The Top Ten List: Relief Pitchers

By Will-he-M


My criteria for selecting the best relief pitchers included that he:

- must be dominant; not just consistent; and have the numbers to support that claim
- not necessarily possess the longevity demanded at other positions

Since Closers are a relatively new position, having only been around for 50 years in a game that's been around for 160, it's fairly simple to select the Top Ten of all time. It makes it easy to look deeper than just the Top Ten Saves leaders. ;-)

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10. John Wetteland (Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal Expos, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers 1989-2000)
618 GP, 48-45, 2.93 ERA, 330 SVS, 393 SVOPP, 84% SV5, 765.0 IP, 252 BB, 804 K

TSN American League Reliever of the Year (1996)
American League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year (1996)
World Series MVP (1996)
World Series Champion (1996)
3x All-Star (1996, 1998, 1999)

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9. Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez (Anaheim Angels, Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets 2002-present)
456 GP, 25-19, 2.35 ERA, 232 SVS, 269 SVOPP, 86% SV5, 500.2 IP, 225 BB, 637 K

Holds MLB record for Saves in a season with 62 (2008)
2x TSN American League Reliever of the Year (2006, 2008)
2x American League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year (2006, 2008)
World Series Champion (2002)
4x All-Star (2004, 2007-2009)
2x DHL Delivery Man of the Month (August 2006, June 2008)

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8. Lee Smith (Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, California Angels, Cincinnati Reds, Montreal Expos 1980-1997)
1022 GP, 71-92, 3.03 ERA, 478 SVS, 581 SVOPP, 82% SV%, 1289.1 IP, 486 BB, 1251 K

3x TSN National League Reliever of the Year (1983, 1991, 1992)
TSN American League Reliever of the Year (1994)
2x National League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year (1991, 1992)
American League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year (1994)
7x All-Star (1983, 1987, 1991-1995)

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7. Rod "Shooter" Beck (San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres 1991-2004)
704 GP, 38-45, 3.30 ERA, 286 SVS, 341 SVOPP, 84% SV%, 768.0 IP, 191 BB, 644 K

National League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year (1994)
3x All-Star (1993, 1994, 1997)

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6. Tom "The Terminator" Henke (Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals 1982-1995)

647 GP, 41-42, 2.67 ERA, 311 SVS, 366 SVOPP, 85% SV%, 789.2 IP, 255 BB, 861 K

National League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year (1995)
World Series Champion (1992)
2x All-Star (1987, 1995)

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5. William "Billy The Kid" Wagner (Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets 1995-present)
765 GP, 39-37, 2.40 ERA, 385 SVS, 447 SVOPP, 86% SV%, 818.0 IP, 270 BB, 1066 K

National League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year (1999)
6x All-Star (1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008)
DHL Delivery Man of the Month (June 2007)

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4. Robert "Robb" Nen (Texas Rangers, Florida Marlins, San Francisco Giants 1993-2002)
643 GP, 45-42, 2.98 ERA, 314 SVS, 368 SVOPP, 85% SV%, 715.0 IP, 260 BB, 793 K

TSN National League Reliever of the Year (2001)
World Series Champion (1997)
3x All-Star (1998, 1999, 2002)

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3. Dennis "Eck" Eckersley (Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals 1975-1998)
1071 GP, 197-171, 3.50 ERA, 390 SVS, 461 SVOPP, 85% SV%, 3285.2 IP, 738 BB, 2401 K

American League MVP (1992)
American League Cy Young Award winner (1992)
TSN American League Pitcher of the Year (1992)
3x TSN American League Reliever of the Year (1988, 1991, 1992)
2x American League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year (1988, 1992)
ALCS MVP (1988)
World Series Champion (1989)
6x All-Star (1977, 1982, 1988, 1990-1992)
Hall of Fame (2004)

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2. Trevor Hoffman (Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers 1993-present)
963 GP, 57-67, 2.75 ERA, 578 Saves*, 648 SVOPP, 89% SV%, 1020.0 IP, 284 K, 1080 K

Holds MLB record for career Saves (578)
3x TSN National League Reliever of the Year (1996, 1998, 2006)
2x National League Rolaids Relif Man of the Year (1998, 2006)
7x All-Star (1998-2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2009)
4x DHL Delivery Man of the Month (May 2005, September 2006, May 2007, May 2009)

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1. Mariano "The Sandman" Rivera (New York Yankees 1995-present)
895 GP, 69-51, 2.27 ERA, 512 SVS, 574 SVOPP, 89% SV%, 1068.1 IP, 250 BB, 984 K

5x TSN American League Reliever of the Year (1997, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005)
4x American League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award winner (1999, 2001, 2004, 2005)
World Series MVP (1999)
Babe Ruth Award (1999)
ALCS MVP (2003)
4x World Series Champion (1996, 1998-2000)
10x All-Star (1997, 1999-2002, 2004-2006, 2008, 2009)
2x DHL Delivery Man of the Month (April 2008, July 2009)

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That was the twelfth list in the series. To see the other installments, click here:

Catchers
First Basemen
Second Basemen
Third Basemen
Shortstops
Left Fielders
Center Fielders
Right Fielders
Designated Hitters
Utility Men
Pinch Hitters

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