while playing for the Philadelphia Phillies.  The 1982 season was particularly exciting for fans, as Carlton was engaged in a “pitching war” with Nolan Ryan and Gaylord Perry.

Carlton ended his career in 1988 with 4,136 total strike outs; an accomplishment that resulted in Carlton being named one of the 100 Best Strikeout Pitchers of All-Time.