Fireman: The Evolution of the Closer in Baseball

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Baseball is in a constant state of flux and change. Whether the developments are as obvious as the advent of the designated hitter or as subtle as the time limit between pitches, changes continue to occur that shape and reshape America's Pastime. One of the most discernable changes has been the specialization of the pitching staff. There was a time when the typical relief pitcher was either a washed-up veteran trying to hold on, an underachieving starter sent to bullpen Siberia by the manager, or a pitcher with good stuff but without the mojo to pitch deep into games. How things have changed.

 

Fireman will bridge the gap between those days and today's game by reviewing the history of relief pitching and examining the influence and changes in the game that have brought bullpens to their present state. Using statistics, tend analysis, and interviews with front-office personnel, managers, coaches, and pitchers past and present, author Fran Zimniuch delves into the changing nature of the bullpen in baseball and how the current, specialized role of the closer came into being.

FIREMAN: THE EVOLUTION OF THE CLOSER IN BASEBALL
Whether you love or hate the New York Yankees, all baseball fans would agree that they would love to have Mariano Rivera coming out of the bullpen to save the game for their team. But if Rivera pitched in the major leagues in a previous generation there's a good chance that nobody would even know who he was. That's because the role of the closer in baseball didn't exist 50 years ago, it barely came into existence 30 years ago, and only in the past two decades has the role has been truly refined to its current status as one of the most important positions in baseball. FIREMAN: THE EVOLUTION OF THE CLOSER IN BASEBALL by Fran Zimniuch examines the creation of this unique position and how the development of the closer has changed baseball forever. Lee Smith, Goose Gossage, Fergie Jenkins, Dennis Eckersley, and dozens of other players, coaches, managers, and front-office executives all contributed to FIREMAN, providing fans a historic and captivating examination of pitching in Major League Baseball.

FIREMAN: THE EVOLUTION OF THE CLOSER IN BASEBALL
Whether you love or hate the New York Yankees, all baseball fans would agree that they would love to have Mariano Rivera coming out of the bullpen to save the game for their team. But if Rivera pitched in the major leagues in a previous generation there's a good chance that nobody would even know who he was. That's because the role of the closer in baseball didn't exist 50 years ago, it barely came into existence 30 years ago, and only in the past two decades has the role has been truly refined to its current status as one of the most important positions in baseball. FIREMAN: THE EVOLUTION OF THE CLOSER IN BASEBALL by Fran Zimniuch examines the creation of this unique position and how the development of the closer has changed baseball forever. Lee Smith, Goose Gossage, Fergie Jenkins, Dennis Eckersley, and dozens of other players, coaches, managers, and front-office executives all contributed to FIREMAN, providing fans a historic and captivating examination of pitching in Major League Baseball.

LEE SMITH FEATURED IN NATIONAL RADIO TOUR FOR "FIREMAN"
Whether you have rooted for the Chicago Cubs or New York Yankees; Boston Red Sox or Baltimore Orioles; or the St. Louis Cardinals, California Angles, Montreal Expos, or Cincinnati Reds, you have at one time cheered for Lee Smith to close out your team's victory. During his 18-year career, Smith became one of baseball's greatest closers, which is why author Fran Zimniuch enlisted the hurler's contributions in FIREMAN: THE EVOLUTION OF THE CLOSER IN BASEBALL. Just like Smith's career took him to cities across the country, so, too, will his upcoming radio tour. On April 14 fans in more a dozen cities from coast to coast will hear Smith discuss the art of closing out a game on a radio tour of Premiere Radio stations across the nation. The list of participating stations was not finalized at press time, but please check the official page for FIREMAN: EVOLUTION OF THE CLOSER IN BASEBALL to find which station in your market will carry Smith's April 14 interviews.

Fireman: The Evolution of the Closer in Baseball

 

It’s the bottom of the ninth inning with the game on the line. The only thing standing in the way of victory is three outs. The closer is called upon to come into the game and get those three outs, but it wasn’t always that way.

 

Fireman: The Evolution of the Closer in Baseball by Fran Zimniuch (Foreword by Lee Smith) reveals how the pitching roles have been redefined over the years and why specialization is the key word when it comes to the pitching staff in today’s game.

 

There weren’t always closers or set-up men or middle relievers. In fact, there was a time when starting pitchers were expected to complete most of the games they started, but that is no longer the case and Fireman examines exactly why.

 

Using statistics, trend analysis, and interviews with front office personnel, managers, coaches, and pitchers past and present,author Fran Zimniuch discusses the changing nature of the bullpen and how the current, specialized role of the closer came into being.

 

Goose Gossage, Dennis Eckersley, Fergie Jenkins and All-Star closer Lee Smith all share their insights and own experiences as pitchers and why they were instrumental in helping to change the role of relievers during their careers.

 

Fireman provides a true understanding of how relief pitching got to where it is today and how the closers role has been able to reshape America’s Pastime. Baseball fans from every generation will not want to be with out this book. 

About the Author:
Fran Zimniuch is an-award-winning sports journalist, columnist, and author who has written for various newspapers and magazines for more than 25 years. He is the author of seven other books, including Ph-ANTASTIC! The 2008 World Champion Philadelphia Phillies. He lives in southern New Jersey.

 

CONTACT: Natalie King, Triumph Books, 312-252-1252, n.king@triumphbooks.com

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