1966 Topps AL Leading Firemen: Kline, Fisher, Miller

Once again the pitcher with the most saves was not the "Fireman of the Year". I've given up trying to figure out how The Sporting News determined the leaders. So I've ranked them once again strictly by save totals.

 In 1965 Ron Kline led the AL with 29 saves but the Sporting News Fireman of the Year award went to Eddie Fisher. Fisher had 5 fewer saves but also had 4 fewer blown saves. He had the most pitching appearances and a 15-7 won-loss record compared to Kline's 7-6. Fisher also pitched the final 2 innings of the 1965 All Star Game. He surrendered a single hit to crosstown rival Ernie Banks. Rounding out the top 3 was Stu Miller. Miller was tied with Fisher with 24 saves but had 14 relief wins compared to Fisher's 15.

1965 Topps AL Leading Firemen: Radatz, Wilhelm, Miller

Unlike this card's NL counterpart, the save leader and the Sporting News "Fireman of the Year" are one and the same. In 1964 Dick Radatz had a 16-9 record in relief along with a league leading 29 saves. He was also selected to the All Star game. Unfortunately, he had a blown save and lost the game. He surrendered a walk-off, 3 run homer to the All Star MVP Johnny Callison.

The 41 year old knuckle-baller, Hoyt Wilhelm had 12 wins and 27 saves for the White Sox. Stu Miller, who led the NL in saves in 1961 and the AL in 1963 had 7 wins and 23 saves.

1964 Topps AL Leading Firemen: Miller, Radatz and Dailey

In 1963 Stu Miller was named The Sporting News Fireman of the Year. This was originally said to be given to the player with the most Saves and Relief Wins but was voted on by the writers and thus subjective. In 1963 Miller led the league in saves with 27 and had 5 wins. Dick Radatz had 25 saves and 15 wins, all in relief. It appears as though the 1963 award was given to the player strictly with the most saves. Dick Radatz, the 1962 recipient of the award, had the the better overall record for a reliever. Radatz also had more strikeouts and a lower ERA. 

There were 3 pitchers tied for 3rd with 21 saves, Bill Dailey of the Twins, Hoyt Wilhelm from the White Sox, and John Wyatt of the A's. Of the 3 Bill Dailey had the best overall record at 6-3 with 72 K's and a 1.99 ERA. That was enough to earn him the 3rd spot on this fake card.

Wilhelm was 5-8 with 111 K's and a 2.64 ERA and Wyatt was 6-4 with 81 K's and a 3.13 ERA.

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.

1962 Topps NL Leading Firemen: Miller, Face, Brosnan, Henry

The Leading Firemen card would not make an appearance in a Topps set until 1973.  Topps continued to make Leading Firemen cards until 1983 with the exception of the 1980 set. For some reason Topps made all the usual Leaders cards but not a Leading Firemen card (I'll have to fix that later). In 1984 was the first appearance of a straight Saves Leader card. In 1985 the League Leader Cards disappeared altogether from Topps sets for several years.

In 1961 The Sporting News issued only their second "Fireman of the Year" award. The NL recipient was Stu Miller of the San Francisco Giants. The Save was still an unofficial stat and would remain so until 1969. Stu compiled a modest 17 save but also amassed 14 wins all in relief. He also earned a relief win in the 1961 All Star Game in San Francisco.

Roy Face of the Pirates also had 17 saves in 1961, however he only had 6 relief wins. Brosnan and Henry of the Reds both had 16 saves, Brosnan with 10 relief wins and Henry with 2.