280:. The firemen came in whenever leads were in jeopardy, usually with men on base, and regardless of the inning and often pitching two or three innings while finishing the game. An example of this is that Goose Gossage had 17 games where he recorded at least 10 outs in his first season as a closer, including three games where he went seven innings. He pitched over 130 innings as a reliever in three different seasons. For their careers, Sutter and Gossage had more saves of at least two innings than saves where they pitched one inning or less. Fingers was the only pitcher who pitched at least three innings in more than 10 percent of his saves. The game evolved to where the best reliever was reserved for games where the team had a lead of three runs or less in the ninth inning.
22:
2923:
293:
158:
412:
get used far more often in easy-to-manage, up-two, bases-empty, ninth-inning situations than they do in tie games with runners on and the game actually on the line" and said of
Papelbon "unless the Phillies start using him in situations where he’s actually needed, rather than almost exclusively in spots that nearly any pitcher with a pulse can handle successfully 85–90 percent of the time, Papelbon will remain the $ 200,000
353:, the inventor of the save statistic, that he created the ninth-inning pitcher by inventing the save. Holtzman disagreed, saying it was baseball managers who were responsible for not bringing in their top reliever when the game was on the line, in the seventh or eighth inning, which had been the practice in the past. He noted that managers' usage of closers can "abuse the pitching save ... to favor the closer."
1557:
227:
499:. Eckersley was the first closer in the one-inning save era to be inducted. He believed that he was inducted because he was both a starter and a reliever. "If I came up today as a closer and played 20 years, would I have made it ? These pitchers did the job they were supposed to do for 20 years. What else are they supposed to do?" said Eckersley. Rivera was
284:, considered one of the greatest closers of all time, earned only one save of seven-plus outs in his career, while Gossage logged 53. "Don't tell me the best relief pitcher of all-time until he can do the same job I did. He may be the best modern closer, but you have to compare apples to apples. Do what we did", said Gossage.
356:
La Russa says it is important that relievers know their roles and the situations which they will be called into a game. He added, "Sure, games can get away from you in the seventh and eighth, but those last three outs in the ninth are the toughest. You want the guy who can handle that pressure. That,
248:
the first player to be used almost exclusively in ninth inning situations. La Russa explained that " be ahead a large number of games every week ... That's a lot of work for somebody throwing more than one inning ... Also, there was the added advantage of not getting overexposed. We tried to get to
411:
in high leverage situations during the 2012 season, including six games where the score was tied during the late innings, which may have cost the team seven wins by midseason. Jonah Keri suggested "fear of using pitchers in anything but the most predictable circumstances, or simple inertia, closers
340:
et al. wrote that there was more value to having the ace reliever enter in the eighth inning with a one- or a two-run lead instead of the ninth with a three-run lead. "Managers feel the need to please their closers—and their closers' agents—by getting them cheap saves to pad their stats and their
377:
said managers do not like to be second-guessed. "Even if you know the odds, it's more comfortable being wrong when you go to the closer", said Beane. He noted the incremental increase gained by a closer in a three-run save situation "is worth it because losing is so painful in that situation."
2006:
Tony La Russa changed the game of baseball. Tony La Russa invented the closer with Dennis
Eckersley. Handed him the ball the beginning of the ninth—didn't bring him in the eighth, didn't bring him in the seventh—Goose Gossage, 'cause I covered him, pitched a lot of two- or three-inning relief
326:
researched the seasons 1930–2003 and found that the winning percentage for teams who enter the ninth inning with a lead has remained virtually unchanged over the decades. One-run leads after eight innings have been won roughly 85 percent of the time, two-run leads 94 percent of the time, and
129:
A closer is generally a team's best reliever and designated to pitch the last few outs of games when his team is leading by a margin of three runs or fewer. Rarely does a closer enter with his team losing or in a tie game. A closer's effectiveness has traditionally been measured by the
138:(MLB) statistic since 1969. Over time, closers have become one-inning specialists typically brought in at the beginning of the ninth inning in save situations. The pressure of the last three outs of the game is often cited for the importance attributed to the ninth inning.
341:
bank accounts", wrote Caple. Tango et al. projected that using a great reliever over an average one to start the ninth with a three-run lead resulted in a two percent increase in wins, versus four percent for a two-run lead or six percent for a one-run lead. Former
212:
in 1994 was the first to be used over 75 percent of the time in that situation. Using the save leader from each team in the league, the average closer made his appearances in the beginning of the ninth inning 10 percent of the time in the 1970s to almost
2186:
Gossage and
Fingers weren't far behind, with Fingers the only pitcher who pitched at least three innings in more than 10% of his saves. Sutter and Gossage had more saves where they logged at least two innings than saves where they pitched an inning or
331:
projects that teams could gain as much as four extra wins a year by focusing on bringing their ace reliever into the game earlier in more critical situations with runners on base instead of holding them out to accumulate easier ninth inning saves. In
2730:
2353:
I told him it was the managers who did it, not me. Instead of bringing in their best reliever when the game was on the line, in the seventh or eighth inning, which had been the practice in the past, they saved him for the
390:
enter before closers. "There are just too many specialists, guys who can only pitch one inning and only pitch certain innings and throw only 20 pitches. I think most pitchers are capable of pitching more", said
Gillick.
2609:
199:
were already being used mostly in save situations, Franks's use of Sutter represented an incremental change. Sutter was the first pitcher to start the ninth inning in 20 percent of his career appearances.
1883:
Pitchers like Goose
Gossage and Rollie Fingers were being used largely in save situations while Sutter was still in the minors; Sutter being used almost exclusively that way was an incremental change.
