Measure Twice, Cut Once

In other words, always double check.

Good thing I did when this 1966 Topps Dean Chance card came up on Listia because I originally thought I already had it.

I didn't.

And of the 1966 Topps Angels team set cards I have it's probably the one in the best shape.

Good centering, sharp edges, really clean.

The Topps cartoon says Dean is the youngest to win a Cy Young Award.

He was 23 years old in 1964 the year he won it.

Let's look into that.

Chance easily won the Major League Cy Young in 1964 with 85% of the vote over the Cubs Larry Jackson and Sandy Koufax of the Dodgers who both had great seasons.  Koufax would have had 4 in a row if not for Chance winning it.  As a side note, there was only 1 winner in all baseball through 1966, not one from each league as is now.

Chances age record stood until 1971 when the A's Vida Blue won the award as a 21 year-old.  Fernando Valenzuela then won it in 1981 when he was just 20. Dwight Gooden won and holds the award for the youngest recipient in 1985 when he was just 20 (less days than Fernando). 

I bet most of you already knew that.