50. Slim Sallee

Long before specialized relief pitching became a core part of modern baseball, Harry "Slim" Sallee was a key multi-purpose pitcher for the Deadball Era St. Louis Cardinals. The tall southpaw, who arrived in 1908, quickly became essential, often pitching multiple roles. Since the Cardinals often ranked low in the National League, Sallee had to handle various duties, sometimes as a starting ace and other times as a late-inning reliever.

Sallee relied on precise control and an elegant, deceptive delivery rather than raw power, masterfully confounding hitters to anchor the St. Louis pitching staff for nearly a decade. He surpassed the 200-inning threshold in five separate seasons for the franchise, stringing together four consecutive 15-win campaigns from 1911 through 1914. His individual value peaked during a remarkable two-year period between 1913 and 1914, when he accumulated a total of 37 victories, completed 36 games, and maintained an exceptional, microscopic 2.10 ERA during his intensive workload in 1914.

Focusing solely on his 212 career starts for the team masks the broader scope of his adaptability that shaped his legacy in the senior league. Sallee was an early innovator in finishing games he didn't initiate. Long before the official recognition of the “closer" role or the save stat, his effectiveness in high-pressure relief situations was highly respected. He retrospectively led the National League in saves twice while with St. Louis, recording a league-high six saves in 1912 and 1914, all while remaining one of the most durable starters.

Midway through the 1916 season, Sallee was traded to the New York Giants. While Sallee would later secure two World Series championships with the Giants and the Cincinnati Reds—including a magnificent 21-win masterpiece for Cincinnati's infamous 1919 title team—his most extensive, foundational body of work was accomplished in St. Louis.

With the Cardinals, Sallee appeared in 302 games (starting 212). He achieved a 106–107 record, with an excellent 2.67 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. Over 1,939.0 innings, he pitched 111 complete games, 14 shutouts, and was retrospectively credited with 25 saves.