Cleveland Indians: Corey Kluber and the Tribe’s Greatest Cy Young Season Ever

May 13, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher

(28) leaves the field after the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

To anyone who thought Cleveland Indians Corey Kluber was a one-year wonder: let’s admit that he’s not. His 2.17 FIP heading into Thursday’s game is the best in baseball, and he’s leading the league with 83 strikeouts.

Last year, Kluber went 18-9, with a 2.44 ERA and a 2.35 FIP. He struck out 269 batters, while walking just 51, giving him a 5.27 strikeout-to-walk rate. In addition to taking home the American League’s top pitching honors, he came in 11th in MVP voting, thanks largely in part to the way he stepped up and carried the team after ace Justin Masterson faltered at the start of the year. It seems like it’s been a lifetime since the time Kluber didn’t even make the team out of Spring Training, but that was actually just two seasons ago, in 2013. Now, he’s the irreplaceable leader of the Cleveland Indians’ staff.

Kluber might be one of the Tribe’s all-time best pitchers, though it’s admittedly a little soon to say that. But just for comparison’s sake, how does he stack up against Cleveland’s other Cy Young winners?

Let’s start with the oldest winner, Hall-of-Famer Gaylord Perry: