Former MCC pitcher, Cliff Lee, earns MLB best 20th Win

By: Associated Press / September 2, 2008

Lee threw his second career shutout to become the Indians' first 20-game winner since Gaylord Perry accomplished the feat in 1974

Exactly one year after being brought back from the minor leagues, Cliff Lee had something major to celebrate: He's Cleveland's first 20-game winner in 34 years.
"Has a nice ring to it," Lee said. "I like the sound of that."

Lee, who was sent back to Triple A last season to work on his mechanics and his mental approach, pitched a five-hitter for his second career shutout and led the Indians to a 5-0 win over the Chicago White Sox last night in Cleveland.

Lee (20-2) is the first Indian to reach 20 wins since Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry went 21-13 in 1974. The lefthander's milestone win was his ninth straight victory.
"I never lost confidence," Lee said. "I never got down on myself or questioned my abilities. I never once doubted what I could do."

With a chance to also join Hall of Famers Bob Feller and Bob Lemon as Cleveland's 20-game winners, Lee shut down the hard-hitting, Central-leading White Sox. He gave up two singles to open the first before retiring 21 straight and finishing his fourth complete game.

"That's the best I've seen him throw against us in some time," said Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen, whose club dropped into a tie for first in the Central with Minnesota. "He's a 20-game winner for a reason."

After he got Carlos Quentin to ground into a game-ending double play, Lee punched his fist into his glove and hugged catcher Kelly Shoppach.
He went 5-0 in April and was 12-2 when he took the mound as the AL's starter at the All-Star Game in Yankee Stadium. He went 5-0 with a 1.86 ERA in August. He leads the majors in wins and ERA.

The Indians' three-decades-plus drought without a 20-game winner was the longest among non-expansion teams. Tampa Bay, Colorado, and Florida have never had a pitcher get to 20 wins, and it's been 30 years since the Montreal/Washington franchise and San Diego had a 20-game winner.

Lee played for MCC in 1998-99. After his career was over with at MCC, Lee played SEC baseball for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Lee was inducted into the MACJC Sports Hall of Fame, along with fellow MCC-ers Lou Hart and Ronald Murray in 2007.