179:
in relief eight times in his ten appearances. Though saves were not an official statistic until 1969, Elliot was retroactively credited with six saves that season, a record at that time. In 1977,
399:
La Russa noted that losing clubs risk their closer being under-worked, if they stick to the strategy of saving them for ninth inning situations where the team is ahead. An instance of this was
361:
said there would be too much media criticism if a pitcher other than the closer lost the game in the ninth." Managerial moves are immediately questioned with millions of fans having access to
145:. In the rare cases where a team does not have one primary pitcher dedicated to this role, mainly due to an injury or poor performance of primary closer candidates, the team is said to have a
2380:
2722:
2579:
1354:
419:
Some critics have noted that the 9th inning closer strategy is illogical during playoff games, especially when the club is facing elimination. During Games 4 and 6 of the
2200:
2507:
1682:
204:
in 1972 was the first pitcher to make a third of his season's appearances in the beginning of the ninth inning, which would not be repeated until
Fingers in 1982.
2695:
2617:
69:
in a close game when his team is leading. The role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. Before the 1990s, pitchers in similar roles were referred to as a
264:, coming to the rescue to "put out the fire", baseball terminology for stopping an offensive rally with runners on base. They were occasionally referred to as
2556:
382:
noted that there is pressure on managers to pitch closers in the ninth inning when they were paid big money to pitch in that role. Former general manager
2370:
2007:
situations. If he got around the lineup once, he got hit the second time. A lot of guys get hit the second time ... They are not comparable positions.
451:'s Matthew Wallace lamented that "Girardi used Rivera in the ninth inning of Game 6, with the Yankees trailing 6–1, their ship long sailed to sea".
1899:
2526:
1649:
208:
in 1987 was the first to be used over 50 percent of the time in the beginning of the ninth in a season; he had a then-record 24 one-inning saves.
2640:
2076:
1870:
249:
only face three or four batters an outing." Baseball teams often copy one another, following a strategy based on one team's success. In 1990,
2173:
1936:
2146:
2791:
2451:
1972:
504:
254:
2332:
2587:
2177:
2333:"Where did save rule come from? Baseball historian recalls how he helped develop statistic that measures reliever's effectiveness"
2210:
2503:
2473:
2301:
2250:
2090:
2049:
1909:
1787:
1750:
500:
468:
1678:
168:
2922:
1829:
1025:
2035:
2784:
319:
2548:
447:, and both times the chosen relief pitcher gave up several runs which put the game out of reach for the Yankees;
875:
431:
and both times the selected relief pitcher surrendered the game-winning run. Similarly in Games 3 and 6 of the
3248:
1510:
1032:
2777:
2522:
2201:"Modern Yankee Heroes: From humble beginnings, Mariano Rivera becomes the greatest closer in MLB history"
1654:
2238:
Bullpen
Diaries: Mariano Rivera, Bronx Dreams, Pinstripe Legends, and the Future of the New York Yankees
3243:
3238:
3181:
1659:
1324:
1235:
696:
2648:
2968:
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1779:
176:
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2181:
1944:
1999:
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1811:
1742:
1732:
318:
wrote that closers' saves in the ninth "merely conclude what is usually a foregone conclusion."
2865:
2041:
1976:
1704:
Couch, Greg (August 2004). "Last three outs require mental toughness on the part of a closer".
1575:
959:
1773:
233:
in 1994 was the first pitcher to start the ninth inning in over 75 percent of his appearances.
191:
almost exclusively in the eighth or ninth innings in save situations. While relievers such as
2845:
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2759:
2754:
2205:
2072:
1769:
1181:
946:
750:
541:
460:
400:
135:
86:
38:
1381:* Won both the league Cy Young Award and league Most Valuable Player Award in the same year
727:
665:
563:
492:
230:
209:
110:
2138:
8:
2898:
1530:
1222:
1186:
1168:
1020:
842:
687:
614:
386:
said closers become one-inning pitchers as managers began copying the practice of having
328:
253:
set a record with 57 saves while breaking Franco's one-inning saves record with 41.
903:
763:
164:
was the first pitcher to start the ninth inning in 20 percent of his career appearances.
3212:
3202:
3197:
3151:
3060:
2800:
1865:
1570:
141:
Closers are often the highest paid relievers on their teams, making money on par with
3146:
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2297:
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2086:
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928:
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788:
710:
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631:
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241:
2696:"Mariano Rivera, Edgar Martinez, Roy Halladay and Mike Mussina joining Hall of Fame"
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2903:
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1535:
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991:
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914:
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829:
824:
811:
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732:
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619:
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585:
580:
556:
551:
476:
436:
297:
245:
142:
90:
26:
2481:
1598:
was a closer for four seasons, but is considered to have primarily been a starter.
