300 save club
In Major League Baseball (MLB), the 300 save club is the group of pitchers who have recorded 300 or more regular-season saves in their careers.[1][2][3][4] Most commonly a relief pitcher ("reliever" or "closer") earns a save by being the final pitcher of a game in which his team is winning by three or fewer runs and pitching at least one inning without losing the lead. The final pitcher of a game can earn a save by getting at least one batter out to end the game with the winning run on base, at bat, or on deck, or by pitching the last three innings without relinquishing the lead, regardless of score.[5] The statistic was created by Jerome Holtzman in 1959 to "measure the effectiveness of relief pitchers" and was adopted as an official statistic by MLB in 1969.[6][7] The save has been retroactively measured for past pitchers where applicable. Hoyt Wilhelm retired in 1972 and recorded just 31 saves from 1969 onwards, for example, but holds 228 total career saves.[8]
Mariano Rivera holds the MLB save record with 652. Only Rivera and Trevor Hoffman have exceeded 500 or 600 saves, and Hoffman was the first to achieve either. Rivera, Hoffman, Lee Smith, Francisco Rodríguez, John Franco, and Billy Wagner are the only pitchers to have recorded 400 or more saves. Rollie Fingers was the first player to record 300 saves, reaching the mark on August 21, 1982. Kenley Jansen is the most recent, achieving his 300th on September 25, 2019. In total, 30 players have recorded 300 or more saves in their career. Only eight relievers – Dennis Eckersley, Fingers, Goose Gossage, Hoffman, Rivera, Smith, Bruce Sutter, and Wilhelm – have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame;[9] all but Wilhelm also have at least 300 saves.[10] Craig Kimbrel, Fernando Rodney, and Jansen are the only active players with more than 300 saves, and Kimbrel is the active leader with 346.[11]
Key
Player | Name of the player |
SV | Total career saves |
Date | Date of the pitcher's 300th save |
Team | The pitcher's team for his 300th save |
† | Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame |
---|---|
‡ | Player is active[note 1] |
List
- Stats updated as August 5, 2020
Player | SV | Date | Team | Years active | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mariano Rivera† | 652 | May 28, 2004 | New York Yankees | 1995–2013 | [12][13] |
Trevor Hoffman† | 601 | August 15, 2001 | San Diego Padres | 1993–2010 | [14] |
Lee Smith† | 478 | August 25, 1991 | St. Louis Cardinals | 1980–1997 | [15][16] |
Francisco Rodríguez | 437 | June 22, 2013 | Milwaukee Brewers | 2002–2017 | [17][18] |
John Franco | 424 | April 29, 1996 | New York Mets | 1984–2005 | [19] |
Billy Wagner | 422 | July 4, 2006 | New York Mets | 1995–2010 | [20] |
Dennis Eckersley† | 390 | May 24, 1995 | Oakland Athletics | 1975–1998 | [21] |
Joe Nathan | 377 | April 8, 2013 | Texas Rangers | 1999–2000, 2002–2009, 2011–2016 | [22][23] |
Jonathan Papelbon | 368 | June 10, 2014 | Philadelphia Phillies | 2005–2016 | [24] |
Jeff Reardon | 367 | May 20, 1991 | Boston Red Sox | 1979–1994 | [25][26] |
Troy Percival | 358 | July 28, 2004 | Anaheim Angels | 1995–2005, 2007–2009 | [27][28] |
Randy Myers | 347 | July 1, 1997 | Baltimore Orioles | 1985–1998 | [29][30] |
Craig Kimbrel‡ | 346 | May 5, 2018 | Boston Red Sox | 2010–present | [31] |
Rollie Fingers† | 341 | August 21, 1982 | Milwaukee Brewers | 1968–1985 | [32] |
John Wetteland | 330 | May 12, 2000 | Texas Rangers | 1989–2000 | [33] |
Francisco Cordero | 329 | June 1, 2011 | Cincinnati Reds | 1999–2012 | [2][34] |
Fernando Rodney‡ | 327 | September 22, 2017 | Arizona Diamondbacks | 2002–2003, 2005–present | [35] |
Roberto Hernández | 326 | May 25, 2002 | Kansas City Royals | 1991–2007 | [36][37] |
Huston Street | 324 | July 22, 2015 | Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | 2005–2017 | [38] |
José Mesa | 321 | April 27, 2005 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1987, 1990–2007 | [39][40] |
Todd Jones | 319 | September 16, 2007 | Detroit Tigers | 1993–2008 | [41][42] |
Rick Aguilera | 318 | June 2, 2000 | Chicago Cubs | 1985–2000 | [43][44] |
Robb Nen | 314 | August 6, 2002 | San Francisco Giants | 1993–2002 | [3][45] |
Tom Henke | 311 | August 18, 1995 | St. Louis Cardinals | 1982–1995 | [46] |
Goose Gossage† | 310 | August 6, 1988 | Chicago Cubs | 1972–1989, 1991–1994 | [47] |
Kenley Jansen‡ | 305 | September 25, 2019 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 2010–present | [48] |
Jeff Montgomery | 304 | August 25, 1999 | Kansas City Royals | 1987–1999 | [49] |
Doug Jones | 303 | September 11, 1999 | Oakland Athletics | 1982–2000 | [50] |
Jason Isringhausen | 300 | August 15, 2011 | New York Mets | 1995–2012 | [51] |
Bruce Sutter† | 300 | September 9, 1988 | Atlanta Braves | 1976–1986, 1988 | [52] |
See also
- List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career games finished leaders
Notes
- ^ A player is considered inactive if he has announced his retirement or not played for a full season.
