Major League Relief Pitchers – Bullpen Stars of the 1960s

In the 1960s, the relief pitcher gradually became the relief specialist. No longer just the “mop up” guy, the relief specialist played an essential role in any major league team’s winning strategy.

The adoption of the “save” as an official baseball statistic in 1969 (though saves were being unofficially calculated and published as early as 1960) confirmed the value and unique contribution of the closer. The pitchers listed below were bullpen pioneers. Their selection and ranking is based on a combination of their closing effectiveness and overall pitching performance in terms of strikeouts and ERA. 

1. Hoyt Wilhelm –Throughout the 1960s, Wilhelm won 75 games and saved 152 more, with an ERA of 2.19 for the decade. Today he remains the all-time major league leader in career relief wins (124) and career innings pitched in relief (1,871).

2. Dick Radatz - Radatz broke in with the Boston Red Sox in 1962, going 9-6 with a 2.24 ERA, striking out 144 batters in 124 innings pitched, and leading the major leagues with 24 saves. His dominance continued over the next 2 seasons. In 1963, Radatz finished 58 of the 66 games he appeared in, going 15-6 with a 1.97 ERA and 25 saves. He struck out 162 batters in only 132 innings. In 1964, Radatz led the majors with 29 saves, posting a 16-9 record with a 2.29 ERA. He struck out 181 batters in 157 innings pitched.

3. Ron Perranoski – Perranoski’s best year came in 1963, when he posted a 16-3 record and 21 saves with a 1.67 earned run average. Over the next 4 years, Perranoski appeared in 256 games for the Dodgers, saving 54 with a 2.73 ERA. He was traded to the Minnesota Twins following the 1967 season, and saved 65 games for the Twins over the next two years, leading the American League in that category both seasons.

4. Roy Face – Face’s best season came in 1959, when he set the major league record for winning percentage (.947) on an 18-1 record. But he was also effective throughout the 1960s. He led the league again in saves in 1961 (17) and in 1962 (28), when he had the lowest ERA of his career (1.88). In his 16-year career, Face posted a 3.48 ERA while accumulating 193 saves pitching in 848 games.

5. Phil Regan – Regan was so-so starter for the Tigers (42-44 with a 4.50 ERA) who found great success in relief work. His best year was 1966, when he went 14-1 for the Dodgers with a 1.62 ERA and a league-leading 21 saves. He also led the league with 25 saves in 1968, splitting a 12-5 season between the Dodgers and the Cubs.

6. Stu Miller – Miller was the pitcher who was allegedly blown off the mound by a gust of wind during the 1961 All-Star Game in Candlestick Park. That was his best season for the Giants, winning 14 games in relief, saving 17 (NL best) and posting a 2.66 ERA. Traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 1963, he responded by leading the majors in saves (27) and appearances (71) while posting a 2.24 ERA. In 5 seasons with the Orioles, Miller won 38 games in relief, and saved 100, with a combined ERA of 2.37.

7. Lindy McDaniel - McDaniel pitched for 4 teams during the 1960s. One of the most underrated pitchers of his era, he led the National League in saves 3 times, collecting 141 victories and 172 saves over his 21-season career.

8. John Wyatt – The Kansas City closer from 1962 to 1965, Wyatt won 27 games while saving 70 for one of the league’s worst teams. He led the American League with 81 appearances in 1964. Traded to the Boston Red Sox in 1966, he had the chance to show what he could do for a winning team, saving 20 games for the pennant-winning Bosox in 1967 with a 2.60 earned run average.

9. Eddie Fisher – Fisher was a spot starter who learned the secrets of the knuckleball from Chicago White Sox teammate Hoyt Wilhelm. His best season was 1965, when he went 15-7 for the White Sox with a 2.40 ERA and 24 saves in 80 appearances.

10. Luis Arroyo - Arroyo was a sub-.500 pitcher until he became a relief specialist. In 1961, pitching for the New York Yankees, he led the majors in appearances (65), games finished (59) and saves (29), while going 15-5 with a 2.19 ERA.