Cy Young Profile: Mike Cuellar, 1969

Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles

Age:  32 (May 8)

1st season with Orioles

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 165

Prior to 1969:

A native of Cuba, Cuellar pitched on weekends while a member of the Cuban Army in 1954-55 and was quite successful. In 1956 he pitched in the Independent League in Nicaragua and was 10-3 with a 2.95 ERA. Performing well as a relief pitcher in the Cuban Winter League during the 1956-57 season, the thin southpaw was signed by the Cincinnati Reds. He was assigned to the Havana Sugar Kings of the Class AAA International League for the ’57 season and in his first outing vs. Montreal he struck out seven straight batters in a relief appearance.  Primarily pitching out of the bullpen (16 of his 44 appearances were starts) Cuellar produced an 8-7 record with a 2.44 ERA. Back with Havana in 1958, he started 29 of his 40 games and went 13-12 with a 2.77 ERA. Cuellar started the 1959 season with the Reds but was ineffective in two relief appearances and was returned to Havana and, utilized exclusively as a starter, he was 10-11 with a 2.80 ERA for a club that went on to win the Junior World Series. Cuellar was still with the Sugar Kings in 1960, who were forced to move to Jersey City due to the political situation in Cuba. Cuellar was 6-9 with a 4.56 ERA. He remained in Class AAA in 1961, playing for Jersey City and then Indianapolis of the American Association. Overall he appeared in 33 games with an unimpressive 4-11 record and 4.58 ERA. Cuellar spent 1962 in the Class AA Mexican League with the Monterrey Sultanes. In the meantime, his contract had been dealt to Detroit and Cleveland but he appeared to be stuck in the minor leagues while playing winter ball throughout Latin America while travel to and from Cuba became problematic. The situation improved for Cuellar in 1964 when he moved on to the St. Louis Cardinals system. Having learned to throw a screwball over the winter, he was 6-1 in 10 starts for the Jacksonville Suns of the International League before the Cardinals called him up in June. He appeared in 32 games for St. Louis, starting 7 of them, and produced a 5-5 record with a 4.50 ERA for the NL pennant winners. Not used in the World Series, he found himself back with Jacksonville in 1965 where he was 9-1 with a 2.51 ERA until he was traded to the Houston Astros in June. Finally in the major leagues to stay at age 28, Cuellar added a curveball to his repertoire and appeared in 25 games for the Astros, starting four of them, and was 1-4 with a 3.54 ERA. He broke out in 1966 when he went 12-10 for the 72-90 Astros and ranked second in the NL with a 2.22 ERA while starting 28 of his 38 games and accumulating 227.1 innings pitched with 175 strikeouts. Cuellar had his first All-Star season in 1967 as he posted a 16-11 record with a 3.03 ERA, 16 complete games, and 203 strikeouts in 246.1 innings pitched. He struggled with arm problems in 1968 and his record dropped to 8-11 with a 2.74 ERA. In the offseason the Astros traded him to the Orioles along with two minor league players for OF/1B/C Curt Blefary.

1969 Season Summary

Appeared in 39 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 39

Games Started – 39 [3, tied with Mel Stottlemyre]

Complete Games – 18 [3, tied with Sam McDowell]

Wins – 23 [2]

Losses – 11

PCT - .676 [9]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 5 [3]

Innings Pitched – 290.2 [3]

Hits – 213 [17, tied with Tom Murphy]

Runs – 94

Earned Runs – 77

Home Runs – 18

Bases on Balls – 79

Strikeouts – 182 [5, tied with Joe Coleman]

ERA – 2.38 [3]

Hit Batters – 1

Balks – 2 [2, tied with Denny McLain, Bob Locker & Jim Bouton]

Wild Pitches – 3

Midseason Snapshot: 10-9, ERA - 2.51, SO - 101 in 158 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 12 (in 9 IP) at Washington 6/17

10+ strikeout games – 1

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 1 (in 9 IP) vs. Minnesota 8/10