1055:
3166:
3161:
2973:
2893:
2523:"2010 NLCS: San Francisco Giants vs. Philadelphia Phillies - MLB Playoffs - ESPN"
2375:
2366:
2328:
1562:
1437:
1415:
1346:
1315:
1298:
1276:
1254:
1132:
1109:
895:
745:
719:
682:
350:
131:
34:
2610:"Hall focus next year turns to Ken Griffey Jr., Trevor Hoffman and Billy Wagner"
3217:
3116:
3095:
3090:
3024:
3004:
2908:
2840:
2828:
1519:
1479:
1432:
1359:
1284:
1245:
1042:
998:
981:
964:
922:
909:
782:
769:
677:
643:
575:
546:
496:
488:
472:
444:
424:
404:
281:
192:
175:
in 1905 was one of the first to use a relief pitcher to save games. He pitched
106:
102:
94:
82:
66:
62:
30:
3232:
3126:
3111:
3029:
3009:
2999:
2888:
2850:
2232:
1901:
Baseball
Between the Numbers: Why Everything You Know About the Game Is Wrong
1738:
1717:
1505:
1199:
1091:
1037:
941:
592:
484:
387:
379:
370:
301:
250:
237:
196:
184:
98:
33:, one of the most prominent closers in baseball history, has the most career
2872:
2371:"Pitching Keeps Cubs Armed And Ready After Getting Past Challenging Stretch"
3207:
3121:
3085:
3080:
3065:
3019:
1973:"Should managers play Scrabble with relievers? - MLB - Yahoo Canada Sports"
1449:
1163:
1015:
806:
801:
660:
609:
568:
480:
464:
413:
346:
201:
188:
180:
161:
118:
114:
21:
1817:
1595:
1310:
1240:
1145:
819:
503:
and was the first player in MLB history to be elected unanimously by the
440:
383:
374:
366:
358:
292:
205:
172:
459:
Eight pitchers who were primarily relievers have been inducted into the
2963:
1487:
1306:
428:
323:
157:
3014:
2958:
2855:
2769:
2289:
1410:
1217:
432:
423:, each a late-inning situation with the score tied, Phillies manager
420:
337:
315:
3176:
2700:
311:
46:
2994:
2989:
2953:
2948:
2808:
276:. By the early 1990s, the top late-inning reliever was called a
16:
Baseball relief pitcher who specializes in finishing close games
3171:
244:
is frequently named as the innovator of the position, making
2504:"Giants just good enough, which is plenty - SweetSpot- ESPN"
226:
2292:; Lichtman, Mitchel; Dolphin, Andrew; Palmer, Pete (2007).
1672:
Jack Moore "On the Closer
Position: The Save and RP Usage"
448:
439:
were trailing by two runs during a crucial inning, manager
362:
510:
307:
was instrumental in the development of the modern closer.
257:
set the current record with 54 one-inning saves in 2008.
2723:"Boston Red Sox closer Koji Uehara nets ALCS MVP honors"
2580:"Hoyt Wilhelm, First Reliever in the Hall of Fame, Dies"
1552:
260:
As late as 1989, a team's ace reliever was called a
2616:. Associated Press. January 7, 2015. Archived from
357:to me, is most important." Oakland general manager
2037:The Evolution of Pitching in Major League Baseball
2760:Major League Baseball Single Season Saves Leaders
1893:
1891:
3230:
1734:Fireman: The Evolution of the Closer in Baseball
2549:"Matthews: Girardi sank season in fifth inning"
1679:"On the Closer Position: The Save and RP Usage"
1616:
1614:
1384:
2198:
1888:
327:three-run leads about 96 percent of the time.
300:to mostly one-inning save situations, manager
2785:
2294:The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball
1956:
1954:
334:The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball
1930:
1928:
1898:Baseball Prospectus Team of Experts (2007).
1611:
85:. Eight closers have been inducted into the
2693:
1991:
2792:
2778:
2765:Major League Baseball Active Saves Leaders
2755:Major League Baseball Career Saves Leaders
1997:
1951:
1855:
1853:
81:. A small number of closers have won the
2029:
2027:
1934:
1925:
1764:
1762:
1643:
1641:
1639:
1637:
1635:
1633:
1631:
1629:
1391:
856:
522:
2365:
2327:
2171:
2132:
2130:
2128:
2126:
2124:
2122:
2120:
1859:
515:
505:Baseball Writers' Association of America
291:
225:
156:
20:
2694:Schoenfield, David (January 22, 2019).
2139:"The most overrated position in sports"
1850:
1813:A Game of Inches: The Game on the Field
1768:
1647:
3231:
2799:
2641:"John Smoltz: Two Half Hall of Famers"
2638:
2192:
2172:Schecter, Gabriel (January 18, 2006).
2024:
1998:Kornheiser, Tony (February 20, 2017).
1873:from the original on February 15, 2015
1809:
1759:
1626:
511:Major awards and honors won by closers
2773:
2577:
2231:
2136:
2117:
1935:Posnanski, Joe (September 14, 2011).
1904:. New York: Basic Books. p. 59.
1703:
1648:Jenkins, Chris (September 25, 2006).
65:who specializes in getting the final
2578:Lueck, Thomas J. (August 25, 2002).
2559:from the original on October 6, 2016
2444:"The 15 Worst Contracts in Baseball"
2441:
2241:. HarperCollins Publishers. p.
1685:from the original on January 8, 2010
1576:Baseball awards § United States
2510:from the original on March 12, 2016
2454:from the original on March 20, 2016
2383:from the original on July 14, 2014.
2277:
2149:from the original on June 29, 2011.
2078:The new Dickson baseball dictionary
1960:
1897:
1862:"Mr. Sutter Goes To Cooperstown..."
53:, more frequently referred to as a
13:
2529:from the original on March 3, 2016
2296:. Potomac Books Inc. p. 221.
2278:Baseball Prospectus 2007, pp.72–73
1860:Marchman, Tim (January 11, 2006).
14:
3260:
2748:
2733:from the original on July 3, 2014
2442:Keri, Jonah (February 11, 2013).
2199:Red, Christian (March 13, 2010).
2921:
2112:
2071:
1555:
507:, appearing on all 425 ballots.
2715:
2687:
2675:
2663:
2639:Sarris, Eno (January 7, 2015).
2632:
2602:
2571:
2541:
2496:
2466:
2435:
2423:
2411:
2399:
2387:
2359:
2321:
2310:
2282:
2271:
2259:
2225:
2165:
2153:
2106:
2065:
2033:
2012:
1965:
1844:
1775:The Dickson Baseball Dictionary
1588:
454:
416:that never leaves the garage".
407:, who did not call upon closer
2474:"Crashburn Alley – Not Again!"
2316:
2288:
2178:National Baseball Hall of Fame
1961:Baseball Prospectus 2007, p.60
1838:
1803:
1724:
1697:
1666:
1:
2681:
2669:
2429:
2417:
2405:
2393:
2265:
2174:"The Evolution of the Closer"
2159:
2137:Caple, Jim (August 5, 2008).
2018:
1730:
1620:
1605:
2317:Tango et al. 2007, pp.215–16
1571:Baseball awards § Japan
1385:Nippon Professional Baseball
394:
7:
1655:The San Diego Union-Tribune
1548:
1388:
519:
287:
10:
3267:
1780:W. W. Norton & Company
1031:
152:
3190:
3139:
3104:
3053:
3042:
2982:
2941:
2930:
2919:
2881:
2816:
2807:
2083:Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
1465:
1409:
1234:
958:
874:
676:
555:
540:
427:did not call upon closer
2034:McNeil, William (2006).
1937:"The Meaning of Mariano"
1581:
124:
2042:McFarland & Company
2001:Pardon the Interruption
1731:Zimniuch, Fran (2010).
2866:Left-handed specialist
1810:Morris, Peter (2006).
308:
234:
165:
42:
3025:Center fielder (8/CF)
3005:Second baseman (4/2B)
1681:. December 30, 2009.
947:Philadelphia Phillies
751:Philadelphia Phillies
516:Major League Baseball
461:Baseball Hall of Fame
401:Philadelphia Phillies
295:
229:
223:of the time by 2004.
160:
136:Major League Baseball
87:Baseball Hall of Fame
24:
3249:Baseball terminology
3030:Right fielder (9/RF)
3010:Third baseman (5/3B)
3000:First baseman (3/1B)
2555:. October 23, 2010.
2506:. October 24, 2010.
1676:, December 30, 2009
467:was the first to be
3071:Batting order (1–9)
3020:Left fielder (7/LF)
2620:on January 10, 2015
2590:on January 25, 2018
2113:Dickson 1999, p.396
1947:on January 4, 2012.
1650:"Where's the fire?"
1223:Los Angeles Dodgers
1187:Los Angeles Dodgers
1169:St. Louis Cardinals
1021:Los Angeles Dodgers
843:Los Angeles Dodgers
688:Los Angeles Dodgers
615:St. Louis Cardinals
378:Baseball announcer
329:Baseball Prospectus
255:Francisco RodrĂguez
147:closer by committee
3213:Phantom ballplayer
2801:Baseball positions
2651:on January 9, 2015
2584:The New York Times
2478:crashburnalley.com
309:
235:
166:
43:
3244:Baseball strategy
3239:Baseball pitching
3226:
3225:
3135:
3134:
3076:Designated hitter
3038:
3037:
2917:
2916:
2484:on March 12, 2016
2369:(June 18, 1989).
2303:978-1-59797-129-4
2252:978-0-06-200598-4
2213:on March 10, 2012
2184:on June 8, 2007.
2092:978-0-15-600580-7
2051:978-0-7864-2468-9
1979:on March 10, 2016
1911:978-0-465-00547-5
1789:978-0-393-34008-2
1752:978-1-60078-312-8
1662:on June 28, 2011.
1546:
1545:
1542:
1541:
1379:
1378:
1375:
1374:
1338:Oakland Athletics
1268:Cleveland Indians
1151:Baltimore Orioles
1097:Oakland Athletics
1079:Oakland Athletics
1004:Oakland Athletics
929:Milwaukee Brewers
887:Oakland Athletics
854:
853:
789:Milwaukee Brewers
711:Oakland Athletics
649:Oakland Athletics
632:Oakland Athletics
435:, each where the
409:Jonathan Papelbon
373:. Former manager
343:Baltimore Orioles
242:Oakland Athletics
143:starting pitchers
3256:
3051:
3050:
3015:Shortstop (6/SS)
2939:
2938:
2925:
2814:
2813:
2794:
2787:
2780:
2771:
2770:
2743:
2742:
2740:
2738:
2719:
2713:
2712:
2710:
2708:
2691:
2685:
2679:
2673:
2667:
2661:
2660:
2658:
2656:
2647:. Archived from
2636:
2630:
2629:
2627:
2625:
2606:
2600:
2599:
2597:
2595:
2586:. Archived from
2575:
2569:
2568:
2566:
2564:
2545:
2539:
2538:
2536:
2534:
2519:
2517:
2515:
2500:
2494:
2493:
2491:
2489:
2480:. Archived from
2470:
2464:
2463:
2461:
2459:
2439:
2433:
2427:
2421:
2415:
2409:
2403:
2397:
2391:
2385:
2384:
2367:Holtzman, Jerome
2363:
2357:
2356:
2350:
2348:
2339:. Archived from
2329:Holtzman, Jerome
2325:
2319:
2314:
2308:
2307:
2286:
2280:
2275:
2269:
2263:
2257:
2256:
2229:
2223:
2222:
2220:
2218:
2209:. Archived from
2196:
2190:
2189:
2180:. Archived from
2169:
2163:
2157:
2151:
2150:
2134:
2115:
2110:
2104:
2103:
2101:
2099:
2069:
2063:
2062:
2060:
2058:
2031:
2022:
2016:
2010:
2009:
1995:
1989:
1988:
1986:
1984:
1975:. Archived from
1969:
1963:
1958:
1949:
1948:
1943:. Archived from
1932:
1923:
1922:
1920:
1918:
1895:
1886:
1885:
1880:
1878:
1866:The New York Sun
1857:
1848:
1842:
1836:
1835:
1807:
1801:
1800:
1798:
1796:
1766:
1757:
1756:
1728:
1722:
1721:
1701:
1695:
1694:
1692:
1690:
1670:
1664:
1663:
1658:. Archived from
1645:
1624:
1618:
1599:
1592:
1565:
1560:
1559:
1558:
1393:
1392:
1389:
1365:New York Yankees
1333:Dennis Eckersley
1290:New York Yankees
1205:San Diego Padres
1128:Scott Williamson
1115:Seattle Mariners
987:New York Yankees
970:New York Yankees
904:Willie Hernández
881:Dennis Eckersley
858:
857:
825:New York Yankees
764:Willie Hernández
733:San Diego Padres
705:Dennis Eckersley
627:Dennis Eckersley
598:New York Yankees
581:San Diego Padres
552:New York Yankees
524:
523:
520:
477:Dennis Eckersley
437:New York Yankees
298:Dennis Eckersley
246:Dennis Eckersley
222:
221:
217:
91:Dennis Eckersley
3266:
3265:
3259:
3258:
3257:
3255:
3254:
3253:
3229:
3228:
3227:
3222:
3186:
3182:General manager
3167:Official scorer
3162:Bullpen catcher
3131:
3100:
3045:
3034:
2978:
2974:Position player
2933:
2926:
2913:
2877:
2846:Middle reliever
2803:
2798:
2751:
2746:
2736:
2734:
2721:
2720:
2716:
2706:
2704:
2692:
2688:
2680:
2676:
2668:
2664:
2654:
2652:
2637:
2633:
2623:
2621:
2608:
2607:
2603:
2593:
2591:
2576:
2572:
2562:
2560:
2547:
2546:
2542:
2532:
2530:
2521:
2513:
2511:
2502:
2501:
2497:
2487:
2485:
2472:
2471:
2467:
2457:
2455:
2440:
2436:
2428:
2424:
2416:
2412:
2404:
2400:
2392:
2388:
2376:Chicago Tribune
2364:
2360:
2346:
2344:
2343:on July 8, 2012
2337:Baseball Digest
2326:
2322:
2315:
2311:
2304:
2287:
2283:
2276:
2272:
2264:
2260:
2253:
2230:
2226:
2216:
2214:
2197:
2193:
2170:
2166:
2158:
2154:
2135:
2118:
2111:
2107:
2097:
2095:
2093:
2085:. p. 194.
2070:
2066:
2056:
2054:
2052:
2032:
2025:
2017:
2013:
1996:
1992:
1982:
1980:
1971:
1970:
1966:
1959:
1952:
1933:
1926:
1916:
1914:
1912:
1896:
1889:
1876:
1874:
1858:
1851:
1843:
1839:
1832:
1808:
1804:
1794:
1792:
1790:
1782:. p. 195.
1767:
1760:
1753:
1729:
1725:
1706:Baseball Digest
1702:
1698:
1688:
1686:
1677:
1671:
1667:
1646:
1627:
1619:
1612:
1608:
1603:
1602:
1593:
1589:
1584:
1563:Baseball portal
1561:
1556:
1554:
1551:
1469:Kazuhiro Sasaki
1421:Whales/BayStars
1416:Kazuhiro Sasaki
1387:
1316:Cincinnati Reds
1133:Cincinnati Reds
1110:Kazuhiro Sasaki
746:Steve Bedrosian
666:New York Giants
518:
513:
501:elected in 2019
469:elected in 1985
457:
397:
351:Jerome Holtzman
290:
266:short relievers
240:while with the
219:
215:
214:
169:New York Giants
155:
127:
51:closing pitcher
17:
12:
11:
5:
3264:
3263:
3252:
3251:
3246:
3241:
3224:
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3221:
3220:
3218:Platoon system
3215:
3210:
3205:
3200:
3194:
3192:
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3187:
3185:
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3179:
3174:
3169:
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3149:
3143:
3141:
3137:
3136:
3133:
3132:
3130:
3129:
3124:
3119:
3117:Contact hitter
3114:
3108:
3106:
3102:
3101:
3099:
3098:
3096:Cleanup hitter
3093:
3091:Leadoff hitter
3088:
3083:
3078:
3073:
3068:
3063:
3057:
3055:
3048:
3040:
3039:
3036:
3035:
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3012:
3007:
3002:
2997:
2992:
2986:
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2980:
2979:
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2971:
2969:Utility player
2966:
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2956:
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2879:
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2869:
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2863:
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2853:
2848:
2838:
2837:
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2831:
2820:
2818:
2811:
2805:
2804:
2797:
2796:
2789:
2782:
2774:
2768:
2767:
2762:
2757:
2750:
2749:External links
2747:
2745:
2744:
2714:
2686:
2674:
2662:
2631:
2601:
2570:
2540:
2495:
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2233:Rosen, Charlie
2224:
2191:
2164:
2152:
2116:
2105:
2091:
2064:
2050:
2044:. p. 98.
