View source for Save (baseball)

{{Short description|Credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain circumstances}}
[[File:Mariano Rivera allison 7 29 07.jpg|thumb|[[Mariano Rivera]] is the [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] all-time leader in saves.]]

In [[baseball]], a '''save''' ({{abbr.}} '''SV''' or '''S''') is credited to a [[pitcher]] who [[List of Major League Baseball leaders in games finished|finishes a game]] for the winning team under certain circumstances. A save can be earned by entering a game in which his team is leading by three or fewer runs and finishing the game by pitching at least one inning without losing the lead; entering the game with the tying run in the on-deck circle, at the plate or on the bases and finishing the game; or by pitching at least three innings in relief and finishing the game regardless of how many runs his team was winning by when entering the game.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Save (SV) {{!}} Glossary |url=https://www.mlb.com/glossary/standard-stats/save |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> The number of saves or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted are oft-cited statistics of [[relief pitcher]]s, particularly those in the [[closer (baseball)|closer]] role. The save statistic was created by journalist [[Jerome Holtzman]] in 1959 to "measure the effectiveness of relief pitchers" and was adopted as an official [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) statistic in 1969.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/22/sports/baseball/22holtzman.html|title=Jerome Holtzman, 82, 'Dean' of Sportswriters, Dies|work=[[The New York Times]]|first=Bruce|last=Weber|date=July 22, 2008|access-date=March 13, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080721&content_id=3167355&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|title= Legendary historian Holtzman passes|access-date=March 13, 2013|last=Bloom|first=Barry|work=[[MLB.com]]|publisher=[[Major League Baseball]]|date=July 21, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110429155949/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080721&content_id=3167355&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb| archive-date= 29 April 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> The save has been retroactively tabulated for pitchers before that date. [[Mariano Rivera]] is MLB's all-time leader in regular-season saves with 652, while [[Francisco Rodríguez (Venezuelan pitcher)|Francisco Rodríguez]] earned the most saves in a single season with 62 in 2008.

==History==
The term ''save'' was being used as far back as 1952.<ref>{{cite news|last=Newman |first=Mark |title=Holtzman helped 'save' baseball |date=July 22, 2008 |work=MLB.com |url=http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080722&content_id=3171784&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824223455/http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080722&content_id=3171784&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |archive-date=August 24, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Executives Jim Toomey of the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] and Irv Kaze of the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]], and statistician [[Allan Roth]] of the [[Los Angeles Dodgers|Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers]] awarded saves to pitchers who finished winning games but were not credited with the win, regardless of the margin of victory. The statistic went largely unnoticed.

The concept of a reliever "saving" a baseball game for a starting pitcher goes back even further. A 1933 [[Goudey]] [[baseball card]] of [[Firpo Marberry]] of the [[Detroit Tigers]] states he "Specializes in saving ball games when other pitchers are getting their bumps."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tcdb.com/ViewCard.cfm/sid/7/cid/69555/1933-Goudey-(R319)-104-Fred-Marberry |title=#104 - Fred Marberry |website=tcdb.com |accessdate=July 28, 2024}}</ref>

