MLB Leading Firemen 1978 Card – Sully Baseball Card of the Day for November 12, 2017

It is harder to get more old school in terms of praising bullpen closers than this “Leading Firemen” card from 1978.

You have a pair of classic relievers, now both in the Hall of Fame, and both quick to point out today what is wrong with closers who only throw one inning for the save.

It is odd to see a clean shaven Gossage, who famously grew out a big mustache to the point where it is mentioned on his Hall of Fame plaque.

Fingers, still sporting his stache he grew for bonuses in Oakland, is seen during his run with San Diego.

It is funny how they are perceived as old school and “the way things should be done” now. In the 1970’s they both represented what, in many people’s eyes, was what was wrong WITH KIDS TODAY!

Besides being dominating closers, what is one thing that both Rich Gossage and Rollie Fingers had in common? They were both early participants in free agency.

Gossage cut his teeth for many years with the White Sox. He spent one year in Pittsburgh before cashing in and signing a multi million dollar contract to join the Yankees. The Yankees already had a bullpen closer, Cy Young winner Sparky Lyle. But he was looked on as a mercenary, chasing the big bucks.

As for Fingers, who was part of the great A’s teams that won 3 straight World Series titles, he also cashed in. He left the team that developed him and made him a star to become a millionaire playing for San Diego, a team that had no chance.

Free agency, supposedly, was going to kill the sport and make sure only the rich teams won and bankrupt small teams. Of course the opposite happened. The 1980’s saw parity like never before in baseball and big market teams were often on the outside looking in.

But think of another element of these two players that would have upset the previous generations. Pitchers were supposed to go nine innings. Relievers were the scrubs not good enough to be starters. These guys were becoming millionaires, making more money than Sandy Koufax, Juan Marichal or Whitey Ford ever made, and they were just throwing 2 innings a game.

Wasn’t this the softness of the new generation out for everyone to see? In MYYYYYYY day, you didn’t even WANT to be a reliever. But these kids today like Gossage and Fingers, they don’t care. Just throw 2 innings a game and get millions. Soft kids. They would never have survived in MYYYYY day.

Now they are the old men.

Of course this was in the infancy of judging relievers. The save stat had only been official for about a decade and people were still trying to figure out how to judge the value of a reliever.

Take a look at the back of the card.

You see they had essentially the first draft of a formula. Saves plus Relief Wins equal total points. Of course a reliever can get a relief win when they pitch poorly. A save can be a sloppy performance.

Blown saves and losses were not taken into account. Neither were inherited runners scored. But it was an attempt and this sort of statistical analysis was all brand new.

Everything new becomes old eventually. And even two players who may have represented everything WRONG about baseball for one generation could become the beacon of the good old days for another.

THE 34 TIMES WHERE A POST SEASON SERIES COULD HAVE WON BY EITHER TEAM ON THE SAME PITCH

 

Did you notice during the final Dodgers and Nationals game that there were a few moments where either team could have clinched when a pitch was thrown? A double play or an out would seal the deal for Los Angeles. A home run or an extra base hit would send Washington to the NLCS. A single pitch had the polar opposite fates for two teams.

How many times has this happened? How many times has a post season series come down to a moment where a single pitch could have clinched for either side?

I originally did this post for the Giants and Royals finishing the 2014 World Series. I am updating it for last night’s game.

While figuring this out, I picked a team where a hit, including a homer, would yield a walk off clincher for the home club.

I also took a visiting team where an out or a realistic double play would end the series. If a runner is on third with 1 out, the chances of a double play would be slim at best.

The list will not include memorable series like the 1960 World Series, 1975 World Series, 1980 NLCS, 1986 World Series, 2004 ALCS nor 2011 World Series. Oddly enough those years did not yield this scenario. The losing team and winning team were never on the verge of clinching at the same time in any of those years.

So lets find them, the ultimate post season at bats. This list will include One Game Playoffs, Wild Card Games, Division Series, League Championship Series and of course World Series.

1912 World Series
New York Giants at Boston Red Sox
Game 8 (Series included 1 tie.)

Bottom 10. Giants 2 – Red Sox 1.
1 out. Runners at first and third.
Double Play would win World Series for Giants.
Extra Base Hit would win World Series for Red Sox.

