In 2005, Bartolo Colón of the Dominican Republic won 21 games with the Los Angeles Angels and captured the American League Cy Young Award, the highest honor for a pitcher in Major League Baseball. It marked the peak of a career that would establish him as the Latin American pitcher with the most wins in history: 247 victories, a record that stands today.
Bartolo Colón’s Perfect Season
Bartolo Colón joined the Los Angeles Angels in 2001 after time with the Cleveland Indians. For four seasons he was a dependable starter, but 2005 was different. At 33 years old, the Dominican right-hander reached his prime: 21 wins, 8 losses, a 3.48 ERA, and 157 strikeouts over 222.2 innings. The numbers weren’t eye-popping compared to other aces of the era, but his consistency and big-game performance on the mound put him ahead of competitors like Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins.
A Cy Young Against the Odds
What made Colón’s Cy Young unusual was that he wasn’t the favorite heading into voting. His ERA wasn’t the league’s best, nor were his strikeout totals the highest. But his 21 wins—the number that mattered most in that era—and his knack for winning tight games convinced voters. He became the first Dominican pitcher to win a Cy Young in the American League, a milestone that raised his profile throughout the Spanish-speaking baseball world.
Building Toward 247 Wins
After 2005, Bartolo Colón kept pitching. He played for the Chicago White Sox, the Atlanta Braves, the New York Mets, the Seattle Mariners, and the Minnesota Twins, among others. In 2014, at age 41, he took the mound for the Mets in the World Series against the Kansas City Royals. By the time he retired in 2018, he had accumulated 247 wins, the most ever by a Latin American-born pitcher. That total includes his Major League career, time in the Mexican Pacific League, and winter ball appearances including the Caribbean Series.
The Legacy of a Dominican on the Mound
Bartolo Colón wasn’t the most dominant pitcher of his era, but he was the most durable. While other aces burned bright and fast, he built a 22-year career in the majors. His 2005 Cy Young wasn’t a fluke; it was a reward for a professional who knew how to win ballgames. Today, when talking about the greatest Latin American pitchers, Colón’s name always surfaces—not just for his statistics, but for showing Dominican, Puerto Rican, and Latin American pitchers everywhere that the mound could be their domain.
| Season | Team | Wins | Losses | ERA | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Los Angeles Angels | 21 | 8 | 3.48 | 157 |
| 2004 | Los Angeles Angels | 18 | 8 | 3.47 | 157 |
| 2006 | Los Angeles Angels | 13 | 8 | 3.48 | 149 |
| Career Total | Major Leagues | 247 | 188 | 3.72 | 2192 |
FAQ
When did Bartolo Colón win the Cy Young?
Bartolo Colón won the American League Cy Young Award in 2005 with the Los Angeles Angels, the year he recorded 21 wins.
What is the Latin American pitcher’s record for most wins?
Bartolo Colón holds the record with 247 wins in the majors, the highest total ever achieved by a pitcher born in Latin America.
Which team did Bartolo Colón play for after 2005?
After the Angels, Colón played for the Chicago White Sox, the Atlanta Braves, the New York Mets, and other teams, even pitching in the 2014 World Series with the Mets.
