It can be from any era.
2006-12-06 11:31:09 · 35 answers · asked by robb 2 in Sports ➔ Baseball
Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees. The amazing thing is, he didn't even aspire to be a pitcher when he was young. He started out as a shortstop, and a scout noticed his arm, and over time, with instruction, he converted to pitching. He was a starter in the minor leagues and in the early years of his Yankee career, as the Yankees already had a dominant, successful closer in John Wetteland. After a couple years, Rivera became the team's full time closer, and has saved over 400 games, and is not finished yet. He, along with Eric Gagne, are the only pitchers to record 50 saves in 2 seasons, and has won the American League Rolaids Relief Man Award multiple times. He has been in the running for the Cy Young Award several times, but has never won it, because of the difficulty in edging a dominant starter (such as Johan Santana or Bartolo Colon). He has the most saves in postseason history and is on his way to becoming the all-time saves leader in baseball history.
2006-12-06 13:46:22 · answer #1 · answered by dude_in_disguise2004 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Rich "Goose" Gossage was a dominate closer in the mid-1970's to the mid-1980's. He was the true "fireman" as closers were called then. They came in with runners on base, often as early as the 7th inning and finished the game. In was not at all uncommon for the firemen to pitch over 100 innings per season several seasons in a row.
There were other great closers from that time: Rollie Fingers, Bruce Sutter, Sparky Lyle, Mike Marshall, and John Hiiler. But Gossage was the most dominate over the length of his career.
2006-12-06 12:15:09 · answer #2 · answered by jpbofohio 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Well of all time it's got to be Rivera. Just what he has done in the playoffs alone.
But in the seventies and eighties the roll was different. Those guys sometimes pitched two or three innings per outing. Guys like Goose Gossage, Bruce Sutter, and Lee Smith top that list.
2006-12-06 13:09:11 · answer #3 · answered by Crazy Cat 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
People, the question says "in MLB HISTORY." You can't put a Gagne or Ryan in this catergory due to one or two years. In the history of baseball I have to go with Lee Smith.
2006-12-06 15:06:20 · answer #4 · answered by cubsjunkie 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Sandman- Mariano
2006-12-06 11:36:47 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Mariano Rivera. The most dominant closer ever! He is lights out and has been most of his career and in the playoffs hes on a whole new level.
2006-12-06 11:53:16 · answer #6 · answered by Jack NYY #1 3 · 5⤊ 1⤋
I would say Trevor Hoffman cause he did set the all-time saves record and Lee Smith is now in second place.Trevor Hoffman has a few more than 479 saves.
2006-12-06 15:18:31 · answer #7 · answered by yupyupyup 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
MO!!!!!!Hands down Mariano Rivera is the best closer ever in any era. Just look at his playoff stats.
2006-12-06 11:31:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
If he did not get happy with nose candy, aka cocaine, Steve Howe would be one of the best. But I'd go with Rich Gossage. The Goose can throw 90 mph for three inning plus, and still get saves.
2006-12-06 17:33:14 · answer #9 · answered by Craig G 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Lee Smith or Bruce Sutter
2006-12-06 11:33:14 · answer #10 · answered by Gudelos 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