24. Roy Face

The development of the modern bullpen is often credited to a well-known knuckleball pitcher, but history tends to overlook the man who actually laid the foundation for today's closer role. Roy Face didn't just gather stats for the Pirates’ bullpen; he transformed the relief role into a potent weapon. Despite being only 5-foot-8 and 150 pounds, this former mechanical worker arrived in Pittsburgh with a reserved, icy demeanor and introduced a game-changing pitch: the forkball. By slipping the ball between his index and middle fingers, Face produced a fast, late-sinking pitch that completely baffled top hitters of the post-war era, making high-pressure situations his personal stage for mastery.

Initially, during the 1953 and 1955 seasons, he moved between the rotation and the bullpen. However, once manager Danny Murtaugh took over, Face was consistently used as a late-game reliever. This marked the beginning of a peak where he made preventing runs in the final innings a regular part of the season. In 1958, he made history by becoming the first pitcher in baseball to achieve 20 saves in a single season.

The peak of his national acclaim and unique efficiency coincided with a remarkable 1959 season that still stands out as a statistical marvel. Working solely from the bullpen, Face delivered an incredible high-pressure performance, winning 17 straight decisions in an extraordinary stretch. That summer, he concluded with an impressive 18–1 record, a stunning .947 winning percentage that remains an unbroken single-season major league record to this day.

Face was far from a one-summer anomaly, maintaining his status as the top reliever for more than ten years. He led the Senior Circuit in saves three times and was named an All-Star for three straight years from 1959 to 1961. His flawless spatial control and clutch late-inning performance culminated in the team's historic 1960 World Series victory. In a tense, seven-game series against the dominant New York Yankees, Face served as Murtaugh’s key safety net, participating in four games and securing three vital saves to secure Pittsburgh's renowned championship.

He remained with the Pirates until his contract was sold to Detroit during the 1968 season. With Pittsburgh, Face finished 547 games with 186 saves. He might be one of the most influential hurlers ever.