Giants Pitcher – Christy Mathewson.
Red Sox Batter – Tris Speaker.

Result – Speaker singled to right field to tie the game 2-2.
Red Sox would win the World Series two batters later when Larry Gardner hit a walk off sacrifice fly to drive home the winning run.

 

1926 World Series
St. Louis Cardinals at New York Yankees
Game 7

Bottom 9. Cardinals 3 – Yankees 2.
2 outs. Runner at first.
Out would win World Series for Cardinals.
Home Run would win World Series for Yankees

Cardinals Pitcher – Grover Cleveland Alexander.
Red Sox Batter – Bob Meusel.

Result – Babe Ruth, the runner at first, is caught stealing to end the game and clinch the World Series for the Cardinals.

1951 National League Playoff
Brooklyn Dodgers at New York Giants
Game 3

Bottom 9. Dodgers 4 – Giants 2.
1 out. Runners at first and third.
Double play would win Pennant for Dodgers.
Home Run would win Pennant for Giants.

Dodgers Pitcher – Ralph Branca.
Giants Batter – Bobby Thomson.

Result – Thomson homers to left field. The Giants Win the Pennant (The Giants win the Pennant.)

 

1962 World Series
New York Yankees at San Francisco Giants
Game 7

Bottom 9. Yankees 1 – Giants 0
2 outs. Runner at first.
Out would win World Series for Yankees.
Home Run would win World Series for Giants

Yankees Pitcher – Ralph Terry.
Giants Batter – Willie Mays.

Result – Mays doubles to right field. Baserunner Matty Alou is held at third base.

Bottom 9. Yankees 1 – Giants 0
2 outs. Runners at second and third.
Out would win World Series for Yankees.
A single or an error would win World Series for Giants

Yankees Pitcher – Ralph Terry.
Giants Batter – Willie McCovey.

Result – McCovey lines out to second baseman Bobby Richardson to clinch World Series for the Yankees.

 

1972 American League Championship Series
Oakland A’s at Detroit Tigers
Game 5

Bottom 9. A’s 2 – Tigers 1
1 out. Runner at first.
Double Play would win Pennant for A’s.
Home Run would win Pennant for Tigers.

A’s pitcher – Vida Blue.
Tigers batter – Mickey Stanley.

Result – Stanley grounds to shortstop. Runner is forced out but Stanley reaches first.

Bottom 9. A’s 2 – Tigers 1
2 outs. Runner at first.
Out would win Pennant for A’s.
Home Run would win Pennant for Tigers.

A’s pitcher – Vida Blue.
Tigers batter – Tony Taylor.

Result – Taylor flies out to center field. A’s win the pennant.

1972 World Series
Oakland A’s at Cincinnati Reds
Game 7

Bottom 9. A’s 3 – Reds 2
2 outs. Runner at first.
Out would win World Series for A’s.
Home Run would win World Series for Reds.

A’s pitcher – Rollie Fingers.
Reds batter – Pete Rose.

Result – Rose flies out to left center field. A’s win World Series.

American League East Division One Game Playoff

New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox

Bottom 9. Yankees 5 – Red Sox 4
1 out. Runner at first.
Double play would win Division for Yankees.
Home Run would win Division for Red Sox.

Yankees pitcher – Rich Gossage.
Red Sox batter – Jerry Remy.

Result – Remy singles to right field. Rick Burleson moves to second.

Bottom 9. Yankees 5 – Red Sox 4
1 out. Runners at first and second.
Double play would win Division for Yankees.
Extra base hit would win Division for Red Sox.

Yankees pitcher – Rich Gossage.
Red Sox batter – Jim Rice.

Result – Rice flies out to right field.

Bottom 9. Yankees 5 – Red Sox 4
2 outs. Runners at first and second.
Out would win Division for Yankees.
Extra base hit would win Division for Red Sox.

Yankees pitcher – Rich Gossage.
Red Sox batter – Carl Yastrzemski.

Result – Yastrzemski pops up to third baseman Graig Nettles. Yankees win Division.