A formula with more criteria for saves was invented in 1960 by baseball writer [[Jerome Holtzman]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Holtzman |first=Jerome |author-link=Jerome |title=How the save formula began |date=September 16, 2003 |work=MLB.com |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20030916&content_id=529112&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100319020159/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20030916&content_id=529112&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |archive-date=March 19, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He felt that the existing statistics at the time, [[earned run average]] (ERA) and [[Win–loss record (pitching)|win–loss record]] (W-L), did not sufficiently measure a reliever's effectiveness. ERA does not account for [[inherited runner]]s a reliever allows to score, and W-L record does not account for relievers protecting leads. [[Elroy Face]] of the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] was 18–1 in 1959; however, Holtzman wrote that in 10 of the 18 wins, Face allowed the tying or lead run but got the win when the Pirates offense regained the lead.<ref name="holtzman">{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_5_61/ai_84542687|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708042304/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_5_61/ai_84542687|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-07-08|title=Where did save rule come from? Baseball historian recalls how he helped develop statistic that measures reliever's effectiveness|author=Holtzman, Jerome|author-link=Jerome Holtzman|publisher=[[Baseball Digest]]|date=May 2002|access-date=2008-10-21}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|[[Baseball-Reference.com]] differs slightly and recorded it occurring in only seven of the 18 wins. Face blew leads in his wins four times (April 24, May 14, June 11, and July 12), allowed lead runs in tie games he won three times (April 22, Aug 30, and Sept 19), and allowed an additional run while already behind in a win once (Aug 9).<ref>{{cite web|title=Roy Face 1959 Pitching Gamelogs |work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=facero01&t=p&year=1959 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110203416/http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=facero01&t=p&year=1959 |archive-date=November 10, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Associated Press]] also reported Face allowing a tying run to score in his July 9 win over the [[Chicago Cubs]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Wilks|first=Ed|title=Dodger' Craig Old Self Again; Two Double Shutouts in American League|date=July 10, 1959|newspaper=The Florence Times|agency=Associated Press|location=Alabama|at=Section 2, Page 3|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=egcsAAAAIBAJ&pg=1003,1100958&dq=pirates+cubs&hl=en|access-date=December 4, 2012}}</ref>|group=note}} Holtzman felt that Face was more effective the previous year when he was 5–2. When Holtzman presented the idea to [[J. G. Taylor Spink]], publisher of ''[[The Sporting News]]'', "[Spink] gave [Holtzman] a $100 bonus. Maybe it was $200." Holtzman recorded the unofficial save statistic in ''The Sporting News'' weekly for nine years before it became official in 1969. In conjunction with publishing the statistic, ''The Sporting News'' in 1960 also introduced the [[Fireman of the Year Award]], which was awarded based on a combination of saves and [[Win (baseball)|win]]s.<ref name="holtzman" /><ref>{{cite book|title=Fireman: The Evolution of the Closer in Baseball|first=Fran|last=Zimniuch|page=[https://archive.org/details/firemanevolution0000zimn/page/125 125]|publisher=[[Triumph Books]]|location=Chicago|year=2010|isbn=978-1-60078-312-8|ref=zimniuch|url=https://archive.org/details/firemanevolution0000zimn/page/125}}</ref>

The save became an official MLB statistic in {{MLBy|1969}}.<ref name="holtzman" /> It was MLB's first new major statistic since the [[run batted in]] was added in 1920.<ref name="holtzman" />

===Notable saves===
[[File:Bill Singer Dodgers.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|Bill Singer was credited with the first official save, in 1969.]]
On April 7, 1969, [[Bill Singer]] was credited with the first official save when he pitched three shutout innings in relief of [[Don Drysdale]] in the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]]' 3–2 [[Opening Day]] victory over the [[Cincinnati Reds]] at [[Crosley Field]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/firsts/first5.shtml|title=Famous Firsts in the Expansion Era of Major League Baseball by Baseball Almanac|access-date=5 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1969/B04070CIN1969.htm|title=Retrosheet Boxscore: Los Angeles Dodgers 3, Cincinnati Reds 2|access-date=5 December 2015}}</ref>

On April 27, 1969, [[Frank Linzy]] of the [[San Francisco Giants]] became the first pitcher to be credited with two saves in one day, registering saves in both games of a [[Doubleheader (baseball)|doubleheader]] against the [[Houston Astros]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/downloads/2Saves1Day.zip |title=2 Saves in 1 Day |website=[[Baseball Almanac]] |accessdate=June 6, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1969/04271969.htm |title=Events of Sunday, April 27, 1969 |website=[[Retrosheet]] |accessdate=June 6, 2021}}</ref>

On April 29, 1970, [[Stan Williams (baseball)|Stan Williams]] of the [[Minnesota Twins]] became the first pitcher credited with a save without facing a batter.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/shareit/m62d |title=From 1957 to 2007, Saves without a batter faced |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |accessdate=June 6, 2021}}</ref> In a home game against the [[Cleveland Indians]] with the Twins holding a 1–0 lead, Williams entered in relief of [[Jim Kaat]] in the top of the ninth inning with two outs and runners on first and second; he then [[Pickoff|picked off]] runner [[Tony Horton (baseball)|Tony Horton]] at second base, ending the game.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIN/MIN197004290.shtml |title=Cleveland Indians at Minnesota Twins Box Score |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |date=April 29, 1970 |accessdate=June 6, 2021}}</ref>

