Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 25, 1994 TAG: 9412220055
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
The Atlanta Braves' ace was 16-6 with a 1.56 ERA. His ERA, the third lowest in 75 years, was more than 2 1/2 runs below the league average, the biggest differential in major-league history.
``You always set goals,'' Maddux said. ``To win the Cy Young, or win three of them, was never really a goal. It's always something you try to attain, but you try to make goals that are a little more attainable.''
``I felt like this was my best year, without a doubt. I could never imagine having an ERA under 2.00. I always try to keep it under 3.00.''
Maddux, 28, won the Cy Young in 1992 with the Chicago Cubs. He has won it both years since signing with the Braves as a free agent.
Maddux's contract gives him a bonus of $750,000 for winning this award. John Schuerholz, the Braves' general manager, has acknowledged Maddux's skill, but recently balked at the idea of individual awards being presented in a season that ended Aug.12 with the players' strike.
Still, Schuerholz shrugged Monday at paying the bonus money.
``So what?'' he said. ``When we put that clause in, we were hoping it would happen. If a guy wins the Cy Young Award, your team usually wins the pennant.''
Not all 28 original voters for the NL Cy Young wrote in Maddux's name.
Kit Stier of the Gannett Suburban Newspapers in New York submitted a blank ballot to protest this year's postseason awards. His vote, however, was thrown out and he was replaced on the panel by another member of the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Maddux officially received 140 points, Montreal's Ken Hill (16-5, 3.32 ERA) was runner-up with 16 second-place votes and 56 points.
(Voting in Scoreboard. C3)
Keywords:
BASEBALL
by CNB