1971 Topps AL Leading Firemen: Ron Perranoski, Lindy McDaniel, Tom Timmermann

Going back to a theme that I haven't done in months: League Leader Cards That Never Were. For reasons only known to Topps, there were no stolen base nor saves leader cards until 1973. In the earliest incarnations of the leader cards this extended into missing RBI leader cards as well. Those weren't included until the 1964 set.

For those not familiar with the term Leading Fireman, it was an award given out by The Sporting News for the leagues' best closers. I was supposed to be based on a formula combining relief wins and saves. However this seemed to be inconsistent and sometimes he award was given to a pitcher that didn't statistically fit that supposed formula, see here. So for the purposes of my leader cards, I went to using saves leaders

For the second year in a row Ron Perranoski won the Sporting News Fireman of the Year award. With a league leading 34 saves he also received Cy Young and MVP votes in 1970. Meanwhile, the runner up was Yankees reliever, Lindy McDaniel who was Fireman of the Year with the Cardinals in 1960 and the Cubs in 1963. Rounding out the top 3 was Tom Timmermann. In his second year in the big leagues, Timmermann had a career high 27 saves.

1970 Topps AL Leading Firemen: Ron Perranoski, Ken Tatum, Sparky Lyle

Ron Perranoski was the 1969 Sporting News Fireman of the Year. He led the majors with 31 saves. He also led the AL with 52 games finished. Hewon 9 games for the Twins in the regular season but got the loss in the first game of the ALCS. Ironically, the Orioles known for "pitching, defense and the 3-run homer" beat him by playing small-ball. He was called in with no outs and Brooks Robinson on second base in the bottom of the 9th and the game tied at 3-3. He managed to pitch his way out of the 9th. He also went unscathed in the 10th and 11th. But in the bottom of the 12th he gave up an infield single to Mark Belanger. A sac-bunt, and a grounder to short later and Belanger is on 3rd. Then with 2 out and a 1-1 count, Paul Blair laid down a perfect bunt scoring the winning run. The ball never left the infield.

In Ken Tatum's rookie season he came in 2nd in the AL with 22 saves. This was a career best for him as was his record of 7-2 and his microscopic ERA of 1.36. He finished 4th in Rookie of the Year voting in 1969 and although he would spend 6 seasons in the bigs with the Angels, the Bosox and Chisox, he would never match his rookie numbers.

Sparky Lyle would go on to lead the league twice in saves and win a Fireman of the Year award. But in just his 3rd MLB season Lyle was 3rd in the AL with 17 saves and an 8-3 record.

1964 Topps NL Leading Firemen: McDaniel, Perranoski, Baldschun

For the first time The Sporting News awarded their Reliever of the Year award to repeat winners. Both the AL winner and the NL winner had been won the award before and coincidentally both won it on different teams. In the AL Stu Miller won for the Orioles after winning the award as a Giant in 1961. In the NL it was Lindy McDaniel of the Cubs who had won the 1960 prize as a Cardinal.

Also repeating in second place was Ron Perranoski of the Dodgers. Once again it appears that the writers' votes were based strictly on saves only as McDaniel had 22 saves and a 13-7 record for the Cubs while Perranoski had 21 saves with a 16-3 record for the Dodgers. Both pitchers had 75 K's but Perranoski had a lower ERA.

Tied for 3rd place was Jack Baldschun and Roy Face with 16 saves each. Baldschun earned his way onto this fake card by winning 11 games in 1963 compared to only 3 wins for Face.

1963 Topps NL Leading Firemen: Face, Perranoski, Miller, McDaniel, Baldschun

Elroy Face was the 1962 Sporting News Fireman of the Year Award winner. He had 28 saves and 8 relief wins. This card also feature the 2 previous Firemen of the Year. 1960 winner, Lindy McDaniel, who came in 4th  and the 1961 winner, Stu Miller, who came in 3rd.  In 2nd was Ron Perranoski who pitched in a league leading 70 games. In 5th was Jack Baldschun who had 12 relief wins to compliment his 13 saves.