Who is the best pitcher in MLB history to not have won the Cy Young award?

Juan Marichal. Ryan played on some good teams, and still lost almost as many as he won, and rarely had a good ERA. He would strike out a ton of batters, throw the odd no-hitter, then get pounded on his next start. You would have trouble convincing me that Ryan was ever in the top three pitchers of any season. Marichal won at least 25 games three times, equal only to Koufax in that stat since WWII. Over his first 10 seasons (until he was almost killed by an allergic reaction) his record was 191-88 with a 2.43 ERA and six 20 win seasons. Ryan only had two 20 win seasons, and lost as many as 14 games *eight* times.

The best pitchers to never win, in no particular order: Nolan Ryan, Juan Marichal, Phil Niekro, Bert Blyleven, Jim Bunning. Marichal and Bunning of course got screwed out of awards due to occasional lack of run support and due to being in the same league as Koufax and Gibson; Ryan, Niekro, and Blyleven never won the award because they spent a lot of their careers pitching for teams with terrible offenses, and regardless of how good you actually are it's really hard to win the Cy Young Award if you go 19-15.

Forced to pick one out of that group as the best, I'd say Marichal. And if you want a different answer, ask me again in an hour.

(Special mention to the recently-deceased Robin Roberts, who was the best pitcher in all baseball from 1950-1955 by quite a bit.)

"Cy Young!"

Burro, do you have a problem comprehending the English language. "2 - This player had to be primarily active after 1956, the first year that the award was active."

Sarge

yea dude i have to go with Nolan Ryan i mean at least the guy is a hall of famer man. he was one of the best to play the game! and also dude im going to have to with Jamie Moyer from the philies

Cy Young!

Trevor Hoffman

Sarge

I have earned the right for that bob