Hoyt Wilhelm generally receives credit for being the game's first great reliever.  History may eventually show that Wilhelm was not the only prototype for relievers, asRoy Facedeserves to be considered in that discussion too.

Roy Face was the first pitcher to record twenty saves in a season (1958).  He would lead the senior circuit in that category three times.  Roy Face still holds the record for the highest winning percentage in a season with a whopping .947 (18 wins to 1 loss in 1959).  Face used his forkball to get Pirate teams out of jam after jam and racked up multiple wins, and saves all in a relieving role.  

Face was easily the top relief pitcher for over a decade, helping Pittsburgh win the 1960 World Series and finishing 547 Games with 186 Saves as a Pirate.  He might be one of the most influential hurlers ever.

Vern Law played all of his sixteen seasons in the Majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where the right-handed Pitcher performed as one of their top hurlers.

Law debuted for Pittsburgh in 1950, and after a few Games, was obligated to go to the American Military.  The Pitcher returned to the Pirates in 1954 and to their staff, where he moved up and down their rotation for years.  Law had his breakout year 1959, with a 2.98 ERA and 18 Wins.  The Pirates were ready to advance to the postseason in 1960, with Law winning 20 Games with a 3.08 ERA, and he was the Cy Young Award winner.  He won two Games in the World Series, and Pittsburgh won the Title with Law as their ace.

Law continued his career with Pittsburgh, playing until 1967 and posting nine 10-Win years.  Over his career, Law had a sweet record of 162 Wins and 147 Losses with an ERA of 3.77.

We have to go back to the 1880s for this one, Pitcher Ed Morris, who was one of the many players purchased by Pittsburgh from the folding Columbus Buckeyes after the 1884 Season.

Morris went off to have a brief but explosive career on the mound for the Alleghenys/Pirates, winning 80 Games in his first two years and throwing well over 1,100 Innings.  Morris led the American Association in Shutouts in both 1885 and 1886, with both seasons keeping his ERA under 2.50.  The workhorse also led the league in WHIP in both years, and he also was the league leader in Strikeouts (298) in 1885.

As the team migrated to the National League and became the Pirates, Morris struggled in 1887 (14-22, 4.31 ERA) but bounced back in 1888 with 480 Innings logged, a 28-23 record a 2.31 ERA.  The comeback was a one-year-only affair, as his arm gave out the following year, and he jumped to Pittsburgh Burghers of the Players League in 1890.  He was a bust there and retired from the game shortly after.

With Pittsburgh, Morris went 129-102 with a 2.81 ERA and 890 Strikeouts.

Fullbacks are one of many vital positions in any good NFL team. Without a good fullback, a team might as well not be playing! A fully qualified quarterback can considerably increase a team’s NFL odds

The fullback is often referred to as the ‘muscle’ of a team. Fullback players are often incredibly powerful and muscular, and, as such can easily cut through an opposing team’s defenses, able to push through even the toughest tackles. 

There have been many fullback players over the years for many different teams, but only a few have ever etched their names in the NFL hall of fame. Let’s take a look at 8 of the best! 

#1 - Jim Brown:

Jim Brown has long been hailed as one of the greatest fullbacks in the history of the NFL. Over the course of his very extensive career, he was able to carry the ball over 2,000 times and carried it over a cumulative distance of 104 yards. 

He has even performed an incredible 106 touchdowns, an incredible hallmark for any player! 

#2 - Joe Perry:

Having played in both the world-famous San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Colts, Joe Perry has had an incredible career over his tenure in the sport. He played from 1948 until 1963, which was his final year, earning him an impressive 15 years in the sport! 

Joe Perry boasted an incredible build that allowed him to carve a path right through so many defensive strategies, this was most likely benefited by his time in the military, where he was first scouted for the 49ers!

#3 - Larry Csonka: 

Larry Csonka proved to be a vital part of his team the Miami Dolphins, and he was able to bring his absolute best to every single game he played. This earned him an incredible reputation that struck fear in opposing forces. 

In his time he was one of the largest and most imposing players on the field, which helped his team to earn an incredible number of career touchdowns! 

#4 - Larry Centers:

Catching is equally as important to a successful play in the NFL as actually touching the ball down, and no player understood this better than Larry Centers. 

He was able to catch pretty much any ball that was thrown his way, which made him the perfect fullback for his varying teams, which included the Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, and the Washington Redskins. 

He was definitely a player to keep your eye on!

#5 - Jim Taylor:

Jim Taylor was most likely amongst some of the first true NFL superstars thanks to his commanding presence which he boasted across the field from 1958 to 1967. 

He famously played for two teams, the Green Bay Packers, and the New Orleans Saints, and brought his formidable presence to them both, to lead them to many amazing victories!

#6 - John Riggins:

John Riggins was often famously referred to as “The Diesel”. This name was likely given to him as a result of the powerful and fast way in which he cut a course across the field. No players could compete against him, and any player that even attempted to tackle him would quickly be thrown to the wayside. 

John Riggins was definitely a spectacle who had to be witnessed first-hand to be truly appreciated! 

#7 - Bronko Nagurski:

Even in his early days in the sport, playing for university teams, Bronko Nagurski proved to be an absolutely commanding force.

He began his career with the Chicago Bears in 1930 and kept his incredible track record going for an impressive 13 years, until 1943. 

Upon finishing his career in the NFL, Bronko also went on to have a very healthy career in professional wrestling, benefited by his incredibly large and muscular physique. Within both sports, he was able to make an incredible name for himself and create a legacy that will last for many years to come!

#8 - John Henry Johnson:

John Henry Johnson proved to be an absolute game-changer. He made a considerable splash upon starting in the NFL, impressing onlookers with his incredible strength and speed. And on a game-to-game basis, his quick thinking and his incredible strength meant he was able to make game-saving or game-turning moves. 

John Henry Johnson has proven responsible for saving his team from enduring many losses, while also performing many tide-turning touchdowns that shook up the NFL rankings frequently.

John Henry Johnson played for the San Francisco 49ers, the Detroit Lions, and the Pittsburgh Steelers, making him one of the most prolific players of his generation. 

To Wrap Up:

The NFL has seen many incredible Fullbacks come and go, but none are perhaps so amazing and legendary as the eight players we explored above. The legacy of these players will definitely be felt for many more years in the NFL!