References
- General
- "All-Time Total Pitching Statistics". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
- "Career Leaders & Records for Saves". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
- Specific
- ^ Waldstein, David (June 8, 2011). "For Mets, Collegiality Is Part of Closing". The New York Times. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
- ^ a b Torres, Adry (June 6, 2011). "Bartolo Colon Goes Old School, Carlos Zambrano Sounds Off, and Francisco Cordero Joins 300 Club – Fox News Latino". Latino.foxnews.com. Archived from the original on 2016-12-21. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ^ a b Harding, Thomas (October 11, 2002). "Giants lean on Nen to slam door | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ^ Holtzman, Jerome (December 15, 1991). "It's Historic: 300-save Club Gets Together". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
- ^ Office of the Commissioner of Baseball (2017). Official Baseball Rules (PDF) (2017 ed.). United States of America: MLB Advanced Media. p. 135. ISBN 978-0-9961140-4-2.
- ^ Weber, Bruce (July 22, 2008). "Jerome Holtzman, 82, 'Dean' of Sportswriters, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
- ^ Bloom, Barry (July 21, 2008). "Legendary historian Holtzman passes". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on 29 April 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
- ^ "Hoyt Wilhelm Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
- ^ "Goose Gossage joins exclusive club of relievers in baseball's Hall of Fame". New York Daily News. Associated Press. July 27, 2008. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
- ^ "Rules for Election". National Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
- ^ "Active Leaders & Records for Saves". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-10-29.
- ^ Gagliano, Anthony (May 29, 2004). "Rivera earns 300th career save". MLB. Archived from the original on October 24, 2007. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
- ^ "Mariano Rivera Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ "Trevor Hoffman Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ "Lee Smith Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ https://baseballhall.org/news/smith-baines-elected-to-hall-of-fame-by-todays-game-era-committee
- ^ "Francisco Rodríguez Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
- ^ "Francisco Rodriguez closes out Brewers' win for 300th save". ESPN.com. Associated Press. 2013-06-22. Retrieved 2013-06-22.
- ^ "John Franco Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ "Billy Wagner Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ "Dennis Eckersley Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ "Joe Nathan Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
- ^ Lacques, Gabe (April 9, 2013). "Ump's blown call enables Joe Nathan to notch 300th save". USA Today Sports. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
- ^ "Jonathan Papelbon Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
- ^ "Jeff Reardon Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ Montella, Paul (May 19, 2011). "This Date in Baseball – MLB – ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
- ^ "Troy Percival Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ "Percival gets 300th save against Texas | Amarillo.com | Amarillo Globe-News". Amarillo.com. The Associated Press. July 29, 2004. Archived from the original on September 19, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ^ "Randy Myers Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ Schmuck, Peter (July 2, 1997). "Myers, O's hit mark, 4–1 Closer gets 300th save – Baltimore Sun". Articles.baltimoresun.com. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ^ "Craig Kimbrel Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
- ^ "Rollie Fingers Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ "John Wetteland Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ "Francisco Cordero Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
- ^ "Fernando Rodney Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
- ^ "Roberto Hernandez Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ "Hernandez picks up 300th save in Royals' win". Highbeam Research. Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service. May 25, 2002. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
- ^ "Huston Street Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
- ^ "José Mesa Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ "José Mesa named winner of the "DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Deliveryman of the Month Award" for April" (Press release). Major League Baseball. May 4, 2005. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
- ^ "Todd Jones Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ "AL Notes: Tigers' Jones notches 300th save | Baseball | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle". Chron.com. September 18, 2007. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ^ "Rick Aguilera Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ "On This Date – Chicago Tribune". Articles.chicagotribune.com. June 2, 2006. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ^ "Robb Nen Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ "Tom Henke Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ "Goose Gossage Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ "Kenley Jansen Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
- ^ "Jeff Montgomery Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ "Doug Jones Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ "Jason Isringhausen Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
- ^ "Bruce Sutter Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 18, 2011.