Mike Flanagan and the 15 Best Unknown Cy Young Award Winners in MLB History | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

For a good portion of the 1980s, Frank Viola was considered one of the better pitchers in the American League.  A tall, lanky left-hander, Viola was instrumental in leading the Minnesota Twins to the 1987 World Series, where they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals.  However, most people forget that over the course of his 16-year career, Viola won the AL Cy Young Award in 1988.

He was a seemingly unstoppable force that season, going 24-7 with a 2.64 ERA and seven complete games.  Despite his success, the Twins traded him to the New York Mets the following season after he struggled in the first half.  This proved to be a head-scratcher as Viola went on to win 20 games again in 1990 and was effective for the Mets, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds and Toronto Blue Jays before elbow problems forced him to retire in 1996.