 

1981 National League Championship Series
Los Angeles Dodgers at Montreal Expos
Game 5

Bottom 9. Dodgers 2 – Expos 1
2 outs. Runner at first.
Out would win Pennant for Dodgers.
Home Run would win Pennant for Expos.

Dodgers pitcher – Fernando Valenzuela.
Reds batter – Larry Parrish.

Result – Parrish walks. Pinch runner Jerry Manuel moves from first to second.

Bottom 9. Dodgers 2 – Expos 1
2 outs. Runners at first and second.
Out would win pennant for Dodgers.
Extra base hit would win Pennant for Expos.

Dodgers pitcher – Bob Welch.
Reds batter – Jerry White.

Result – White grounds out to second. Dodgers win pennant.

1992 National League Championship Series
Pittsburgh Pirates at Atlanta Braves
Game 7

 

Bottom 9. Pirates 2 – Braves 1
1 outs. Runners at first and second.
Double Play would win Pennant for Pirates.
Extra base hit would win Pennant for Braves.

Pirates pitcher – Stan Belinda.
Braves batter – Damon Berryhill.

Result – Berryhill walks. David Justice moves to third. Sid Bream moves to second.

 

Bottom 9. Pirates 2 – Braves 1
1 outs. Bases Loaded.
Double Play would win Pennant for Pirates.
Single would win Pennant for Braves.

Pirates pitcher – Stan Belinda.
Braves batter – Brian Hunter.

Result – Hunter pops up to second baseman.

 

Bottom 9. Pirates 2 – Braves 1
2 outs. Bases Loaded.
Out would win Pennant for Pirates.
Single would win Pennant for Braves.

Pirates pitcher – Stan Belinda.
Braves batter – Francisco Cabrera.

Result – Cabrera singles to left. Justice scores the tying run. Sid Bream somehow scores the winning run. Braves win NLCS.

 

(AP Photo/Hans Deryk)

1997 World Series
Cleveland Indians at Florida Marlins
Game 7

Bottom 9. Indians 2 – Marlins 1
1 outs. Runner on First.
Double Play would win World Series for Indians.
Home Run would win World Series for Marlins.

Pirates pitcher – Jose Mesa.
Braves batter – Charles Johnson.

Result – Johnson singles to right field. Moises Alou runs from first to third.

 

Bottom 9. Indians 2 – Marlins 1
1 outs. Runner on First and third.
Double Play would win World Series for Indians.
Extra base hit would win World Series for Marlins.

Pirates pitcher – Jose Mesa.
Braves batter – Craig Counsell.

Result – Counsell lines to right field. Alou tags and scored to tie the game.

Marlins would win World Series in bottom of the 11th.

 

2001 World Series
New York Yankees at Arizona Diamondbacks
Game 7

Bottom 9. Yankees 2 – Diamondbacks 1
1 outs. Runners on First and Second.
Double Play would win World Series for Yankees.
Triple or Home run would win World Series for Diamondbacks.

Pirates pitcher – Mariano Rivera.
Braves batter – Tony Womack.

Result – Womack doubles to right field. Pinch runner Midre Cummings scores to tie the game.

Diamondbacks would win the World Series two batters later on Luis Gonzalez’s single.

2002 American League Division Series
Minnesota Twins at Oakland Athletics
Game 5

Bottom 9. Twins 5 – Athletics 4
2 outs. Runner on First.
Out would win Division Series for Twins.
Home Run would win Division Series for Athletics.

Twins pitcher – Eddie Guardado.
Athletics batter – Ray Durham.

Result – Durham hits a foul pop to the second baseman. Twins win Division Series.

 

2002 National League Division Series
San Francisco Giants at Atlanta Braves
Game 5

Bottom 9. Giants 3 – Braves 4
1 out. Runners on First and third.
Double play win Division Series for Giants.
Home Run would win Division Series for Braves.

Giants pitcher – Robb Nen.
Athletics batter – Chipper Jones.

Result – Jones hits into a double play to the first baseman. Giants win Division Series.

