what's the record for most wins in a season by a relief pitcher? (1 Viewer)

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Carlos Villanueva of the Brewers got his 6th win tonight and we're only halfway through the season. Just wondering how rare is it for a middle reliever like him to have a shot at double digit wins in a season. I don't care if a player maybe got a spot start here or there, but wondered what some of the highest win totals for middle relievers have been in recent history.

anyone know?

 

[JoeSteeler]

Roy Face

"Considered by many to be the best relief pitcher in history, [Face] confronted all types of jams in his career," wrote Edward Kiersh. "Relying mainly on a forkball, he squelched so many rallies in 1959, en route to his record winning percentage of .947, that manager Danny Murtaugh tagged him Sam Spade."

The shy, gutsy, 5'8" righthander was twice drafted by Branch Rickey, first for the Dodgers, then, in 1952, for Pittsburgh. Face recorded 96 career relief wins (fifth all-time), 193 saves (sixth), and holds the ML mark for most relief wins in a season, 18 (17 consecutive for another record). He owns the NL career records for most games finished (574) and most games pitched for one club (802, for Pittsburgh). Face led the NL three times each in saves and relief losses, and twice in appearances. He saved three games of the 1960 World Series. (TJ)

I don't know if you count this as recent history or not.

 

[JoeSteeler]

By the way, that info is from baseballlibrary.com

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

good to know.

have there been (m)any 10-win relievers over the past 10 or 20 years?

 

[Knightro]

good to know.have there been (m)any 10-win relievers over the past 10 or 20 years?

moreso in the last 10 as managers have ridden the bullpen harder. I remember Charley Kerfeld winning 11 out of the pen during their 86 NL West winning season.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

John Hiller of the 1974 Tigers owns the American League record with the 1976 Twins John Cambell at 17.

Mark Eichhorn won 14 for the Jays in 1986 and Musselman won 12 a year later.

Gabe White 11 for Colorado in 2000

Scott Shields in 2005 had ten

I'm sure there are a few more but it's pretty rare to have a relief pitcher in double digit wins. Those are the only ones I could think of.

 

[Breed]

Jeff Zimmerman of the Rangers had 9 relief wins in 1999. If I recall correctly, he had most, if not all, by the all star break, resulting in his getting put on the All Star team that year. I know he spent most of the first half leading the league in wins.

 

[David Yudkin]

Dennis Lamp went 11-0 with TOR in 1985 out of the pen.

Bob Stanley won 15, 10, and 12 games as a reliever in the late 70s/early 80s for the Bosox.

 

[The Man With No Name]

Julian Tavarez 10-2 for the 1995 Cleveland Indians

 

[Buckfast]

In 2005, Jesse Crain went 12-5 for the Twins.