Awards

Rolaids Relief Man Award Winners

By Patrick Mondout

This was the first major baseball award that was given out strictly to the player with the best stats (unlike The Sporting News' Fireman of the Year, which is subjectively voted on). Reliever's are awarded 2 points for a win, 3 points for a save and 2 points are deducted for a loss. The rules were modified before the 1987 season to allow the deduction of 2 points for a blown save and again in 2000 to award 4 points for a so-called "tough save" (defined as getting a save after entering a game with the tying run already on base). The relievers with the most points at the end of the season win the award.

Dan Quisenberry won a record five times from 1980-1985. Rollie Fingers, Bruce Sutter, and Mariano Rivera won four times each.

The long-running sponsorship with Rolaids came to an end after the 2003 season. Although the award was no longer sponsored by Rolaids, it was still awarded using the same formula and the winners are listed in the table below as if it was the same award.

References