Wikipedia list article
The following is a list of annual leaders in saves in Major League Baseball (MLB), with separate lists for the American League and the National League . The list includes several professional leagues and associations that were never part of MLB.
Bruce Sutter is tied for Major League records in both total times leading the league in saves (5) and consecutive league-leading seasons (4)
In baseball , a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under prescribed circumstances. Most commonly a relief pitcher ("reliever") earns a save by entering in the ninth inning of a game in which his team is winning by three or fewer runs and finishing the game by pitching one inning without losing the lead.[1] The statistic was created by Jerome Holtzman in 1959 to "measure the effectiveness of relief pitchers" and was adopted as an MLB official statistic in 1969.[2] [3] The save has been retroactively measured for pitchers before that date.
MLB recognizes the player or players in each league[a] with the most saves each season. In retrospect, the five saves by Jack Manning meant he led the National League in its inaugural year, while Bill Hoffer was the American League 's first saves champion with three.[4] Mordecai Brown was the first pitcher to record at least 10 saves in a season. Dan Quisenberry , Bruce Sutter , Firpo Marberry , and Ed Walsh are the only pitchers to lead the league in saves five times (though Marberry and Walsh did so before 1969). Sutter is also tied with Harry Wright , Dan Quisenberry and Craig Kimbrel for the most consecutive seasons leading the league in saves with four.
American League [ ]
National League [ ]
Year
Player
Team(s)
Saves
1876
Jack Manning
Boston Red Caps
5
1877
Cal McVey
Chicago White Stockings
2
1878
Tom Healey
Providence Grays Indianapolis Blues
1
1879
Bobby Mathews John Montgomery Ward
Providence Grays
1
1880
Lee Richmond
Worcester Ruby Legs
3
1881
Bobby Mathews
Providence Grays Boston Red Caps
2
1882
John Montgomery Ward
Providence Grays
1
1883
Jim Whitney Stump Wiedman
Boston Beaneaters Detroit Wolverines
2
1884
John Morrill
Boston Beaneaters
2
1885
Fred Pfeffer Ned Williamson
Chicago White Stockings
2
1886
Charlie Ferguson
Philadelphia Quakers
2
1887
Mark Baldwin Frederick Fass Charlie Ferguson Bob Pettit Bill Stemmyer Mike Tiernan Larry Twitchell George Van Haltren
Chicago White Stockings Indianapolis Hoosiers Philadelphia Quakers Chicago White Stockings Boston Beaneaters New York Giants Detroit Wolverines Chicago White Stockings
1
1888
George Wood
Philadelphia Quakers
2
1889
Bill Bishop Bill Sowders Mickey Welch
Chicago White Stockings Boston /Pittsburgh New York Giants
2
1890
Dave Foutz Kid Gleason Bill Hutchinson
Brooklyn Bridegrooms Philadelphia Phillies Chicago Colts
2
1891
John Clarkson Kid Nichols
Boston Beaneaters
3
1892
Gus Weyhing
Philadelphia Phillies
3
1893
Mark Baldwin Tom Colcolough Frank Donnelly Frank Dwyer Tony Mullane
Pittsburgh /New York Pittsburgh Pirates Chicago Colts Cincinnati Reds Cincinnati /Baltimore
2
1894
Tony Mullane
Baltimore Orioles Cleveland Spiders
4
1895
Ernie Beam Kid Nichols Tom Parrott
Philadelphia Phillies Boston Beaneaters Cincinnati Reds
3
1896
Cy Young
Cleveland Spiders
3
1897
Win Mercer Kid Nichols
Washington Senators Boston Beaneaters
3
1898
Kid Nichols
Boston Beaneaters
4
1899
Sam Leever
Pittsburgh Pirates
3
1900
Frank Kitson
Brooklyn Superbas
4
1901
Wild Bill Donovan Jack Powell
Brooklyn Superbas St. Louis Cardinals
3
1902
Vic Willis
Boston Beaneaters
3
1903
Carl Lundgren Roscoe Miller
Chicago Cubs New York Giants
3
1904
Joe McGinnity
New York Giants
5
1905
Claude Elliott
New York Giants
6
1906
George Ferguson
New York Giants
7
1907
Joe McGinnity
New York Giants
4
1908
Mordecai Brown Christy Mathewson Joe McGinnity
