Born Denton True Young in 1867, the future Hall of Famer lived and worked on the family farm in eastern Ohio until he was 23. At 6' 2" and 210 pounds, he was all muscle. But for all his physical prowess, he was shy. When he went to try out for the Canton, Ohio, Tri-State League in 1890, he walked around the outside of the ballpark six times before summoning enough courage to go in. Impressed by his size and strength, the manager offered Young a contract for $40 a month.

When the Tri-State League folded part way through the season, Young's time in the minor leagues ended, too. The interruption in his career was short, however. By August, the Cleveland Spiders, a National League club, had signed him. During his nine years with the Spiders, he won 239 games and lost 134. Except for his rookie year, he won at least 21 games each season, and in 1892, 1893, and 1895, he won more than 30. He generally pitched every other day, often throwing complete games and once even winning both games of a doubleheader.

In 1901 the newly formed American League lured 34-year-old Young away from the National League by offering him $3,000 a year ($600 more than the top National League salary he had been earning). Settled in Boston, he thrilled the fans by posting a 33-10 record and a 1.62 E.R.A.

In eight seasons with the Red Sox, Young and the flamboyant Rube Waddell of the Philadelphia Athletics shared the spotlight as the game's star pitchers. Among their most memorable face-offs was the game at the old Huntington Avenue Grounds on May 5, 1904. For eight innings, Cy Young left the mound without having allowed a single batter to reach base. Tension mounted. At the top of the ninth, with two outs, Young threw again. The batter launched the ball deep into center field, and the crowd held its breath until the ball rested safely in the outfielder's glove. Cy Young had just pitched a perfect game. "Of all the 879 games I pitched in the big leagues," he said, "that one in Boston stands clearest in my mind."

On August 13, 1908, in his last season with the Sox, the Boston Post sponsored an exhibition game with Young facing an All-Star team. As soon as the gates to the Huntington Avenue Grounds opened on "Cy Young Day," 20,000 fans streamed in; an additional 10,000 had to be turned away. Young was so overwhelmed that he could not say a word in response to the speeches and presentations.

After a short stint with the Cleveland Indians in 1911, 44-year-old Young returned to Boston and finished out the season and his career playing for the Braves. Universally admired by teammates and opponents alike for his courtesy, the even-tempered former farm boy from Ohio was never once ejected from a game. In 1937 Cy Young was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He died in 1955 at the age of 88.