The Cy Young Days Festival is held the fourth Sunday of June each year to honor Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young and the game he loved. This year’s event, held in Newcomerstown, features former Major League pitcher Greg Gagne, who will also serve as the event’s grand parade marshal.
Denton True “Cy” Young was a Major League pitcher who has an award named after him – for best pitcher of the year. Young holds the Major League Baseball record for career wins with 511. Young was born in Gilmore, Ohio (near Newcomerstown) in 1867 and worked on his family farm before starting his pro career that lasted from 1890 – with the Cleveland Spiders – until 1911, after playing for five franchises. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1937, Young held the MLB record for most career wins as well as for most losses, innings pitched, games started and complete games. After his playing career, Young worked his farm, ran for treasurer in Tuscarawas County, and later, lived on a farm in Newcomerstown. There is a display of Cy Young memorabilia in the Temperance Tavern Museum located in Newcomerstown.
Eric Serge Gagne was born in Montreal, Canada in 1976 and played Major League ball for 10 years, starting with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1999 and finishing with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008. Gagne was the 2003 Cy Young Award winner in the National League while pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers and he accumulated 187 saves in his career. He led the majors in saves with 55 in 2003, and over a three-year period from 2002-2004, he saved 152 games. One of only five pitchers to save 50 consecutive games or more, Gagne set the Major League record of 84 consecutive saves, from Aug. 28, 2002 to July 3, 2004. Zack Britton is second on the list with 60 straight.
Reservations are being taken for the Cy Young Days Festival luncheon that will be held at the Laborers Local 134 Hall,150 N. River St., at the corner of River and Main Streets in Newcomerstown, on Saturday, June 24. Laborers Local 134 is sponsoring the luncheon. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. and lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are priced at $25 for adults and $15 for children under 12. Reservations are required due to limited seating availability, and can be made by calling 740-227-1544 or by emailing Janet Chaney at chaney.janet8@gmail.com.
According to the event website, “The festival honors Cy Young and the game he loved. The Cy Young Days Festival Committee is committed to promoting the Village of Newcomerstown, Cy Young and all the youth, especially youth baseball and softball. In past years, we have been honored to have Len Barker, Kevin Reitz, Rich Rollins, Gaylord Perry, Ferguson Jenkins, Dean Chance, Jim Perry, Vern Law, Bob Turley, Denny McLain, Mike McCormick, Vida Blue, Bret Saberhagen, Doug Drabek, Jack McDowell, Dwight 'Doc' Gooden, Randy Jones and most recently, Perci Garner.”
Gagne will be signing items at the luncheon, and for those who would like to bring items to be autographed, the organizers ask that you limit your items to one per person. Gagne will serve as grand parade marshal Saturday starting at 6 p.m. and after the parade, he will be at the Olde Main Street Museum for autographs.
Organizers invite the public to enjoy the rides, games and other activities and entertainment. Their website urges visitors to "come out and support their local sports teams, step back in time at the Olde Main Street Museum and have your picture taken with a life-size image of Cy Young. Stop in and try some of the food vendors. Come enjoy a Sunday afternoon at Cy Young Park and cheer on teams in their parade on Saturday or in the Old Timers Base Ball Tournament."
For more information, visit the festival website at cyyoungdaysfestival.com.
