Chris Carpenter became the first St. Louis Cardinals pitcher in 35 years to win the National League Cy Young Award in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Hall of Famer Bob Gibson, the only other Cardinals pitcher to win the award, earned his second trophy in 1970, two years after he was honored with both the Cy Young and Most Valuable Player awards.

Of 32 ballots submitted by two writers in each league city, Carpenter was listed first on 19, second on 12 and third on one to score 132 points, based on the 5-3-1 tabulation system. Florida Marlins lefthander Dontrelle Willis, who dueled with Carpenter in several pitching categories, was the runner-up with 11 first-place votes, 18 seconds and three thirds for 112 points. They were the only pitchers named to every ballot.

Carpenter had a 21-5 record with a 2.83 ERA in 241 2/3 innings. The 6-foot-6 righthander, 30, won 13 consecutive decisions from June 14 through Sept. 8. Willis, the league's top winner with a 22-10 mark, tied Carpenter for the league lead in complete games with seven, including five shutouts, one more than Carpenter. Willis' 2.63 ERA was third in the league. Carpenter's was fifth. Carpenter finished strong with 14 victories in his last 16 decisions.

The other two first-place votes went to the Houston Astros' Roger Clemens (13-8, 1.87 ERA), a seven-time winner who was third this time with 40 points. Clemens teammates Roy Oswalt (20-12, 2.94 ERA) and Andy Pettitte (17-9, 2.39 ERA) also received support as did Washington Nationals reliever Chad Cordero (2-4, 1.82 ERA, 47 SV).

In the years since Gibson won his second Cy Young Award, the Cardinals had two pitchers finish second in the voting: John Tudor in 1985 and reliever Lee Smith in 1991.

The vote:

Previous winners (*—Unanimous):
2004 ROGER CLEMENS, Houston Astrosn; 2003 ERIC GAGNE, Los Angeles Dodgers; 2002 *RANDY JOHNSON, Arizona Diamondbacks; 2001 RANDY JOHNSON, Arizona Diamondbacks; 2000 RANDY JOHNSON, Arizona Diamondbacks; 1999 RANDY JOHNSON, Arizona Diamondbacks; 1998 TOM GLAVINE, Atlanta Braves; 1997 PEDRO MARTINEZ, Montreal Expos; 1996 JOHN SMOLTZ, Atlanta Braves; 1995 *GREG MADDUX, Atlanta Braves; 1994 *GREG MADDUX, Atlanta Braves; 1993 GREG MADDUX, Atlanta Braves; 1992 GREG MADDUX, Chicago Cubs; 1991 TOM GLAVINE, Atlanta Braves; 1990 DOUG DRABEK, Pittsburgh Pirates; 1989 MARK DAVIS, San Diego Padres; 1988 *OREL HERSHISER, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1987 STEVE BEDROSIAN, Philadelphia Phillies; 1986 MIKE SCOTT, Houston Astros; 1985 *DWIGHT GOODEN, New York Mets; 1984 *RICK SUTCLIFFE, Chicago Cubs; 1983 JOHN DENNY, Philadelphia Phillies; 1982 STEVE CARLTON, Philadelphia Phillies; 1981 FERNANDO VALENZUELA, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1980 STEVE CARLTON, Philadelphia Phillies; 1979 BRUCE SUTTER, Chicago Cubs; 1978 GAYLORD PERRY, San Diego Padres; 1977 STEVE CARLTON, Philadelphia Phillies; 1976 RANDY JONES, San Diego Padres; 1975 TOM SEAVER, New York Mets; 1974 MIKE MARSHALL, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1973 TOM SEAVER, New York Mets; 1972 *STEVE CARLTON, Philadelphia Phillies; 1971 FERGUSON JENKINS, Chicago Cubs; 1970 BOB GIBSON, St. Louis Cardinals; 1969 TOM SEAVER, New York Mets; 1968 *BOB GIBSON, St. Louis Cardinals; 1967 MIKE McCORMICK, San Francisco Giants; 1966 *SANDY KOUFAX, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1965 *SANDY KOUFAX, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1963 *SANDY KOUFAX, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1962 DON DRYSDALE, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1960 VERNON LAW, Pittsburgh Pirates; 1957 WARREN SPAHN, Milwaukee Braves; 1956 DON NEWCOMBE, Brooklyn Dodgers.

Note: One award given from 1956-66; NL pitchers won in 1956-57, '60, '62-63 and '65-66.