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Relief Pitcher Awards

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Relief pitching didn't become a real specialty until after World War II. Even then, it was several years before every major-league team had relief specialists, commonly called "firemen."

In 1960, The Sporting News established its Fireman of the Year Award, to be given to the top relief pitcher in each league.

A second major award for relief pitchers was established in 1976 by Rolaids, the antacid manufacturer. It's called the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award.

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TSN Fireman of the Year

American League
YearPlayer, Team
1960Mike Fornieles, Boston
1961Luis Arroyo, New York
1962Dick Radatz, Boston
1963Stu Miller, Baltimore
1964Dick Radatz, Boston
1965Eddie Fisher, Chicago
1966Jack Aker, Kansas City
1967Minnie Rojas, California
1968Wilbur Wood, Chicago
1969Ron Perranoski, Minnesota
1970Ron Perranoski, Minnesota
1971Ken Sanders, Milwaukee
1972Sparky Lyle, New York
1973John Hiller, Detroit
1974Terry Forster. Chicago
1975Rich Gossage, Chicago
1976Bill Campbell, Minnesota
1977Bill Campbell, Boston
1978Rich Gossage, New York
1979Jim Kern, Texas
TIEMike Marshall, Minnesota
1980Dan Quisenberry, Kansas City
1981Rollie Fingers, Milwaukee
1982Dan Quisenberry, Kansas City
1983Dan Quisenberry, Kansas City
1984Dan Quisenberry, Kansas City
1985Dan Quisenberry, Kansas City
1986Dave Righetti, New York
1987Jeff Reardon, Minnesota
TIEDave Righetti, New York
1988Dennis Eckersley, Oakland
1989Jeff Russell, Texas
1990Bobby Thigpen, Chicago
1991Dennis Eckersley, Oakland
TIEBryan Harvey, California
1992Dennis Eckersley, Oakland
1993Jeff Montgomery, Kansas City
1994Lee Smith, Baltimore
1995Jose Mesa, Cleveland
1996John Wetteland, New York
1997Mariano Rivera, New York
1998Tom Gordon, Boston
1999Mariano Rivera, New York
2000Todd Jones, Detroit
2001Mariano Rivera, New York
2002Billy Koch, Oakland
2003Keith Foulke, Oakland
2003Mariano Rivera, New York
2004Mariano Rivera, New York
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National League
YearPlayer, Team
1960Lindy McDaniel, St. Louis
1961Stu Miller, San Francisco
1962Roy Face, Pittsburgh
1963Lindy McDaniel, Chicago
1964Al McBean, Pittsburgh
1965Ted Abernathy, Chicago
1966Phil Regan, Los Angeles
1967Ted Abernathy, Cincinnati
1968Phil Regan, Chicago
1969Wayne Granger, Cincinnati
1970Wayne Granger, Cincinnati
1971Dave Giusti, Pittsburgh
1972Clay Carroll, Cincinnati
1973Mike Marshall, Montreal
1974Mike Marshall, Los Angeles
1975Al Hrabosky, St. Louis
1976Rawly Eastwick, Cincinnati
1977Rollie Fingers, San Diego
1978Rollie Fingers, San Diego
1979Bruce Sutter, Chicago
1980Rollie Fingers, San Diego
TIETom Hume, Cincinnati
1981Bruce Sutter, St. Louis
1982Bruce Sutter, St. Louis
1983Al Holland, Philadelphia
TIELee Smith, Chicago
1984Bruce Sutter, St. Louis
1985Jeff Reardon, Montreal
1986Todd Worrell, St. Louis
1987Steve Bedrosian, Philadelphia
1988John Franco, Cincinnati
1989Mark Davis, San Diego
1990John Franco, New York
1991Lee Smith, St. Louis
1992Doug Jones, Houston
TIELee Smith, St. Louis
1993Randy Myers, Chicago
1994John Franco, New York
1995Randy Myers, Chicago
1996Trevor Hoffman, San Diego
1997Jeff Shaw, Cincinnati
1998Trevor Hoffman, San Diego
1999Ugueth Urbina, Montreal
2000Antonio Alfonseca, Florida
2001Robb Nen, San Francisco
 TIEArmando Benitez, New York
2002John Smoltz, Atlanta
2003Eric Gagne, Los Angeles
2004Eric Gagne, Los Angeles

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Rolaids Relief Man

American League
YearPlayer, TeamSaves ERA
1976Bill Campbell, Minnesota 203.01
1977Bill Campbell, Boston 312.96
1978Rich Gossage, New York 272.01
1979Jim Kern, Texas29 1.57
1980Dan Quisenberry, Kansas City 333.09
1981Rollie Fingers, Milwaukee 281.04
1982Dan Quisenberry, Kansas City 352.57
1983Dan Quisenberry, Kansas City 451.94
1984Dan Quisenberry, Kansas City 442.64
1985Dan Quisenberry, Kansas City 372.37
1986Dave Righetti, New York 462.45
1987Dave Righetti, New York 313.51
1988Dennis Eckersley, Oakland 452.35
1989Jeff Russell, Texas 381.98
1990Bobby Thigpen, Chicago 571.83
1991Bryan Harvey, California 461.60
1992Dennis Eckersley, Oakland 511.91
1993Jeff Montgomery, Kansas City 452.27
1994Lee Smith, Baltimore 333.29
1995Jose Mesa, Cleveland 461.13
1996John Wetteland, New York432.83
1997Randy Myers, Baltimore451.51
1998Tom Gordon, Boston 462.72
1999Mariano Rivera, New York451.83
2000Todd Jones, Detroit423.52
2001Mariano Rivera, New York502.34
2002Billy Koch, Oakland443.27
2003Keith Foulke, Oakland432.08
2004Mariano Rivera, New York531.94
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National League
YearPlayer, TeamSaves ERA
1976Rawly Eastwick, Cincinnati 262.09
1977Rollie Fingers, San Diego 352.99
1978Rollie Fingers, San Diego 372.52
1979Bruce Sutter, Chicago 372.22
1980Rollie Fingers, San Diego 232.80
1981Bruce Sutter, St. Louis 252.62
1982Bruce Sutter, St. Louis 362.90
1983Al Holland, Philadelphia 252.26
1984Bruce Sutter, St. Louis 451.54
1985Jeff Reardon, Montreal 413.18
1986Todd Worrell, St. Louis 362.08
1987Steve Bedrosian, Philadelphia 402.83
1988John Franco, Cincinnati 391.57
1989Mark Davis, San Diego 441.85
1990John Franco, New York 332.53
1991Lee Smith, St. Louis 472.34
1992Lee Smith, St. Louis 433.12
1993Randy Myers, Chicago 533.11
1994Rod Beck, San Francisco 282.77
1995Tom Henke, St. Louis 361.82
1996Jeff Brantley, Cincinnati442.41
1997Jeff Shaw, Cincinnati422.38
1998Trevor Hoffman, San Diego531.48
1999Billy Wagner, Houston391.57
2000Antonio Alfonseca, Florida454.24
2001Armando Benitez, New York433.77
2002John Smoltz, Atlanta553.25
2003Eric Gagne, Los Angeles551.20
2004Eric Gagne, Los Angeles452.19

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This page last updated Saturday, 19-Apr-2008 11:52:29 PDT
http://www.hickoksports.com/history/reliefaward.shtml
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