RA Dickey Wins 20 Games & the Cy Young Award

Congratulations to RA Dickey

2012 NL Cy Young Winner

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On Wednesday, November 14, 2012, RA Dickey became the third New York Mets pitcher in franchise history to win the prestigious Cy Young award.

He finished the season with 20 wins, 230 strikeouts, and a 2.73 ERA: an amazing stat line for any pitcher, let alone a 37 year old knuckleballer.

I was at Citi Field when RA Dickey won his 20th game. These are the highlights…

RA Dickey gets a hit in his final at bat of the 2012 season at Citi Field in Queens, New York

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A Scalper’s Worst Nightmare

RA Dickey’s 20th win came on the last home game of the Mets’ 2012 season: a cloudy 1:10pm game versus one of the worst teams in baseball.

Scalpers were desperate and I quickly agreed to purchase an upper deck ticket for for two dollars and a pocketful of change. As I walked away, the scalper declared to his friends, “that’s it; the season’s over!” In reality, the New York Mets were about to play one of their most exciting games of the year.

The Citi Field scoreboard in center congratulates RA Dickey on his 20th win after the last home game of the 2012 season

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Watching Dickey Win His 20th

As luck would have it, my buddy Steve was at the game with field level seats. So instead of sitting alone beneath the rafters, I joined him off the first base line. For 7.2 overcast innings, we watched as Dickey mowed down the Pittsburgh Pirates offense, struck out 13, and even recorded a hit.

Things got interesting after Dickey was pulled in the eighth to a chorus of cheers and a standing ovation. Relievers gave up hits, runs were scored, and nails were bitten. By the time the final out was recorded, the boys in orange and blue barely held on to win the game 5-4: sewing up that iconic 20th victory for Dickey.

Kevin Burkhardt interviews RA Dickey after winning his 20th game on September 27, 2012 at Citi Field in Queens, New York

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Dickey, Seaver & Gooden

Tom Seaver won the Cy Young Award in 1969, 1973, and 1975.

Dwight “Doc” Gooden won it in 1985.

In 2012, RA Dickey brought home the New York Mets’ fifth Cy Young Award with 27 of 32 first-place votes and 209 overall points in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Plus, this incredible stat line…

GP	GS	IP		W	L	SO	ERA	WHIP	CG	SHO
34	33	233.2		20	6	230	2.73	1.05	5	3

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The outside of Citi Field before the 2010 home opener

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The Enormity of Dickey’s 20 Wins & Cy Young Award

RA Dickey’s accomplishment is especially noteworthy due to the overall ineffectiveness of the New York Mets themselves during the 2012 season. For a team that only managed 74 wins, that means that RA Dickey won 27% himself.

As someone who bleeds orange and blue, I feel especially proud of Mr. Dickey. It’s like a member of my own family is the best pitcher in baseball! So congratulations RA; you’ve brought home the Cy Young Award and given Mets fans something to cheer about this offseason!

The Mets storm the field after recording the final out of the 2012 season at Citi Field in Queens, New York

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Although I was only in America for the last week of the 2012 baseball season, I still managed to attend five games including two playoff matchups.