2023:
2011:
1990:
1964:
1950:
1924:
1910:
1887:
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1788:
1758:
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1723:
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1604:
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1600:
1594:Hall of Famer
1586:
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1583:
1580:
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1578:
1573:
1567:
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1547:
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1433:Shingo Takatsu
1429:
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1406:
1403:
1400:
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1383:
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1362:
1360:Mariano Rivera
1357:
1351:
1350:
1340:
1335:
1329:
1328:
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1313:
1303:
1302:
1292:
1287:
1285:Mariano Rivera
1281:
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1259:
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1248:
1246:Boston Red Sox
1243:
1238:
1232:
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1043:Atlanta Braves
1040:
1035:
1029:
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1023:
1018:
1012:
1011:
1006:
1001:
999:Rollie Fingers
995:
994:
989:
984:
982:John Wetteland
978:
977:
972:
967:
965:Mariano Rivera
962:
956:
955:
949:
944:
938:
937:
931:
926:
923:Rollie Fingers
919:
918:
912:
910:Detroit Tigers
907:
900:
899:
889:
884:
878:
872:
871:
868:
865:
862:
855:
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851:
845:
840:
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833:
827:
822:
816:
815:
809:
804:
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797:
791:
786:
783:Rollie Fingers
779:
778:
772:
770:Detroit Tigers
767:
760:
759:
753:
748:
742:
741:
735:
730:
724:
723:
713:
708:
701:
700:
690:
685:
680:
674:
673:
668:
663:
657:
656:
651:
646:
644:Rollie Fingers
640:
639:
634:
629:
623:
622:
617:
612:
606:
605:
600:
595:
589:
588:
583:
578:
576:Trevor Hoffman
572:
571:
566:
560:
559:
554:
549:
547:Mariano Rivera
544:
538:
537:
534:
531:
528:
517:
514:
512:
509:
497:Mariano Rivera
489:Trevor Hoffman
473:Rollie Fingers
471:, followed by
456:
453:
445:Mariano Rivera
443:did not go to
425:Charlie Manuel
405:Charlie Manuel
396:
393:
388:setup pitchers
371:cable channels
296:By relegating
289:
286:
282:Mariano Rivera
193:Rollie Fingers
177:Claude Elliott
154:
151:
134:, an official
126:
123:
107:Mariano Rivera
103:Trevor Hoffman
95:Rollie Fingers
83:Cy Young Award
75:short reliever
63:relief pitcher
41:pitcher (652).
31:Mariano Rivera
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
3262:
3261:
3250:
3247:
3245:
3242:
3240:
3237:
3236:
3234:
3219:
3216:
3214:
3211:
3209:
3206:
3204:
3201:
3199:
3196:
3195:
3193:
3189:
3183:
3180:
3178:
3177:Ball boy/girl
3175:
3173:
3170:
3168:
3165:
3163:
3160:
3158:
3155:
3153:
3150:
3148:
3145:
3144:
3142:
3138:
3128:
3127:Switch hitter
3125:
3123:
3120:
3118:
3115:
3113:
3112:Clutch hitter
3110:
3109:
3107:
3103:
3097:
3094:
3092:
3089:
3087:
3084:
3082:
3079:
3077:
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3062:
3059:
3058:
3056:
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3031:
3028:
3026:
3023:
3021:
3018:
3016:
3013:
3011:
3008:
3006:
3003:
3001:
2998:
2996:
2995:Catcher (2/C)
2993:
2991:
2990:Pitcher (1/P)
2988:
2987:
2985:
2981:
2975:
2972:
2970:
2967:
2965:
2962:
2960:
2957:
2955:
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2884:
2880:
2874:
2871:
2867:
2864:
2862:
2859:
2857:
2854:
2852:
2851:Long reliever
2849:
2847:
2844:
2843:
2842:
2839:
2835:
2832:
2830:
2827:
2826:
2825:
2822:
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2815:
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2802:
2795:
2790:
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2775:
2772:
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2761:
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2756:
2753:
2752:
2732:
2728:
2724:
2718:
2703:
2702:
2697:
2690:
2683:
2682:Zimniuch 2010
2678:
2671:
2670:Zimniuch 2010
2666:
2650:
2646:
2645:Fangraphs.com
2642:
2635:
2619:
2615:
2614:Boston Herald
2611:
2605:
2589:
2585:
2581:
2574:
2558:
2554:
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2544:
2528:
2524:
2509:
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2499:
2483:
2479:
2475:
2469:
2453:
2449:
2448:grantland.com
2445:
2438:
2431:
2430:Zimniuch 2010
2426:
2419:
2418:Zimniuch 2010
2414:
2407:
2406:Zimniuch 2010
2402:
2395:
2394:Zimniuch 2010
2390:
2382:
2378:
2377:
2372:
2368:
2362:
2355:
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2338:
2334:
2330:
2324:
2318:
2313:
2305:
2299:
2295:
2291:
2285:
2279:
2274:
2267:
2266:Zimniuch 2010
2262:
2254:
2248:
2244:
2240:
2239:
2234:
2228:
2212:
2208:
2207:
2202:
2195:
2188:
2183:
2179:
2175:
2168:
2161:
2160:Zimniuch 2010
2156:
2148:
2144:
2140:
2133:
2131:
2129:
2127:
2125:
2123:
2121:
2114:
2109:
2094:
2088:
2084:
2080:
2079:
2074:
2073:Dickson, Paul
2068:
2053:
2047:
2043:
2039:
2038:
2030:
2028:
2020:
2019:Zimniuch 2010
2015:
2008:
2003:
2002:
1994:
1978:
1974:
1968:
1962:
1957:
1955:
1946:
