In MLB, has a closer ever pitched the whole 9 innings of a game?

Question

Has a pitcher, designated, and widely known as the closer for his team(MLB only), ever pitched the whole game?

Answer 1

Any picture can be moved to the role of "closer". Because a "closer" is nothing but a RP (Relief Pitcher). You see it sometimes in the play-offs or the World Series where a picture that normally starts a game will assume the role of a closer for someone. Randy Johnson has assumed the closer role before during the Diamondbacks first run to the World Series. Although they aren't "true" closers but, if you look at the stats it shows he has 2 career saves. Finally a closer coming off injury will sometimes take on the role of starter in AAA until he gets his stuff back. I know that this is more information then an answer to your question, but it is all how you look at it. A RP can start and their are RP's that have pitch a 9 inning game.

Hope that helps more then it confuses.

Answer 2

"Closer" is an artificial term.

There have been relievers that pitched the entire nine innings, but that still won't get them credit for a complete game. I can think of two.

23-June-1917, Washington at Boston (it was a doubleheader, which Boston swept, but I cannot quickly determine which of the two games this is) -- Red Sox starter Babe Ruth (yes, really) walked leadoff batter Ray Morgan on four pitches. Ruth argued and got tossed. Reliever Ernie Shore came into the game, Morgan got thrown out trying to steal second, and Shore got the next 26 batters out -- a virtual perfect game, though not an official one.

The other I'm thinking of happened in the late 1980s or very early 90s, and I'm pretty sure it was a Yankees game, the starter threw one pitch, left the game injured, and the reliever went the distance. I'll see if I can dig it up.

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Ah, here we go -- 31-May-1988, Yankees at Athletics. Al Leiter throws one pitch in the bottom of the first and leaves the game. Neil Allen comes out of the pen and finishes the game, Yankees winning 5-0. Box: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK198805310.shtml

Answer 3

No closer usaully pitch the ninth inning pitchers the pitch all nine innings is a starter sometimes closer come in the eigth inning if theres trouble

Answer 4

John Smoltz was a starter until he got hurt and missed the 2000 season. Then he came back as a closer for three years. Now he's back as a starter. While he never threw a complete game while he was the designated "closer" technically he was a closer with 50 complete games.

Answer 5

LMAO!!! like the dude above me said, A closer closes the game out, if a pitcher starts the game, he's considered to be starting pitcher. It is impossible to have a "closer" pitch nine innings. He wouldnt be considered a closer.

Answer 6

YES, this happened when Babe Ruth was pitching for the Red Sox against Washington, he walked the 1st batter, then argued w/ the umpire, who then tossed the Babe. Ernie Shore then comes in to retire the runner on a caught stealing and proceeds to retire the next 26 men in a row. Date: June 23, 1917
Hey, Skyy, I think you mean pitcher, not picture.

Answer 7

That would be a starter. Closers come in the game late to save the lead & win.

edit:answer is still no.

Answer 8

a closer no...the closest to that is someone who was a started, say brett myers for the phillies...who at one point has pitched a full 9 innnings in a game...and is now a closer

Answer 9

MANY closers are former starter so i guess it has happened many of times

Answer 10

No, that would be called a Starter...or a long reliever.