[Big Six]

For the purpose of this ranking, a "reliever" is considered the bullpen pitcher who does not have the primary responsibility of finishing games for his team. Most major league teams carry seven pitchers on their roster: five starters, a relief man, and a "closer."

Here are the best in the business at bridging the gap between a tired starter and a closer:

1. Bill Walker, Brooklyn
2. Rufus Smith, San Diego
3. Firpo Marberry, Chicago White Sox
4. Lance Thompson, Seattle
5. Ed Heusser, Philadelphia
6. Roy Parmelee, Boston
7. Bill Lee, Philadelphia
8. Spades Wood, Hollywood
9. Mark Marshall, Washington
10. Jesse Hester, Chicago Cubs
11. Homer Blankenship, Portland
12. Lorenzo Garcia, Sacramento
13. Lucas Turk, Pittsburgh
14. Brandon Watts, Oakland
15. Jumbo Brown, Kansas City
16. Harry Hulihan, St. Louis
17. Manuel Silva, Baltimore
18. Pete Gallagher, Detroit
19. Les Bartholomew, San Francisco
20. John Campbell, Los Angeles
21. Steve Swetonic, Cincinnati
22. Hank Winston, New York Yankees
23. Syd Cohen, Milwaukee
15. Darrel Lewis, Cleveland

Several of these men are former starters who have lost their spots in the rotation due to age or the arrival of more talented arms (Walker, Hester, Blankenship), while others have filled the "middle man" role with distinction throughout their careers (Marberry, Thompson, Swetonic). One or two, such as Walker and Thompson, pick up a good number of saves, too.

The best young relief arms are those of:

1. Silva
2. Ken Heintzelman, Boston
3. Russell Hatfield, New York Giants
4. Bill Zuber, Chicago White Sox
5. Frank Gabler, San Diego

Silva has been a starter throughout his minor league career, and will probably fill that role in the majors some day. The other four pitchers listed here lack the stamina to start, and are projected as career relievers.