1996 AL Mathewson Award

As if the New York Yankees didn't have enough championships already, they went out and won another. With new manager Joe Torre at the helm, the Yanks began yet another dynasty; this was their first of three World Series victories in the late 1990's, to bring their century total to 25. The Yankees had some outstanding pitchers, including young lefty Andy Pettitte, and the deadly bullpen combo of John Wetteland and Mariano Rivera. Pettitte was a sophomore, who probably was the AL's best rookie in 1995; this year, he was great, though not quite good enough to win the Cy Young Award.

1996 American League Pitchers

		WN	LS	GP	GS	CG	SH	SV	IP	HIT	BB	SO	ERA
P HENTGEN	TOR	20	10	35	35	10	3	0	266	238	94	177	322
A PETTITTE	NY	21	8	35	34	2	1	0	221	229	72	162	387
C NAGY	CLE	17	5	32	32	5	0	0	222	217	61	167	341
A FERNANDEZ	CHI	16	10	35	35	6	1	0	258	248	72	200	345
J GUZMAN	TOR	11	8	27	27	4	1	0	188	158	53	165	293
K HILL	TEX	16	10	35	35	7	3	0	251	250	95	170	363
K APPIER	KC	14	11	32	32	5	1	0	211	192	75	207	362
J WETTELAND	NY	2	3	62	0	0	0	43	64	54	21	69	283
T PERCIVAL	CAL	0	2	62	0	0	0	36	74	38	31	100	231
M RIVERA	NY	8	3	61	0	0	0	5	108	73	34	130	209

         The Toronto Blue Jays had fallen on hard times since their glory days earlier in the decade. They suffered through another rough season, though there were a couple of bright spots on the pitching staff. The eternally erratic Juan Guzman recovered from a bad 1995 to win the ERA title. And Pat Hentgen, who also had a bad 1995, won the Cy Young Award with a super season. Hentgen deserved the award; he was the hardest working pitcher in the league, he won 20 games, and his ERA was better than anyone's except his teammate.
        Charles Nagy had his best year. Nagy had a great season in 1992, then missed 1993 with surgery on his arm. He came all the way back, and this year was among the best in the league. Nagy played a large role on all five Cleveland teams that made the playoffs in the 1990's; in 1996, he came into Game Seven in relief, with a chance to save the series for his team. Instead, he served up a game-winning hit to Edgar Renteria. Nagy has had his ups and downs, but was among the more consistent winners of the 1990's.
        Mariano Rivera finished third in the Cy Young vote. This is a rarity; Rivera's teammate, John Wetteland, led the AL in saves. Usually, closers get the fame and fortune, and setup men live in obscurity; but this year, Rivera was so awesome that he caught everybody's eye. He was a late-bloomer; at age 26, this was his first good season. Wetteland left the Yankees after the season, and Rivera inherited the glory job; he has since emerged as perhaps the best closer in baseball.