Chris Sale made headlines Wednesday night by claiming the NL Cy Young Award. For months, it felt inevitable. Sale’s first season with the Atlanta Braves was nothing short of spectacular, and his victory was a formality as much as it was a celebration. Yet, the moment was elevated from special to iconic thanks to a guest appearance by Braves legend Greg Maddux.
Braves Big 3 Dominated, Sale and Young Talent Look to Replicate
Greg Maddux, a four-time Cy Young winner himself (including three with the Braves), was on hand via MLB Network to present Sale with the award. In true Maddux fashion, he couldn’t resist injecting a touch of pride, quipping about the Cy Young “staying in Atlanta.” It was a nod to the Braves’ rich pitching legacy—a legacy that he, along with fellow legends Tom Glavine and John Smoltz, helped to build.
While Maddux’s sentiment was heartfelt, the Cy Young hadn’t technically “stayed” in Atlanta. Sale is the first Braves pitcher to win the award since Glavine in 1998—a 26-year gap. Before that, Maddux himself snagged three consecutive Cy Youngs with Atlanta from 1993-1995, following Glavine’s first win in 1991. John Smoltz added one more to the trophy case in 1996, rounding out what many consider the Braves’ “golden era” of pitching.
Sale’s win bridges that historic gap, rekindling memories of a time when Braves pitching set the gold standard in Major League Baseball. His 2024 performance was a masterclass in dominance: a 2.38 ERA, 225 strikeouts over 177.2 innings, and a WHIP of just 1.013. More impressive was his resilience, staying healthy and consistent after years of injury struggles.
The 35-year-old lefty wasted no time proving himself indispensable in Atlanta, and the front office took notice. Shortly after acquiring Sale in a trade with the Red Sox, they inked him to an extension. This secures his services through 2025 with a club option for 2026 at $18 million. Considering the elite form Sale displayed this season, it’s a bargain. Even if age eventually catches up to him, the deal is widely seen as a win for the Braves.
Maddux’s playful comment about keeping the Cy Young “in Atlanta” was less about precision and more about pride. Sale has reawakened a legacy, one that Spencer Strider and others are poised to carry forward. Braves fans, no strangers to greatness, are now dreaming of a new pitching dynasty—and Sale’s 2024 campaign might just be the start.
