Since the 1947 World Series established the advantage of having good relief pitchers, they have been a necessary part of a ball club's roster; here Mr. Shapiro takes a look at the careers of some of the famous firemen (they put out the opponents' blaze) and makes some predictions of future stars. Dialogue quoted from players, coaches and managers, and detailed descriptions of crucial innings add to the interest of this account where the legendary names play the supporting roles and the author insists that relief pitchers aren't only second best.