Chicago Cubs New York Giants New York Giants
5
1909
Mordecai Brown
Chicago Cubs
7
1910
Mordecai Brown Harry Gaspar
Chicago Cubs Cincinnati Reds
7
1911
Mordecai Brown
Chicago Cubs
13
1912
Slim Sallee
St. Louis Cardinals
6
1913
Larry Cheney
Chicago Cubs
11
1914
Red Ames Slim Sallee
Cincinnati Reds St. Louis Cardinals
6
1915
Tom Hughes
Boston Braves
9
1916
Red Ames
St. Louis Cardinals
8
1917
Slim Sallee
New York Giants
4
1918
Fred Anderson Wilbur Cooper Joe Oeschger Fred Toney
New York Giants Pittsburgh Pirates Philadelphia Phillies Cincinnati /New York
3
1919
Oscar Tuero
St. Louis Cardinals
4
1920
Bill Sherdel
St. Louis Cardinals
6
1921
Lou North
St. Louis Cardinals
7
1922
Claude Jonnard
New York Giants
5
1923
Claude Jonnard
New York Giants
5
1924
Jakie May
Cincinnati Reds
6
1925
Guy Bush Johnny Morrison
Chicago Cubs Pittsburgh Pirates
4
1926
Chick Davies
New York Giants
6
1927
Bill Sherdel
St. Louis Cardinals
6
1928
Hal Haid Bill Sherdel
St. Louis Cardinals
5
1929
Guy Bush Johnny Morrison
Chicago Cubs Brooklyn Robins
8
1930
Hi Bell
St. Louis Cardinals
8
1931
Jack Quinn
Brooklyn Robins
15
1932
Jack Quinn
Brooklyn Dodgers
8
1933
Phil Collins
Philadelphia Phillies
6
1934
Carl Hubbell
New York Giants
8
1935
Dutch Leonard
Brooklyn Dodgers
8
1936
Dizzy Dean
St. Louis Cardinals
11
1937
Mace Brown Cliff Melton
Pittsburgh Pirates New York Giants
7
1938
Dick Coffman
New York Giants
12
1939
Bob Bowman Clyde Shoun
St. Louis Cardinals
9
1940
Joe Beggs Jumbo Brown Mace Brown
Cincinnati Reds New York Giants Pittsburgh Pirates
7
1941
Jumbo Brown
New York Giants
8
1942
Hugh Casey
Brooklyn Dodgers
13
1943
Les Webber
Brooklyn Dodgers
10
1944
Ace Adams
New York Giants
13
1945
Ace Adams Andy Karl
New York Giants Philadelphia Phillies
15
1946
Ken Raffensberger
Philadelphia Phillies
6
1947
Hugh Casey
Brooklyn Dodgers
18
1948
Harry Gumbert
Cincinnati Reds
17
1949
Ted Wilks
St. Louis Cardinals
9
1950
Jim Konstanty
Philadelphia Phillies
22
1951
Ted Wilks
St. Louis Cardinals
13
1952
Al Brazle
St. Louis Cardinals
16
1953
Al Brazle
St. Louis Cardinals
18
1954
Jim Hughes
Brooklyn Dodgers
24
1955
Jack Meyer
Philadelphia Phillies
16
1956
Clem Labine
Brooklyn Dodgers
19
1957
Clem Labine
Brooklyn Dodgers
17
1958
Roy Face
Pittsburgh Pirates
20
1959
Lindy McDaniel Don McMahon
St. Louis Cardinals Milwaukee Braves
15
1960
Lindy McDaniel
St. Louis Cardinals
26
1961
Roy Face Stu Miller
Pittsburgh Pirates San Francisco Giants
17
1962
Roy Face
Pittsburgh Pirates
28
1963
Lindy McDaniel
Chicago Cubs
22
1964
Hal Woodeshick
Houston Colt .45's
23
1965
Ted Abernathy
Chicago Cubs
31
1966
Phil Regan
Los Angeles Dodgers
21
1967
Ted Abernathy
Cincinnati Reds
28
1968
Phil Regan
Los Angeles Dodgers Chicago Cubs
25
1969
Fred Gladding
Houston Astros
29
1970
Wayne Granger
Cincinnati Reds
35
1971
Dave Giusti
Pittsburgh Pirates
30
1972
Clay Carroll
Cincinnati Reds
37
1973
Mike Marshall
Montreal Expos
31
1974
Mike Marshall
Los Angeles Dodgers
21
1975
Rawly Eastwick Al Hrabosky
Cincinnati Reds St. Louis Cardinals
22
1976
Rawly Eastwick
Cincinnati Reds
26
1977
Rollie Fingers
San Diego Padres
35
1978
Rollie Fingers
San Diego Padres
37
1979
Bruce Sutter
Chicago Cubs
37
1980
Bruce Sutter
Chicago Cubs
28
1981
Bruce Sutter
St. Louis Cardinals
25
1982
Bruce Sutter
St. Louis Cardinals
36
1983
Lee Smith
Chicago Cubs
29
1984
Bruce Sutter
St. Louis Cardinals
45
1985
Jeff Reardon
Montreal Expos
41
1986
Todd Worrell
St. Louis Cardinals
36
1987
Steve Bedrosian
Philadelphia Phillies
40
1988
John Franco
Cincinnati Reds
39
1989
Mark Davis
San Diego Padres
44
1990
John Franco
New York Mets
33
1991
Lee Smith
St. Louis Cardinals
47
1992
Lee Smith
St. Louis Cardinals
43
1993
Randy Myers
Chicago Cubs
53
1994
John Franco
New York Mets
30
1995
Randy Myers
Chicago Cubs
38
1996
Jeff Brantley Todd Worrell
