1962 Topps AL Leading Firemen: Arroyo, Wilhelm,Fornieles, Moore

1961 was a big year for Luis Arroyo. He was selected to his 2nd All Star Squad but for the 2nd time he would see no action. He earned a relief win in Game 3 of the World Series. He led the Major League in Saves with 29. his next best season would total only 7 saves.

Hoyt Wilhelm also was selected to the 1961 All Star team. He got the loss for the AL in Game 1 and never left the bull pen in Game 2.

Mike Fornieles was the AL's Leading Fireman in 1960 with 14 saves and 10 relief wins. In 1961 he had 15 saves and 9 relief wins. 

Ray Moore once again made the list of top relief pitchers in the AL. This time on the "New" Minnesota Twins. (In 1960 he made the list for the "Old" Washington Senators.) In the franchise's 1st season in the Twin Cities, Moore earned 14 saves for the 7th place Twins.

1961 Topps AL Leading Firemen

Mike Fornieles, Johnny Klippstein, Gerry Staley, and Ray Moore. Not exactly household names. Yet these were the "Leading Firemen" in the American League in 1960 and another example of why I think leader cards are so cool.

Mike Fornieles got 14 saves and 10 wins in relief. He appeared in 70 games for the 7th place Red Sox in 1960.

Johnny Klippstein earned 14 saves and 5 wins for the Cleveland Indians. He would end up pitching for 9 different teams in his 18 year career.

Gerry Staley was the only one of the 1960 leaders selected to the 1960 All Star team, but he would never leave the bullpen. He got 10 saves and 13 wins all in relief for the South Siders. All this at the tender age of 39.

Ray Moore began the 1960 season as Staley's teammate on the White Sox but finished as a member of the Washington Senators. Overall he would earn 4 wins and 13 saves. In 1961 the Senators moved to Minnesota. To avoid confusion with the expansion Washington Senators franchise, Topps designated the 1960 leaders as "Minn." despite playing in Washington in 1960.