 

2003 American League Division Series
Boston Red Sox at Oakland Athletics
Game 5

Bottom 9. Red Sox 4 – Athletics 3
2 outs. Runners on Second and third.
Out would win Division Series for Red Sox.
Single would win Division Series for Athletics.

Red Sox pitcher – Derek Lowe.
Athletics batter – Chris Singleton.

Result – Singleton walks.

Bottom 9. Red Sox 4 – Athletics 3
2 outs. Bases loaded.
Out would win Division Series for Red Sox.
Single would win Division Series for Athletics.

Red Sox pitcher – Derek Lowe.
Athletics batter – Terrence Long.

Result – Long strikes out looking. Red Sox win Division Series.

2006 National League Championship Series
St. Louis Cardinals at New York Mets.
Game 7

Bottom 9. Cardinals 3 – Mets 1.
1 out. Runners on Second and third.
Double play would win Pennant for Cardinals.
Home run would win Pennant for Mets.

Cardinals pitcher – Adam Wainwright.
Mets batter – Jose Reyes.

Result – Reyes lines out to centerfield.

Bottom 9. Cardinals 3 – Mets 1.
2 outs. Runners on Second and third.
Out would win Pennant for Cardinals.
Home run would win Pennant for Mets.

Cardinals pitcher – Adam Wainwright.
Mets batter – Paul LoDuca.

Result – LoDuca walks to load the bases.

Bottom 9. Cardinals 3 – Mets 1.
2 outs. Bases loaded.
Out would win Pennant for Cardinals.
Extra base hit would win Pennant for Mets.

Cardinals pitcher – Adam Wainwright.
Mets batter – Carlos Beltran.

Result – Beltran strikes out looking. Cardinals win pennant.

2009 American League Central Division Playoff
 Detroit Tigers at Minnesota Twins.
 

Bottom 10. Tigers 5 – Twins 4.
1 out. Runners on first and third.
Double play would win Division for Tigers.
Extra base hit would win Division for Twins.

Tigers pitcher – Fernando Rodney.
Twins batter – Matt Tolbert.

Result – Tolbert singles, scoring Michael Cuddyer to tie the game. Alexi Casilla moves to third.

Twins would win game, and Division, in the bottom of the 12th.

2012 National League Division Series
San Francisco Giants at Cincinnati Reds.
Game 5

Bottom 9. Giants 6 – Reds 4.
1 out. Runners on first and second.
Double play would win Division Series for Giants.
Home run would win Division Series for Reds.

Giants pitcher – Segio Romo.
Reds batter – Jay Bruce.

Result – Bruce flies out to left.

Bottom 9. Giants 6 – Reds 4.
2 out. Runners on first and second.
Out would win Division Series for Giants.
Home run would win Division Series for Reds.

Giants pitcher – Segio Romo.
Reds batter – Scott Rolen.

Result – Rolen strikes out. Giants win Division Series.

2014 American League Wild Card Game
Oakland Athletics at Kansas City Royals

Bottom 9. Athletics 7 – Royals 6.
1 out. Runner on second.
Double play would win Wild Card for Athletics.
Home run would win Wild Card for Royals.

Athletics pitcher – Sean Doolittle.
Royals batter – Nori Aoki.

Result – Pinch runner Jarrod Dyson steals third. Aoki hits game tying sacrifice fly.

Royals win Wild Card in bottom of 12.

2014 World Series
San Francisco Giants at Kansas City Royals
Game 7

Bottom 9. Giants 3 – Royals 2.
2 out. Runner on third.
Out would win World Series for Giants.
Home Run would win World Series for Royals.

Giants pitcher – Madison Bumgarner.
Royals batter – Salvador Perez.

Result – Perez pops up to the third baseman. Giants win the World Series.

 

2014 National League Division Series
Los Angeles Dodgers at Washington Nationals
Game 5

Bottom 9. Dodgers 4 – Nationals 3.
1 out. Runner on first.
Double Play would win Division Series for Dodgers.
Home Run would win Division Series for Nationals.

Dodgers pitcher – Kenley Jansen.
Nationals batter – Jayson Werth.

Result – Werth walks. Bryce Harper moves to second base.