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1892:
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1831:1-56663-677-9
1827:
1823:
1819:
1815:
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1806:
1791:
1785:
1781:
1777:
1776:
1771:
1770:Dickson, Paul
1765:
1763:
1754:
1748:
1744:
1740:
1739:Triumph Books
1736:
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1727:
1719:
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1638:
1636:
1634:
1632:
1630:
1622:
1621:Zimniuch 2010
1617:
1615:
1610:
1597:
1591:
1587:
1577:
1574:
1572:
1569:
1568:
1564:
1553:
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1529:
1527:Yutaka Enatsu
1526:
1525:
1521:
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1509:
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1506:Yutaka Enatsu
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1200:Butch Metzger
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1092:Huston Street
1090:
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1075:
1074:Andrew Bailey
1072:
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1064:
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1061:Texas Rangers
1059:
1057:
1056:NeftalĂ Feliz
1054:
1053:
1049:
1046:
1044:
1041:
1039:
1038:Craig Kimbrel
1036:
1034:
1030:
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1022:
1019:
1017:
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1010:
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1002:
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985:
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979:
976:
973:
971:
968:
966:
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961:
957:
953:
950:
948:
945:
943:
942:Jim Konstanty
940:
939:
935:
932:
930:
927:
924:
921:
920:
916:
913:
911:
908:
905:
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890:
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879:
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869:
866:
863:
860:
859:
849:
846:
844:
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839:
838:Mike Marshall
836:
835:
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749:
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624:
621:
618:
616:
613:
611:
608:
607:
604:
601:
599:
596:
594:
593:Goose Gossage
591:
590:
587:
584:
582:
579:
577:
574:
573:
570:
567:
565:
562:
561:
558:
553:
550:
548:
545:
543:
539:
535:
532:
529:
526:
525:
521:
508:
506:
502:
498:
494:
490:
486:
485:Goose Gossage
482:
478:
474:
470:
466:
462:
452:
450:
446:
442:
438:
434:
430:
426:
422:
417:
415:
410:
406:
402:
392:
389:
385:
381:
380:Chris Wheeler
376:
372:
368:
364:
360:
354:
352:
348:
344:
339:
335:
330:
325:
321:
317:
313:
306:
303:
302:Tony La Russa
299:
294:
285:
283:
279:
275:
271:
267:
263:
258:
256:
252:
251:Bobby Thigpen
247:
243:
239:
238:Tony La Russa
232:
228:
224:
211:
207:
203:
198:
197:Goose Gossage
194:
190:
186:
185:Herman Franks
182:
178:
174:
170:
163:
159:
150:
148:
144:
139:
137:
133:
122:
120:
116:
112:
108:
104:
100:
99:Goose Gossage
96:
92:
88:
84:
80:
76:
72:
68:
64:
60:
57:(abbreviated
56:
52:
48:
40:
36:
32:
28:
23:
19:
3208:Injured list
3122:Power hitter
3086:Pinch runner
3081:Pinch hitter
2860:
2735:. Retrieved
2726:
2717:
2705:. Retrieved
2699:
2689:
2677:
2665:
2653:. Retrieved
2649:the original
2644:
2634:
2622:. Retrieved
2618:the original
2613:
2604:
2594:February 18,
2592:. Retrieved
2588:the original
2583:
2573:
2561:. Retrieved
2552:
2543:
2531:. Retrieved
2512:. Retrieved
2498:
2486:. Retrieved
2482:the original
2477:
2468:
2456:. Retrieved
2447:
2437:
2425:
2413:
2401:
2389:
2374:
2361:
2352:
2347:February 25,
2345:. Retrieved
2341:the original
2336:
2331:(May 2002).
2323:
2312:
2293:
2284:
2273:
2261:
2237:
2227:
2215:. Retrieved
2211:the original
2204:
2194:
2185:
2182:the original
2167:
2155:
2142:
2108:
2098:February 27,
2096:. Retrieved
2077:
2067:
2057:December 30,
2055:. Retrieved
2036:
2014:
2005:
2000:
1993:
1981:. Retrieved
1977:the original
1967:
1945:the original
1940:
1917:February 23,
1915:. Retrieved
1900:
1882:
1877:December 20,
1875:. Retrieved
1864:
1840:
1812:
1805:
1795:December 30,
1793:. Retrieved
1774:
1733:
1726:
1712:(8): 54–57.
1709:
1705:
1699:
1687:. Retrieved
1673:
1668:
1660:the original
1653:
1590:
1450:Hitoki Iwase
1380:
1164:Todd Worrell
1016:Larry Sherry
807:Chicago Cubs
802:Bruce Sutter
661:Hoyt Wilhelm
610:Bruce Sutter
569:Chicago Cubs
542:Hall of Fame
481:Bruce Sutter
465:Hoyt Wilhelm
458:
455:Hall of Fame
418:
414:Aston Martin
398:
369:, and other
355:
347:Johnny Oates
333:
310:
304:
277:
273:
269:
265:
261:
259:
236:
202:Clay Carroll
189:Bruce Sutter
181:Chicago Cubs
167:
162:Bruce Sutter
146:
140:
128:
119:Hoyt Wilhelm
115:Bruce Sutter
78:
74:
70:
58:
54:
50:
44:
18:
3140:Non-players
2899:Ground ball
2707:November 3,
2655:January 10,
2624:January 10,
2396:, pp.72,156
2217:December 2,
1845:McNeil 2006
1818:Ivan R. Dee
1737:. Chicago:
1596:John Smoltz
1311:Randy Myers
1241:Koji Uehara
1146:Gregg Olson
820:Sparky Lyle
441:Joe Girardi
384:Pat Gillick
375:Jim Fregosi
367:MLB Network
359:Billy Beane
206:John Franco
173:John McGraw
3233:Categories
2964:Outfielder
2432:, pp.166–8
2408:, pp.155–6
2290:Tango, Tom
2206:Daily News
2162:, pp.xx,81
1820:. p.
1741:. p.