Batting

PA – 113, AB – 103, R – 6, H – 12, 2B – 1, 3B – 2, HR – 0, RBI – 5, BB – 0, SO – 43, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .117, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 8, SF – 2

Fielding

Chances – 56

Put Outs – 9

Assists – 45

Errors – 2

DP – 7

Pct. - .964

Postseason Pitching:

G – 3 (ALCS vs. Minnesota – 1 G; World Series vs. NY Mets – 2 G)

 GS – 3, CG – 1, Record – 1-0, PCT – 1.000, SV – 0, ShO – 0, IP – 24, H – 16, R – 5, ER – 4, HR – 2, BB – 5, SO – 20, HB – 0, BLK – 0, WP – 0, ERA – 1.50

Awards & Honors:

AL Cy Young Award: BBWAA (co-winner)

8^th in AL MVP voting (55 points, 16% share)

AL Cy Young voting:

Mike Cuellar, Balt.: 10 of 24 votes, 42% share

Denny McLain, Det.: 10 votes, 42% share

Jim Perry, Min.: 3 votes, 13% share

Dave McNally, Balt.: 1 vote, 4% share

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Orioles went 109-53 to finish first in the AL Eastern Division by 19 games over the Detroit Tigers. Won ALCS over the Minnesota Twins, 3 games to 0. Lost World Series to the New York Mets, 4 games to 1, with Cuellar going the distance in Game 1 to give the Orioles their only win of the Series.

Aftermath of ‘69:

Cuellar had another fine season in 1970, compiling a 24-8 record with a 3.48 ERA and 21 complete games. He was selected as an All-Star despite his typically slow start and wound up fourth in AL Cy Young voting. The Orioles again won the AL pennant and the ensuing World Series as well. Three of the starters won 20 games, with LHP Dave McNally matching Cuellar’s total of 24 and RHP Jim Palmer winning an even 20. He experienced difficulties in the postseason until going the distance to win the decisive fifth game of the World Series against Cincinnati. Known for his many superstitions as well as his pitching prowess, Cuellar was one of four 20-game winners for the Orioles in 1971 (RHP Pat Dobson joining Palmer, McNally, and Cuellar), posting a 20-9 record with a 3.08 ERA and another 21 complete games for 292.1 innings pitched in all. He was once more an All-Star. Baltimore won its third straight AL pennant but lost the World Series to the Pirates, with Cuellar losing both of his starts. The Orioles finished third in the AL East in 1972 although Cuellar contributed an 18-12 record with a 2.57 ERA and 17 complete games. He was 18-13 in 1973 with a 3.27 ERA and 267 innings pitched that included another 17 complete games while Baltimore returned to the top of the AL East. He had one last All-Star season in 1974, in which he put together a 22-10 tally with a 3.11 ERA and 20 complete games at age 37. The Orioles once again topped their division and Cuellar placed sixth in AL Cy Young voting. Age finally seemed to catch up to Cuellar in 1975 as he was 14-12 with a 3.66 ERA. The situation worsened considerably in 1976 as the 39-year-old Cuellar was 4-13 with 4.96 ERA and found himself consigned to the bullpen late in the season. Released afterward, he was signed by the California Angels for 1977 but he lasted just two games before being let go, thus finishing his major league career. He continued to pitch in the winter leagues until the age of 44 in 1983. For his major league career, Cuellar compiled a 185-130 record with a 3.14 ERA and 1632 strikeouts in 2808 innings pitched. He was 143-88 with the Orioles, with a 3.18 ERA and 1011 strikeouts over the course of 2028.1 innings. He was a four-time All-Star (three with Baltimore) and a four-time 20-game winner (all with Baltimore). While it took him many years to reach the major leagues, he became a highly effective control pitcher who was a key contributor to a strong team. In the postseason Cuellar was 4-4 with a 2.85 ERA. Following his retirement he became an instructor for the Orioles until his death from stomach cancer in 2010 at age 72.

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Cy Young Profiles feature pitchers who were recipients of the Cy Young Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (1956 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from its inception through 1966 and from 1967 on to one recipient from each major league.