Top Ten Best Closers in Baseball History
The Top Ten
1 Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera is a Panamanian-American former professional baseball pitcher who played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees, from 1995 to 2013. Nicknamed "Mo" and "Sandman", he spent most of his career as a relief pitcher and served as the Yankees' closer for 17 seasons.
Mariano Rivera is a Panamanian-American former professional baseball pitcher who played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees, from 1995 to 2013. Nicknamed "Mo" and "Sandman", he spent most of his career as a relief pitcher and served as the Yankees' closer for 17 seasons. Obvious, isn't it? He is the all-time saves leader. And, he led the Yanks to 5 World Series wins. He's irreplaceable. Forget D-Rob and Betances, the team will never be the same without the Sandman on the mound.
Rivera has so few IP per season, 78, way fewer than most on this list. But he's a closer, and that's the way it's done in this era.
2 Dennis Eckersley
Closers are just failed starters. Valuable to a successful team, but no man ever intended to be a closer in the Big Leagues.
3 Bruce Sutter
4 Trevor Hoffman
5 Goose Gossage
6 Rollie Fingers
7 Francisco Rodriguez
8 Lee Smith
9 Hoyt Wilhelm
10 Sparky Lyle
The Contenders
11 Troy Percival
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