1878 Cy Young Award

1878 National League - Tommy Bond, Boston Red Stockings

40-19, 2.06 ERA, 182 K

The Boston Red Stockings repeated as National League champions in 1878, and had the Cy Young Award existed then, Tommy Bond likely would have repeated the award as well.  Although he finished fifth in the league in ERA, he was still the leader in wins and strikeouts, and started all but one of his team's games, leading the league with 59 games started.  He also led the league in shutouts for the second consecutive year, and he had by far the highest WAR (Wins Above Replacement) for any pitcher in the league, with 10.8 wins, over the next highest, which was 6.4.  Incidentally, his 10.8 WAR on the season is tied for 48th all-time, alongside Sandy Koufax in 1963 and 1966.