Roger Clemens, who came out of retirement and helped his hometown Houston Astros qualify for postseason play as the National League wild card entry, added to his eventual Hall of Fame credentials by being named the NL Cy Young Award winner in the Baseball Writers' Association of America balloting.

It was another historic victory for Clemens, who won this award six times in the American League, three with the Boston Red Sox, two with the Toronto Blue Jays and one with the New York Yankees. At 42, he is the oldest Cy Young Award winner and joins Gaylord Perry, Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson as winners in both leagues. Clemens is the only person to win BBWAA awards for four teams, and his eight trophies overall (he was the AL Most Valuable Player in 1986) are the most for any player or manager.

Clemens (18-4, 2.98 ERA) was the only pitcher named on all 32 ballots cast by two writers from each NL city. He was cited first on 23 ballots, second on eight and third on one for a total of 140 points, based on a 5-3-1 tabulation system. The only other Houston winner was Mike Scott in 1986.

Johnson, a five-time Cy Young Award winner, finished second with 97 points on eight first-place votes, 18 seconds and three thirds. He led the NL in strikeouts (290), was second in ERA (2.60) and pitched a perfect game while posting a 16-14 record for last-place Arizona. The other first-place vote went to Astros righthander Roy Oswalt, the league's leading winner (20-10, 3.49 ERA), who finished third.

The vote:

Previous winners (*—Unanimous):
2003 ERIC GAGNE, Los Angeles Dodgers; 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.