 

Bottom 9. Dodgers 4 – Nationals 3.
1 out. Runner on first and second.
Double Play would win Division Series for Dodgers.
Extra Base Hit would win Division Series for Nationals.

Dodgers pitcher – Clayton Kershaw.
Nationals batter – Daniel Murphy.

Result – Murphy pops up to second base. Runners do not advance.

Bottom 9. Dodgers 4 – Nationals 3.
2 outs. Runner on first and second.
Out would win Division Series for Dodgers.
Extra Base Hit would win Division Series for Nationals.

Dodgers pitcher – Clayton Kershaw.
Nationals batter – Wilmer Difo.

Result – Difo strikes out. Catcher Carlos Ruiz throws to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez after the ball was dropped. Dodgers win the Division Series.

 

 

It has happened 34 times in 20 different games.

7 times, the game continued when a batter reached base. 6 times the second out of the inning was recorded.

11 times, the clinching out was recorded.

6 times, the game was tied. In each of those 6 instances, the team that tied the game would go on to win the series.

2 times, the Thomson homer and the Cabrera single, the home team got a walk off game winning hit.

So when BOTH teams face a situation where they can clinch, it has gone 12-8 in favor of the pitching team.

Five Hall of Fame batters came up in the situation (Speaker, Mays, McCovey, Rice and Yaz) not including Pete Rose and Chipper Jones, who hit into the only series ending double play from this scenario.

Four Hall of Fame pitchers were on the mound in these moments (Mathewson, Alexander, Fingers and Gossage.) Mariano Rivera will eventually make it five Hall of Fame pitchers. Madison Bumgarner could very make it six. Clayton Kershaw will probably make it seven.

Mathewson faced Speaker, Fingers faced Rose and Gossage faced Rice and Yaz in the ultimate match ups of greatness.

And Babe Ruth was the only player caught stealing to end it, spoiling Bob Meusel’s chance at immortality.

So this October, take a look to see if we get to see another match up like this, one where a single pitch could mean glory or never ending agony for both teams.

 

Teams with multiple pitchers with post season saves since 1969

(Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

The Rangers have played two game in the post season and have two saves from two different pitchers. And neither of those pitchers are named Shawn Tolleson who led the team with 35 saves.

It is refreshing when managers make decisions based on the situation rather than just drag the closer out in the 9th as a default. (Sam Dyson pitched the 9th in Game 1 instead of Tolleson. Manager Jeff Banister used Tolleson in Game 2 when it was NOT a save situation.)

The save became an official stat in 1969. Teams in the post season initially played to the situation instead of using the closer in all close 9th innings. But as saves began to pile up (especially after Tony LaRussa began using Dennis Eckersley one inning at time) and the prices of an innings closers sky rocketed, managers seemed to manage by the book and stick the closer in no matter what.

Every once in a while, a team will have multiple pitchers record a save in a post season. It does not happen often, but they pop up. Just last year, the Giants had 3 different pitchers credited with a save. If Tolleson saves a game, then the Rangers will match that total.

So here are all the teams to use more than one pitcher to save a game since 1969.

