Has anyone who started his career as a GREAT RELIEF pitcher ever become an ACE?

[MadCapper]

If so...who?

[Willie Bee]

That's a good question, and I'm first going to assume you mean just from the late 60s or so when 'great' and 'relief pitcher' really started to be put together. There have certainly been many who have gone the other way, from the rotation to the pen. And one that comes immediately to mind that was a staff ace, then became a great reliever, and is now back to staff ace (John Smoltz).

Not sure he qualifies as an ace along the way, but Derek Lowe went from being a very good reliever to a #2-#3 starter.

[clonecat]

I'm pretty sure Pedro started as a reliever with the Dodgers

[bigboydan]

Believe it or not Adam Wainwright was considered the Cardinals ace last year.

[mrburns443]

Nolan Ryan. He wasn't a great relief pitcher but he helped the Mets win in 69 and we all know how good of a starter he was.

[WestsidePete]

I'm pretty sure Pedro started as a reliever with the Dodgers

Yes..Pedro did, and one of the reasons they traded him away was they were worried about his durability...first 67 games in majors only 3 starts

[Willie Bee]

Nolan Ryan. He wasn't a great relief pitcher but he helped the Mets win in 69 and we all know how good of a starter he was.

Yeah, there were several good pitchers pre-1969 that started in the bullpen and eventually made their name as solid starters. But you really never put 'great' and 'reliever together. The first time I really thought of some guys being strong relievers were probably Roy Face and Hal Woodeschick.

How about someone who did both at the same time? Check out Three Finger Brown's stats in 1911: Made 26 starts, completed 21 of them, went 21-11 and led the NL with 13 saves (though he never knew that last part).

[nep1293]

I'm pretty sure Schilling started out in relief

[2Pac]

Eric Gagne started out as a starter - and was awful. In fact, in a start against the Reds, in Deion Sanders' return to baseball, he gave up 3 hits to Sanders, including a HR.

The rest is history.

[MadCapper]

I didnt say "started" out as a relief pitcher.

I said started out as a "great" relief pitcher.