On May 17, 2019, New York Mets starter Jacob deGrom took the mound to face the lowly Miami Marlins. The reigning Cy Young Award winner had soundly defeated the same Marlins six days earlier, allowing one runs and five hits over seven innings. But in this outing, things were different. DeGrom allowed seven runs on nine hits and lost for the fifth time in six decisions. His record stood at 3-5 with a 3.98 ERA.

“I feel like I was trying to better what I did in 2018,” deGrom said Wednesday in a conference call,  “I think that was something I struggled with to start this year, was kind of dwelling on what happened last year. Kind of not focusing on the task ahead as much as I probably should have.”

He righted the ship over his last 23 starts pitching to a 1.89 ERA. For the season, deGrom finished 11-8 with a 2.43 ERA, 255 strikeouts in 204 innings (tops in the National League) and a 167 ERA+. Wednesday, he was named the NL Cy Young Award winner for the second consecutive year becoming the 21st pitcher in MLB history to win multiple Cy Young Awards and the 11th to win it in consecutive seasons. He becomes the first pitcher in franchise history to win the award in back-to-back seasons.

“It was a dream to play this game and a dream to win one Cy Young,” he said. “To win back to back was a goal. It’s hard to explain. You set these goals, but it almost doesn’t feel real yet.”

Of the 10 pitchers to achieve the feat before him, five of them – Jim Palmer, Pedro Martinez, Sandy Koufax, Greg Maddux and Randy Johnson – are in the Hall of Fame. Roger Clemens’  accomplishments would have him in the Hall of Fame if not for the steroid scandal. Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer are well on their way to Cooperstown. Denny McLain is the one starter who was not voted in and it is improbable that Tim Lincecum will receive the necessary votes.

With the win on Wednesday, Mets pitchers have now won 7 Cy Young Awards, tied for second in MLB history. Tom Seaver has three (1969, 1973, 1975), Dwight Gooden (1985), R.A. Dickey (2012) and Jacob deGrom with two ( 2018, 2019) comprise the list of Mets awardees. Only the Los Angeles Dodgers with 12, have more Cy Youngs.

The Mets are one of three teams to have a Cy Young award winner and a 50 home run hitter in the same year. Pete Alonso, who was named Rookie of the Year on Monday, stroked 53 homers for New York, the most in franchise history in a single season. The 1961 New York Yankees had two player hit at least 50 HRs in Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris while Whitey Ford won the Cy Young the same year. In 2001, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Luis Gonzalez  hit 57 four-baggers and Randy Johnson won the Cy Young. The 2019 Mets now join the list. The first two teams each won the World Series, while the Mets, unfortunately, are the only team in MLB history to have stand-alone ROY and CYA winner in the same year and not make the playoffs.

DeGrom, 31, also is a Rookie of the Year award winner, having copped the distinction in 2014. He now joins Tom Seaver and Justin Verlander as the only multiple CYA winners to have won ROY as well. Verlander’s name was also added to the list on Wednesday as he won his second Cy Young award.

Further illustrating deGrom’s brilliance, he is one of six players ever to post consecutive seasons with at least 250 strikeouts and an ERA below 2.50. The other five (who are all in the Hall of Fame) are: Sandy Koufax (1965 and 1966), Jim Bunning (1966, 1967), Bob Gibson (1968, 1969), Pedro Martinez (1999, 2000) and Randy Johnson (2001, 2002). Only Gibson and Bunning did not win two Cy Young Awards over that span.

DeGrom, a three time All-Star, has 6 years in the majors and has posted two seasons of at least 200.0 IP with an ERA under 2.50 and a WHIP under 1.000. The last three pitchers to accomplish this in their first six years were Clayton Kershaw, Tom Seaver and Juan Marichal.

What about three straight Cy Young Awards?

“I haven’t looked at the three in a row (list),” deGrom said to reporters on Wednesday. “Definitely aware of it. It’s tough explain. While you’re still playing, you’re always trying to get better. Maybe a little in the offseason, reflect a little. Now, starting to focus on 2020 and find a way to get outs . …Definitely aware of guys have done that and two back-to-back Cy Young Award winners. I’m honored to even be mentioned with those guys.”

Since 1956, when the CYA was first presented, there have been two pitchers who have won the award at least three straight years: Greg Maddux and Randy Johnson, each of whom won four straight.

All in all, an impressive start of a career for the Florida native who played shortstop and was a closer before he became a starting pitcher in college. He was undrafted out of high school and was the 272nd pick overall in the 2010 MLB draft taken in the ninth round. Now his name is further etched in the record books as he has become one of the foremost pitchers of his generation. He is a man of steely grit and determination, who seems to pitch better when he is in a jam.

Mets fans will have the luxury of seeing deGrom pitch as a New York Met until at least 2024, as in spring training he signed a five-year, $137.5 million contract extension with an option for the 2024 season.