Teams with multiple pitchers with post season saves since 1969
1969 New York Mets – Ron Taylor (WS), Nolan Ryan (WS)
1970 Baltimore Orioles – Pete Richert (WS), Dick Hall (WS)
1970 Cincinnati Reds – Clay Carroll (NLCS), Don Gullett (NLCS)
1972 Oakland A’s – Vida Blue (ALCS), Rollie Fingers (WS)
1972 Cincinnati Reds – Clay Carroll (WS), Jack Billingham (WS), Tom Hall (WS)
1973 New York Mets – Tug McGraw (NLCS, WS), George Stone (WS), Ray Sadecki (WS)
1973 Oakland A’s – Rollie Fingers (ALCS, WS), Darold Knowles (WS)
1974 Oakland A’s – Rollie Fingers (ALCS, WS), Catfish Hunter (WS)
1975 Cincinnati Reds – Pedro Borbon (NLCS), Rawly Eastwick (WS), Will McEnaney (WS)
1976 Cincinnati Reds – Pedro Borbon (NLCS), Will McEnaney (WS)
1978 New York Yankees – Ken Clay (ALCS), Rich Gossage (ALCS)
1979 Pittsburgh Pirates – Don Robinson (NLCS), Kent Tekulve (WS)
1980 Philadelphia Phillies – Tug McGraw (NLCS, WS), Ron Reed (WS)
1981 Los Angeles Dodgers – Bob Welch (NLCS), Steve Howe (WS)
1982 Milwaukee Brewers – Pete Ladd (ALCS), Jim Slaton (ALCS), Bob McClure (WS)
1983 Baltimore Orioles – Sammy Stewart (ALCS), Tippy Martinez (WS)
1984 San Diego Padres – Rich Gossage (NLCS), Craig Lefferts (WS)
1985 St. Louis Cardinals – Ken Dayley (NLCS), Todd Worrell (WS), Jeff Lahti (WS)
1986 Boston Red Sox – Calvin Schraldi (ALCS, WS), Bob Stanley (WS)
1987 Minnesota Twins – Juan Berenguer (ALCS), Jeff Reardon (ALCS, WS)
1987 St. Louis Cardinals – Ken Dayley (NLCS, WS), Todd Worrell (NLCS, WS)
1988 Los Angeles Dodgers – Alejandro Pena (NLCS), Orel Hershiser (NLCS), Brian Holton (NLCS), Jay Howell (WS)
1990 Cincinnati Reds – Randy Myers (NLCS, WS), Rob Dibble (NLCS)
1990 Pittsburgh Pirates – Ted Power (NLCS), Bob Patterson (NLCS)
1990 Oakland Athletics – Dennis Eckersley (ALCS), Rick Honeycutt (ALCS)
1991 Pittsburgh Pirates – Bob Walk (NLCS), Roger Mason (NLCS)
1992 Toronto Blue Jays – Tom Henke (ALCS, WS), Mike Timlin (WS)
1992 Atlanta Braves – Jeff Reardon (NLCS), Mike Stanton (WS)
1993 Philadelphia Phillies – Mitch Williams (NLCS), Larry Andersen (NLCS)
1995 Atlanta Braves – Mark Wohlers (DS, NLCS, WS) Greg McMichael (NLCS), Pedro Borbon (WS)
1995 Seattle Mariners – Norm Charlton (DS, ALCS), Bill Risley (DS)
1996 Baltimore Orioles – Randy Myers (DS), Armando Benitez (ALCS)
1997 Cleveland Indians – Jose Mesa (DS, ALCS, WS), Brian Anderson (WS)
1998 San Diego Padres – Trevor Hoffman (DS, NLCS), Donne Wall (NLCS)
1999 Atlanta Braves – Kevin Millwood (DS), John Rocker (DS, NLCS), John Smoltz (NLCS)
1999 New York Yankees – Mariano Rivera (DS, ALCS, WS), Ramiro Mendoza (ALCS)
2000 New York Mets – John Franco (DS), Armando Benitez (NLCS, WS)
2003 Florida Marlins – Ugueth Urbina (DS, NLCS, WS), Braden Looper (NLCS)
2003 Chicago Cubs – Joe Borowski (DS), Mike Remlinger (NLCS)
2003 Boston Red Sox – Derek Lowe (DS), Scott Williamson (ALCS)
2005 Chicago White Sox – Bobby Jenks (DS, WS), Mark Buehrle (WS)
2007 Colorado Rockies – Manny Corpas (DS, NLCS), Ryan Speier (NLCS)
2008 Tampa Bay Rays – Dan Wheeler (DS), David Price (ALCS)
2009 Philadelphia Phillies – Brad Lidge (DS, NLCS), Ryan Madson (WS)
2010 Texas Rangers – Darren Oliver (ALCS), Neftali Feliz (WS)
2011 Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde (DS, ALCS), Phil Coke (ALCS)
2012 Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde (DS), Phil Coke (ALCS)
2014 San Francisco Giants – Santiago Castilla (DS, NLCS, WS), Hunter Strickland (DS), Madison Bumgarner (WS)
2015 Texas Rangers – Sam Dyson (DS), Ross Ohlendorf (DS)