List of Major League Baseball career saves leaders
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/0G1G4040_Mariano_Rivera.jpg/220px-0G1G4040_Mariano_Rivera.jpg)
Mariano Rivera, the all-time leader in saves.
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a save (denoted by SV) who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. Most commonly a pitcher 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]
Mariano Rivera[2][3][4] is the all-time leader in saves with 652. Rivera and Trevor Hoffman[5] are the only pitchers in MLB history to save more than 600 career games. Lee Smith,[6] Francisco Rodríguez,[7] John Franco,[8] and Billy Wagner[9] are the only other pitchers to save more than 400 games in their careers.
Key[]
Rank | Rank amongst leaders in career saves. A blank field indicates a tie. |
Player (2021 SV) | Number of saves during the 2021 Major League Baseball season |
SV | Total career saves |
* | Denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame. |
---|---|
Bold | Denotes active player.[note 1] |
List[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Craig_Kimbrel_on_May_31%2C_2016.jpg/220px-Craig_Kimbrel_on_May_31%2C_2016.jpg)
Craig Kimbrel, the active leader in saves and 9th all-time.
- Stats updated as of the end of the 2021 season.
Rank | Player (2021 SV) | SV |
---|---|---|
1 | Mariano Rivera * | 652 |
2 | Trevor Hoffman * | 601 |
3 | Lee Smith * | 478 |
4 | Francisco Rodríguez | 437 |
5 | John Franco | 424 |
6 | Billy Wagner | 422 |
7 | Dennis Eckersley * | 390 |
8 | Joe Nathan | 377 |
9 | Craig Kimbrel (24) | 372 |
10 | Jonathan Papelbon | 368 |
11 | Jeff Reardon | 367 |
12 | Troy Percival | 358 |
13 | Kenley Jansen (38) | 350 |
14 | Randy Myers | 347 |
15 | Rollie Fingers * | 341 |
16 | John Wetteland | 330 |
17 | Francisco Cordero | 329 |
18 | Fernando Rodney | 327 |
19 | Roberto Hernández | 326 |
20 | Huston Street | 324 |
21 | José Mesa | 321 |
22 | Todd Jones | 319 |
23 | Rick Aguilera | 318 |
24 | Robb Nen | 314 |
25 | Tom Henke | 311 |
26 | Goose Gossage * | 310 |
27 | Aroldis Chapman (30) | 306 |
28 | Jeff Montgomery | 304 |
29 | Doug Jones | 303 |
30 | Jason Isringhausen | 300 |
Bruce Sutter * | 300 | |
32 | Armando Benítez | 289 |
33 | José Valverde | 288 |
34 | Rod Beck | 286 |
35 | Bob Wickman | 267 |
36 | Todd Worrell | 256 |
37 | Dave Righetti | 252 |
38 | Mark Melancon (39) | 244 |
Dan Quisenberry | 244 | |
40 | Sparky Lyle | 238 |
41 | Ugueth Urbina | 237 |
42 | Joakim Soria (6) | 229 |
43 | Hoyt Wilhelm * | 228 |
44 | Brad Lidge | 225 |
45 | Greg Holland (8) | 220 |
46 | Gene Garber | 218 |
47 | Gregg Olson | 217 |
48 | Dave Smith | 216 |
49 | Rafael Soriano | 207 |
50 | Brian Fuentes | 204 |
Rank | Player (2021 SV) | SV |
---|---|---|
51 | Jeff Shaw | 203 |
52 | Bobby Thigpen | 201 |
53 | Mike Henneman | 193 |
54 | Mitch Williams | 192 |
55 | Roy Face | 191 |
Keith Foulke | 191 | |
57 | J. J. Putz | 189 |
58 | Mike Marshall | 188 |
59 | Éric Gagné | 187 |
Eddie Guardado | 187 | |
61 | Jeff Russell | 186 |
62 | Steve Bedrosian | 184 |
Kent Tekulve | 184 | |
64 | Danny Graves | 182 |
65 | Tug McGraw | 180 |
66 | Jim Johnson | 178 |
Ron Perranoski | 178 | |
68 | Kevin Gregg | 177 |
Bryan Harvey | 177 | |
70 | Lindy McDaniel | 174 |
71 | Edwin Díaz (32) | 173 |
Bobby Jenks | 173 | |
73 | Jeff Brantley | 172 |
Brian Wilson | 172 | |
75 | Heath Bell | 168 |
76 | Billy Koch | 163 |
77 | Roger McDowell | 159 |
78 | Tom Gordon | 158 |
Dan Plesac | 158 | |
80 | Álex Colomé (16) | 155 |
Jay Howell | 155 | |
Roberto Osuna | 155 | |
83 | Zack Britton (1) | 154 |
John Smoltz * | 154 | |
85 | Cody Allen | 153 |
Stu Miller | 153 | |
87 | Don McMahon | 152 |
88 | Greg Minton | 150 |
89 | Ted Abernathy | 149 |
90 | Willie Hernández | 147 |
91 | Dave Giusti | 145 |
92 | John Axford | 144 |
Santiago Casilla | 144 | |
Jesse Orosco | 144 | |
Mike Williams | 144 | |
96 | Clay Carroll | 143 |
Darold Knowles | 143 | |
98 | Mike Jackson | 142 |
99 | Wade Davis (2) | 141 |
Mike Timlin | 141 |
Notes[]
- ^ A player is considered inactive if he has announced his retirement or not played for a full season.
References[]
- ^ Horneman, Tim (March 23, 2010). "Baseball Save Rules". livestrong.com. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "Mariano Rivera Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ Cohen, Alan. "Mariano Rivera Bio". Society For American Baseball Research. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "Mariano Rivera Hall of Fame Profile". National Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
- ^ "Trevor Hoffman Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "Lee Smith Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "Francisco Rodríguez Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "John Franco Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "Billy Wagner Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
External links[]
- "Career Leaders & Records for Saves". Baseball-Reference.com.
- Major League Baseball
Categories:
- Major League Baseball lists
- Major League Baseball statistics