On September 3, 2002, the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] won 7–1 over the [[Baltimore Orioles]] as [[Joaquín Benoit]] pitched a seven-inning save, the longest save since it had become an official statistic in 1969.<ref>{{cite news |last=Beck |first=Jason |title=Smyly's long save has nothing on Benoit |date=April 6, 2013 |work=MLB.com |url=http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/print.jsp?ymd=20130406&content_id=44054802&notebook_id=44055134&vkey=notebook_det&c_id=det |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208070237/http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/print.jsp?ymd=20130406&content_id=44054802&notebook_id=44055134&vkey=notebook_det&c_id=det |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all |access-date=April 25, 2013 }}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Benoit bested the previous record of six innings by [[Horacio Piña]] of the Rangers in 1972.<ref>{{cite news|title=AL roundup: Benoit gets 7-inning save against O's |date=September 4, 2002 |newspaper=Deseret News |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.deseret.com/2002/9/4/19675481/benoit-gets-7-inning-save-against-o-s/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506120255/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/935004/Benoit-gets-7-inning-save-against-Os.html?pg=all |archive-date=May 6, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Baseball-Reference.com]] retroactively credited eight-inning saves to pitchers prior to 1969 including [[Jim Shaw (baseball)|Jim Shaw]] (1920), [[Guy Morton]] (1920), and [[Dick Hall (baseball)|Dick Hall]] (1961).<ref>{{cite web|title=From 1916 to 2013, Recorded Save, (requiring IPouts>=21), sorted by smallest IP|work=baseball-reference.com|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/game_finder.cgi?type=p&id=#gotresults&as=result_pitcher&offset=0&match=basic&suffix=&min_year_game=1916&max_year_game=2013&series=any&series_game=any&WL=any&team_lg=&opp_id=&opp_lg=&throws=any&HV=any&game_site=&temperature_min=0&temperature_max=120&wind_speed_min=0&wind_speed_max=90&wind_direction_tolf=1&wind_direction_tocf=1&wind_direction_torf=1&wind_direction_fromlf=1&wind_direction_fromcf=1&wind_direction_fromrf=1&wind_direction_ltor=1&wind_direction_rtol=1&wind_direction_unknown=1&precipitation_unknown=1&precipitation_none=1&precipitation_drizzle=1&precipitation_showers=1&precipitation_rain=1&precipitation_snow=1&sky_unknown=1&sky_sunny=1&sky_cloudy=1&sky_overcast=1&sky_night=1&sky_dome=1&Role=anyGS&DEC=S&orderby=IPouts&order_by_asc=1&c1criteria=IPouts&c1gtlt=gt&c1val=7&c2criteria=&c2gtlt=eq&c2val=0&c3criteria=&c3gtlt=eq&c3val=0&c4criteria=&c4gtlt=eq&c4val=0&c5criteria=&c5gtlt=eq&c5val=1.0&c6criteria=&firstgames=&firstteamgames=&ajax=1&submitter=1|access-date=April 25, 2013}}{{subscription required}}</ref>|group=note}} Benoit relieved [[Todd Van Poppel]] (who entered the game in the first inning after starter [[Aaron Myette]] was ejected for throwing at [[Melvin Mora]]) at the start of the third inning, and finished the game while allowing just one hit. The [[official scorer]] credited the win to Van Poppel and not Benoit, a decision that was also supported by Texas manager [[Jerry Narron]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Rangers MLBeat: Narron pleased|work=mlb.com|url=http://rangers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/tex/news/tex_news.jsp?ymd=20020904&content_id=121153&vkey=news_tex&fext=.jsp|access-date=April 15, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030609060224/http://rangers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/tex/news/tex_news.jsp?ymd=20020904&content_id=121153&vkey=news_tex&fext=.jsp|archive-date=June 9, 2003|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

On August 22, 2007, [[Wes Littleton]] earned a save with the largest winning margin ever, pitching the last three innings of a 30–3 Texas Rangers win over the Baltimore Orioles. Littleton entered the game with a 14–3 lead, and the final 27-[[run differential]] broke the previous record for a save by eight runs. ''[[The New York Times]]'' noted that "there are the preposterous saves, of which Littleton's now stands out as No. 1."<ref>{{cite news|last=Spousta |first=Tom |title=With a 27-Run Cushion, a Save Is in the Books |date=August 23, 2007 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/24/sports/baseball/24rangers.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150605080723/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/24/sports/baseball/24rangers.html |archive-date=June 5, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On October 29, 2014, in Game 7 of the [[2014 World Series]], [[Madison Bumgarner]] of the San Francisco Giants recorded the longest save in World Series history, pitching five scoreless innings of relief in a 3–2 victory over the Kansas City Royals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/100037776/did-you-know-madison-bumgarner-makes-history|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101082306/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/100037776/did-you-know-madison-bumgarner-makes-history|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 1, 2014|title=Did you know: Madison Bumgarner makes history|work=Major League Baseball|access-date=5 December 2015}}</ref>

