So long, Cy

Before there is a Cy Young Award there is, well, a real Cy Young.

And he is – as you might expect since an award is named for him – really, really good.

Ends up winning 511 games during his 22-year career in the major leagues, a staggering number that is not likely to be surpassed in this lifetime, if ever.

The final one of those victories – No. 511 – comes 112 years ago today as the 44-year-old Young scatters nine hits in Boston’s 1-0 victory over Pittsburgh before a sparse Friday afternoon crowd of 1,208 at Forbes Field.

Now, just how long ago is all of this?

Well, back then in 1911, Forbes Field, where Pittsburgh plays until 1970, is all of two years old and Honus Wagner is batting cleanup for the Pirates.

Boston’s nickname also is the Rustlers, later becoming the Braves, then the Bees and back again to the Braves before moving to Milwaukee in 1953.

Eventually, the team moves again, this time to Atlanta in 1966 – 11 years after Cy Young passes away at the age of 88.