1606:References
1538:(Central)
1500:(Central)
1488:Genji Kaku
1307:Rob Dibble
1182:Steve Howe
728:Mark Davis
683:Éric Gagné
429:Brad Lidge
349:once told
324:Retrosheet
320:Dave Smith
305:(pictured)
3044:Offensive
2983:by number
2959:Infielder
2932:Defensive
2856:Setup man
2533:March 11,
2514:March 11,
1983:March 25,
1718:0005-609X
1674:Fangraphs
1411:Meikyukai
1218:Joe Black
564:Lee Smith
493:Lee Smith
433:2010 ALCS
421:2010 NLCS
395:Criticism
338:Tom Tango
316:Jim Caple
231:Lee Smith
210:Lee Smith
111:Lee Smith
3105:by style
2904:Fly ball
2882:by style
2873:Swingman
2841:Reliever
2809:Pitchers
2731:Archived
2701:ESPN.com
2557:Archived
2553:ESPN.com
2527:Archived
2508:Archived
2452:Archived
2381:Archived
2235:(2011).
2147:Archived
2143:ESPN.com
2075:(1999).
2004:. ESPN.
1871:Archived
1772:(2011).
1683:Archived
1549:See also
1511:Fighters
1472:BayStars
1438:Swallows
678:Cy Young
403:manager
345:manager
312:ESPN.com
288:Strategy
270:stoppers
183:manager
171:manager
61:), is a
47:baseball
3203:Battery
3198:Captain
3191:Related
3157:Coaches
3152:Manager
3054:by role
3046:players
2954:Catcher
2949:Pitcher
2942:by type
2934:players
2894:Control
2824:Starter
2817:by role
2727:MLB.com
2684:, p.229
2672:, p.227
2420:, p.161
2021:, p.143
1623:, p.169
1520:Pacific
1493:Dragons
1480:Central
1455:Dragons
1355:ASG MVP
1236:LCS MVP
314:writer
274:closers
262:fireman
218:⁄
153:History
79:stopper
71:fireman
37:of any
29:closer
27:Yankees
25:Former
3172:Batboy
3147:Umpire
3066:Runner
3061:Batter
2909:Switch
2861:Closer
2834:Opener
2737:May 7,
2563:May 7,
2488:May 7,
2458:May 7,
2354:ninth.
2300:
2268:, p.97
2249:
2089:
2048:
1941:SI.com
1908:
1847:, p.53
1828:
1786:
1749:
1716:
1689:May 6,
1399:Closer
960:WS MVP
864:Closer
530:Closer
495:, and
365:, the
278:closer
77:, and
55:closer
2889:Power
2187:less.
1582:Notes
1405:Year
1396:Award
1230:(NL)
1212:(NL)
1194:(NL)
1176:(NL)
1158:(AL)
1140:(NL)
1122:(AL)
1104:(AL)
1086:(AL)
1068:(AL)
1050:(NL)
954:(NL)
936:(AL)
917:(AL)
870:Year
861:Award
850:(NL)
832:(AL)
814:(NL)
796:(AL)
777:(AL)
758:(NL)
740:(NL)
536:Year
527:Award
187:used
125:Usage
35:saves
2739:2018
2709:2019
2657:2015
2626:2015
2596:2017
2565:2018
2535:2016
2516:2016
2490:2018
2460:2018
2349:2011
2298:ISBN
2247:ISBN
2219:2011
2100:2011
2087:ISBN
2059:2011
2046:ISBN
1985:2018
1919:2011
1906:ISBN
1879:2011
1826:ISBN
1797:2011
1784:ISBN
1747:ISBN
1714:ISSN
1691:2010
1536:1979
1531:Carp
1516:1981
1498:1988
1476:1998
1460:2010
1443:2003
1426:2000
1402:Team
1370:2013
1343:1988
1321:1990
1295:2003
1273:2016
1251:2013
1228:1952
1210:1976
1192:1980
1174:1986
1156:1989
1138:1999
1120:2000
1102:2005
1084:2009
1066:2010
1048:2011
1026:1959
1009:1974
992:1996
975:1999
952:1950
934:1981
915:1984
892:1992
867:Team
848:1974
830:1977
812:1979
794:1981
775:1984
756:1987
738:1989
716:1992
693:2003
671:1985
654:1992
637:2004
620:2006
603:2008
586:2018
557:2019
533:Team
449:ESPN
363:ESPN
272:and
195:and
132:save
117:and
67:outs
49:, a
2829:Ace
2243:213
1822:318
1743:143
1466:MVP
1033:ROY
876:MVP
322:of
45:In
39:MLB
3235::
2729:.
2725:.
2698:.
2643:.
2612:.
2582:.
2551:.
2525:.
2520:][
2476:.
2450:.
2446:.
2379:.
2373:.
2351:.
2335:.
2245:.
2203:.
2176:.
2145:.
2141:.
2119:^
2081:.
2040:.
2026:^
1953:^
1939:.
1927:^
1890:^
1881:.
1869:.
1852:^
1824:.
1816:.
1778:.
1761:^
1745:.
1710:63
1708:.
1652:.
1628:^
1613:^
1522:)
1482:)
1349:)
1347:AL
1327:)
1325:NL
1309:,
1301:)
1299:AL
1279:)
1277:AL
1257:)
1255:AL
898:)
896:AL
722:)
720:AL
699:)
697:NL
491:,
487:,
483:,
479:,
475:,
463:.
336:,
268:,
149:.
121:.
113:,
109:,
105:,
101:,
97:,
93:,
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73:,
59:CL
2793:e
2786:t
2779:v
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2628:.
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2567:.
2537:.
2518:.
2492:.
2462:.
2306:.
2255:.
2221:.
2102:.
2061:.
1987:.
1921:.
1834:.
1799:.
1755:.
1720:.
1693:.
1518:(
1478:(
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1275:(
1253:(
925:*
906:*
894:(
883:*
785:*
766:*
718:(
707:*
695:(
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216:2
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