Editor’s note: Throughout this year Press Room Pass will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1969 baseball season with a variety of stories from the covering personal accomplishments, unique moments, major league expansion and the amazing New York Mets. This is the latest installment of that series.
A major statistical change occurred 50 years ago as the “save” became an important part of baseball’s future.
The Sporting News had been awarding the Fireman of the Year since 1960 that was based on a combination of wins and saves, but it took nine years before it was officially adopted in the big leagues. The rule has been tweaked a few times over the years, but it led to the “closer” becoming a vital part of a pitching staff.
The first official save was recorded by Bill Singer of Los Angeles as the Dodgers beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 on April 7, 1969.
Cincinnati started off the game with back-to-back homers by Pete Rose and Bobby Tolan off Don Drysdale in the bottom of the first at Crosley Field.
Los Angeles cut the deficit in half on a RBI double by Jim Lefebvre in the second. The Dodgers went on top for good in the third against Reds starter Gary Nolan when Ron Fairly had a two-run triple.
Singer entered the game in the bottom of the seventh and finished the contest allowing a hit and a walk.
It turned out to be Singer’s only save and relief appearance in 1969. He went on to have one of the best seasons of his career with a 20-12 record with 244 strikeouts and a 2.34 ERA. He also worked two scoreless innings in the all-star game as the National League won 9-3.
Singer came up with the Dodgers in 1964 and pitched just seven games until 1967 when he posted a 12-8 mark with a 2.64 ERA.
After the 1972 season, Singer was traded to California in a seven-player swap that had him, Frank Robinson and Bobby Valentine heading to the Angels, while the Dodgers got Andy Messersmith and Ken McMullen.
Singer responded with a 20-14 season for the Angels as he was named to the American League All-Star team. He also had a career-high numbers with 19 complete games and 280 strikeouts.
With just 14 relief outings in his career, Single picked up his second and final save April 30, 1975. He got the final two outs with a runner at third in a 7-6 Angels win at Kansas City.
Prior to 1976, the Angels sent to Texas and then in the middle of the season, he and three others were shipped to the Minnesota Twins for Bert Blyleven and Danny Thompson.
In the expansion draft before the 1977 season, Singer was selected by Toronto where he started the first game in Blue Jays history on April 7. He finished the year with a 2-8 record, which put him at 118-127 for his career.
Save Leaders in 1969
Minnesota’s Ron Perranoski led the majors with 31 saves for the Twins as they won the first AL West title in 1969.
Fred Gladding of the Houston Astros would top the NL with 29 saves, while Jim Brewer finished fourth in the league and led the Dodgers with 20.