Thanks to the Baseball Hall of Fame who reminded me of this earlier today:
Today’s Date in History: 1981 – Los Angeles #Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela becomes the first rookie ever to win a Cy Young Award, edging Tom Seaver of the Cincinnati #Reds by a 70-67 margin for National League honors.
Seaver was 14-2 with the Reds in the strike shortened season, leading the league in wins and in winning percentage. That was the year that “Fernando-mania” was in full force, which I’m sure contributed to Valenzuela edging out 41.