Eric Gagne of the Los Angeles Dodgers ended Randy Johnson's four-year hold on the National League Cy Young Award by winning the 2003 election of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Gagne, 27, who converted all 55 of his save opportunities during the season and became the first pitcher with more than 50 saves in two different seasons, was named first on 28 ballots and second on two of the 32 cast by two writers from each league city to score 146 points, based on a 5-3-1 tabulation system. Only four pitchers received votes, and none was on every ballot.

Gagne had a 2-3 record with a 1.20 ERA and 137 strikeouts in 82 ¹/₃ innings. The only blemish on his season was in a game that did not count in the standings. Gagne gave up a two-run home run to Texas' Hank Blalock that won the All-Star Game for the American League, the only blown save the righthander sustained all year.

Receiving two first-place votes apiece were San Francisco Giants righthander Jason Schmidt (17-5, 2.34 ERA, 208 strikeouts in 207 ²/₃ innings), who finished second with 73 points, and Chicago Cubs righthander Mark Prior (18-6, 2.43 ERA, 245 strikeouts in 211 ¹/₃ innings), who ranked third with 60 points. Atlanta Braves righthander Russ Ortiz (21-7, 3.81 ERA) was in fourth place with nine points.

Gagne is the first reliever to win since Oakland's Dennis Eckersley in the American League in 1992 and the first NL reliever to win since San Diego's Mark Davis in 1989. Overall, relievers have won nine times. Gagne is the fifth NL winner. A native and resident of Montreal, Gagne is the second Canadian pitcher honored, joining 1971 winner Ferguson Jenkins of Chatham, Ontario.

The vote:

Previous winners (*—Unanimous):
2002 *RANDY JOHNSON, Arizona Diamondbacks; 2001 RANDY JOHNSON, Arizona Diamondbacks; 2000 RANDY JOHNSON, Arizona Diamondbacks; 1999 RANDY JOHNSON, Arizona Diamondbacks; 1998 TOM GLAVINE, Atlanta Braves; 1997 PEDRO MARTINEZ, Montreal Expos; 1996 JOHN SMOLTZ, Atlanta Braves; 1995 *GREG MADDUX, Atlanta Braves; 1994 *GREG MADDUX, Atlanta Braves; 1993 GREG MADDUX, Atlanta Braves; 1992 GREG MADDUX, Chicago Cubs; 1991 TOM GLAVINE, Atlanta Braves; 1990 DOUG DRABEK, Pittsburgh Pirates; 1989 MARK DAVIS, San Diego Padres; 1988 *OREL HERSHISER, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1987 STEVE BEDROSIAN, Philadelphia Phillies; 1986 MIKE SCOTT, Houston Astros; 1985 *DWIGHT GOODEN, New York Mets; 1984 *RICK SUTCLIFFE, Chicago Cubs; 1983 JOHN DENNY, Philadelphia Phillies; 1982 STEVE CARLTON, Philadelphia Phillies; 1981 FERNANDO VALENZUELA, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1980 STEVE CARLTON, Philadelphia Phillies; 1979 BRUCE SUTTER, Chicago Cubs; 1978 GAYLORD PERRY, San Diego Padres; 1977 STEVE CARLTON, Philadelphia Phillies; 1976 RANDY JONES, San Diego Padres; 1975 TOM SEAVER, New York Mets; 1974 MIKE MARSHALL, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1973 TOM SEAVER, New York Mets; 1972 *STEVE CARLTON, Philadelphia Phillies; 1971 FERGUSON JENKINS, Chicago Cubs; 1970 BOB GIBSON, St. Louis Cardinals; 1969 TOM SEAVER, New York Mets; 1968 *BOB GIBSON, St. Louis Cardinals; 1967 MIKE McCORMICK, San Francisco Giants; 1966 *SANDY KOUFAX, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1965 *SANDY KOUFAX, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1963 *SANDY KOUFAX, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1962 DON DRYSDALE, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1960 VERNON LAW, Pittsburgh Pirates; 1957 WARREN SPAHN, Milwaukee Braves; 1956 DON NEWCOMBE, Brooklyn Dodgers.

Note: One award given from 1956-66; AL pitchers won in 1958-59, '61 and '64.