So, as Max Scherzer goes out to trump Elroy Face's 18-1 record of 1959, I thought I'd look at a breakdown of how Face arrived at that great W-L record.
Needless to say, Face, who never started a game that season, will probably never be eclipsed by a relief pitcher in terms of wins in a single season.
Oh, but I should point out, Tom Filer (7-0) and Dennis Lamp (11-0), went a combined 18-0 for the 1985 Toronto Blue Jays.
In the games he won, Face pitched 1 inning, 3 times in 1959. 2 or more innings, 13 times. 3 or more innings, 8 times. 4 innings, 1 time. 5 innings, 1 time.
Total number of innings pitched in the 18 wins: 43 2/3
Face fanned 5 batters twice in the 18 wins. 4 batters twice. 3 batters once. 2 batters, 3 times. 1 batter, 5 times. 0 K, 5 times.
Total number of K's in the 18 wins: 32
K/9 during the 18 wins: 6.59
In 10 of the wins, Face did not allow a run
In 11 of the wins, Face did not allow an earned run.
Total number of runs scored against him in the 18 wins: 9
Total number of earned runs scored against Face in this time: 8
ERA during the 18 wins: 1.65
The unearned run against him was on August 9th against the Cubs.
Face took over from Vern Law in the bottom of the 8th inning of 2-1 Cub lead in that August game. The very first batter was Tony Taylor, and he reached on an error by shortstop Dick Groat. Taylor eventually scored on a single by the other Taylor, Sammy. 3-1, Chicago.
But the Pirates would dramatically tie the game in the top of the 9th, thanks to Groat's double, Roberto Clemente's single, and Smokey Burgess sacrifice fly.
In the top of the 10th, Groat drove in the winning run for the Pirates, who added another run for insurance. Face retired the side in order in the bottom of the frame, getting Ernie Banks to fly out to end it.
That gave Face his 15th win against 0 defeats at that point. With his 16th win against the World Series winning Los Angeles Dodgers on August 23rd (2nd game of a doubleheader), Elroy had passed Johnny Allen's 1937 15-1 mark.
His one loss of the season? September 11th (1st game of a doubleheader). Face came into that game with a very mortal 17-0 record.
But in that game against the Dodgers, the streak of wins (which was actually 22 going back to 1958), came to an end.
It had been a pitcher's duel between the Pirates' Bob Friend and the Dodgers promising lefty.
A kid by the name of Koufax.
Leave it to Sandy to end the streak.
Actually, Koufax was out of there in the top of the 8th inning with one out, trailing 4-2. Koufax was replaced by CC, Chuck Churn.
Friend allowed a homerun by Wally Moon in the bottom of the frame to cut the lead to 4-3. Who do you turn to at this point?
You turn to face Face.
Face came in with one on and one out, and got the Pirates out of the inning with no further damage.
But with Maury Wills on second and only one out in the bottom of the 9th, Jim Gilliam hit a triple to right to tie the game. Charlie Neal, on an 0-2 pitch, hit a single to left to score Gilliam, win the game for the Dodgers, and put a "1" in the loss column of Face. 17-1.
That is the only game Face blew a save and was given the loss.
Elroy blew 4 saves in games that he was credited with a win.
He also blew 4 saves in games where he registered a no decision. 2 of these games were later lost by the Dodgers.
References
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 20 Aug. 2013.
Needless to say, Face, who never started a game that season, will probably never be eclipsed by a relief pitcher in terms of wins in a single season.
Oh, but I should point out, Tom Filer (7-0) and Dennis Lamp (11-0), went a combined 18-0 for the 1985 Toronto Blue Jays.
In the games he won, Face pitched 1 inning, 3 times in 1959. 2 or more innings, 13 times. 3 or more innings, 8 times. 4 innings, 1 time. 5 innings, 1 time.
Total number of innings pitched in the 18 wins: 43 2/3
Face fanned 5 batters twice in the 18 wins. 4 batters twice. 3 batters once. 2 batters, 3 times. 1 batter, 5 times. 0 K, 5 times.
Total number of K's in the 18 wins: 32
K/9 during the 18 wins: 6.59
In 10 of the wins, Face did not allow a run
In 11 of the wins, Face did not allow an earned run.
Total number of runs scored against him in the 18 wins: 9
Total number of earned runs scored against Face in this time: 8
ERA during the 18 wins: 1.65
The unearned run against him was on August 9th against the Cubs.
Face took over from Vern Law in the bottom of the 8th inning of 2-1 Cub lead in that August game. The very first batter was Tony Taylor, and he reached on an error by shortstop Dick Groat. Taylor eventually scored on a single by the other Taylor, Sammy. 3-1, Chicago.
But the Pirates would dramatically tie the game in the top of the 9th, thanks to Groat's double, Roberto Clemente's single, and Smokey Burgess sacrifice fly.
In the top of the 10th, Groat drove in the winning run for the Pirates, who added another run for insurance. Face retired the side in order in the bottom of the frame, getting Ernie Banks to fly out to end it.
That gave Face his 15th win against 0 defeats at that point. With his 16th win against the World Series winning Los Angeles Dodgers on August 23rd (2nd game of a doubleheader), Elroy had passed Johnny Allen's 1937 15-1 mark.
His one loss of the season? September 11th (1st game of a doubleheader). Face came into that game with a very mortal 17-0 record.
But in that game against the Dodgers, the streak of wins (which was actually 22 going back to 1958), came to an end.
It had been a pitcher's duel between the Pirates' Bob Friend and the Dodgers promising lefty.
A kid by the name of Koufax.
Leave it to Sandy to end the streak.
Actually, Koufax was out of there in the top of the 8th inning with one out, trailing 4-2. Koufax was replaced by CC, Chuck Churn.
Friend allowed a homerun by Wally Moon in the bottom of the frame to cut the lead to 4-3. Who do you turn to at this point?
You turn to face Face.
Face came in with one on and one out, and got the Pirates out of the inning with no further damage.
But with Maury Wills on second and only one out in the bottom of the 9th, Jim Gilliam hit a triple to right to tie the game. Charlie Neal, on an 0-2 pitch, hit a single to left to score Gilliam, win the game for the Dodgers, and put a "1" in the loss column of Face. 17-1.
That is the only game Face blew a save and was given the loss.
Elroy blew 4 saves in games that he was credited with a win.
He also blew 4 saves in games where he registered a no decision. 2 of these games were later lost by the Dodgers.
References
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 20 Aug. 2013.
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