Cincinnati Reds Los Angeles Dodgers
44
1997
Jeff Shaw
Cincinnati Reds
42
1998
Trevor Hoffman
San Diego Padres
53
1999
Ugueth Urbina
Montreal Expos
41
2000
Antonio Alfonseca
Florida Marlins
45
2001
Robb Nen
San Francisco Giants
45
2002
John Smoltz
Atlanta Braves
55
2003
Éric Gagné
Los Angeles Dodgers
55
2004
Armando Benítez Jason Isringhausen
Florida Marlins St. Louis Cardinals
47
2005
Chad Cordero
Washington Nationals
47
2006
Trevor Hoffman
San Diego Padres
46
2007
José Valverde
Arizona Diamondbacks
47
2008
José Valverde
Houston Astros
44
2009
Heath Bell
San Diego Padres
42
2010
Brian Wilson
San Francisco Giants
48
2011
John Axford Craig Kimbrel
Milwaukee Brewers Atlanta Braves
46
2012
Craig Kimbrel Jason Motte
Atlanta Braves St. Louis Cardinals
42
2013
Craig Kimbrel
Atlanta Braves
50
2014
Craig Kimbrel
Atlanta Braves
47
2015
Mark Melancon
Pittsburgh Pirates
51
2016
Jeurys Familia
New York Mets
51
2017
Greg Holland Kenley Jansen
Colorado Rockies Los Angeles Dodgers
41
2018
Wade Davis
Colorado Rockies
43
2019
Kirby Yates
San Diego Padres
41
2020
Josh Hader
Milwaukee Brewers
13
2021
Mark Melancon
San Diego Padres
39
American Association [ ]
National Association [ ]
Union Association [ ]
Year
Player
Team(s)
Saves
1884
Billy Taylor
St. Louis Maroons
4
Player's League [ ]
Federal League [ ]
[ ]
References [ ]
Baseball portal
General
Inline citations
^ Horneman, Tim (March 23, 2010). "Baseball Save Rules" . livestrong.com . Retrieved August 31, 2011 .
^ Weber, Bruce (July 22, 2008). "Jerome Holtzman, 82, 'Dean' of Sportswriters, Dies" . The New York Times . Retrieved March 13, 2013 .
^ Bloom, Barry (July 21, 2008). "Legendary historian Holtzman passes" . MLB.com . Major League Baseball . Archived from the original on 29 April 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2013 .
^ "Yearly League Leaders & Records for Saves" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 13, 2013 .
^ "Complete Baseball Team and Baseball Team Encyclopedias" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 13, 2013 .
American League season saves leaders
1969: Perranoski
1970: Perranoski
1971: Sanders
1972: Lyle
1973: Hiller
1974: Forster
1975: Gossage
1976: Lyle
1977: Campbell
1978: Gossage
1979: Marshall
1980: Gossage & Quisenberry
1981: Fingers
1982: Quisenberry
1983: Quisenberry
1984: Quisenberry
1985: Quisenberry
1986: Righetti
1987: Henke
1988: Eckersley
1989: Russell
1990: Thigpen
1991: Harvey
1992: Eckersley
1993: Montgomery & Ward
1994: Smith
1995: Mesa
1996: Wetteland
1997: Myers
1998: Gordon
1999: Rivera
2000: Jones & Lowe
2001: Rivera
2002: Guardado
2003: Foulke
2004: Rivera
2005: Rodríguez & Wickman
2006: Rodríguez
2007: Borowski
2008: Rodríguez
2009: Fuentes
2010: Soriano
2011: Valverde
2012: Johnson
2013: Johnson
2014: Rodney
2015: Boxberger
2016: Britton
2017: Colomé
2018: Díaz
2019: Osuna
2020: Hand
2021: Hendriks
National League season saves leaders
1969: Gladding
1970: Granger
1971: Giusti
1972: Carroll
1973: Marshall
1974: Marshall
1975: Eastwick & Hrabosky
1976: Eastwick
1977: Fingers
1978: Fingers
1979: Sutter
1980: Sutter
1981: Sutter
1982: Sutter
1983: Smith
1984: Sutter
1985: Reardon
1986: Worrell
1987: Bedrosian
1988: Franco
1989: M. Davis
1990: Franco
1991: Smith
1992: Smith
1993: Myers
1994: Franco
1995: Myers
1996: Brantley & Worrell
1997: Shaw
1998: Hoffman
1999: Urbina
2000: Alfonseca
2001: Nen
2002: Smoltz
2003: Gagné
2004: Benítez & Isringhausen
2005: Cordero
2006: Hoffman
2007: Valverde
2008: Valverde
2009: Bell
2010: Wilson
2011: Axford & Kimbrel
2012: Kimbrel & Motte
2013: Kimbrel
2014: Kimbrel
2015: Melancon
2016: Familia
2017: Holland & Jansen
2018: W. Davis
2019: Yates
2020: Hader
2021: Melancon
Major League Baseball records
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