In a 20–1 Philadelphia Phillies victory over the Miami Marlins on April 7, 2018, pitcher Jake Thompson recorded his first career save by pitching the final three innings.<ref> https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/380407122</ref>

==Usage==
In [[baseball statistics]], the term save is used to indicate the successful maintenance of a lead by a relief pitcher, usually the [[closer (baseball)|closer]], until the end of the game. A save is a statistic credited to a relief pitcher, as set forth in Rule 9.19 of the [[Official Rules of Major League Baseball]].{{cn|date=June 2022}} The current definition has been in place since 1975.<ref name="posnanski">{{cite news |last1=Posnanski |first1=Joe |author1-link=Joe Posnanski |title=Save evolves from stat to game-changer |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/how-save-rule-has-changed-baseball-c223677902 |access-date=29 April 2025 |work=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[Major League Baseball]] |date=April 12, 2017 |language=en}}</ref> That rule states the [[official scorer]] shall credit a pitcher with a save when such pitcher meets all four of the following conditions:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/documents/0/8/0/268272080/2018_Official_Baseball_Rules.pdf |title=Divisions Of The Code |access-date=2019-06-04}}</ref>
#He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his team;
#He is not the [[win (baseball)|winning pitcher]];
#He is credited with at least {{frac|1|3}} of an inning pitched; and
#He satisfies one of the following conditions:
##He enters the game with a lead of no more than three [[run (baseball)|runs]] and pitches for at least one inning
##He enters the game with the potential tying run either [[baserunning|on base]], [[batting (baseball)|at bat]] or [[On deck (baseball)|on deck]]
## He pitches for at least three innings.

The definition of a save has not always been the same. As initially defined in 1969, a relief pitcher could earn a save if he entered a game with his team in the lead and he held the lead through the end of the game, regardless of the score or for how long he pitched.<ref name=zimniuch_p126>[[#zimniuch|Zimniuch 2010]], p.126</ref> This produced some especially "easy" saves, such as [[Ron Taylor (baseball)|Ron Taylor]] being credited with a save after pitching a scoreless ninth inning in a 20–6 [[New York Mets]] win over the [[Atlanta Braves]] in August 1971.<ref name=zimniuch_p126/><ref>{{cite web |title=August 7, 1971 New York Mets at Atlanta Braves Box Score and Play by Play |work=baseball-reference.com |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL197108070.shtml |access-date=January 7, 2012}}</ref> In 1974, tougher criteria were adopted for saves where either the tying run had to be on base or at the plate when the reliever entered to qualify for a save, or the reliever had to preserve a lead of any size for at least three innings in completing a game.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79078213/new-baseball-regulations-may-save-hiller/ |title=New baseball regulations may save Hiller record |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |newspaper=[[The Times Herald]] |location=[[Port Huron, Michigan]] |date=January 20, 1974 |accessdate=June 6, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="schechter">{{cite web|last=Schechter|first=Gabriel|date=March 21, 2006|title=Top Relievers in Trouble|url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/library/columns/gs_060321.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070608042732/http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/library/columns/gs_060321.htm|archive-date=June 8, 2007|publisher=[[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]]}}</ref> The rule was slightly relaxed in 1975 to the current definition as outlined above.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ua5fAAAAIBAJ&pg=2520%2C7778357 |newspaper=[[Lewiston Morning Tribune]] |location=[[Lewiston, Idaho]] |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |title=Baseball changes rules |date=January 31, 1975 |page=3B |via=[[Google News]]}}</ref><ref name="schechter"/> Statistical sites, including [[MLB.com]], include saves in pitching records prior to 1969 by retroactively applying the 1969 criteria.{{cn|date=June 2022}}

===Related statistics===
The ratio of saves to save opportunities is ''save percentage''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dickson |first=Paul |author-link= Paul Dickson (writer) | title=The Dickson Baseball Dictionary |year=2011| publisher=[[W. W. Norton & Company]] |pages=120, 741| isbn=978-0-393-34008-2}}</ref> A save opportunity ({{abbr.}} '''SVO''', or "save situation") occurs when a reliever enters a game in a situation that permits him to earn a save. A pitcher who enters a game in a save situation and does not finish the game, but departs with his team still leading, is not charged with a save opportunity.

If a relief pitcher satisfies all of the criteria for a save except he does not finish the game, he will often be credited with a [[Hold (baseball)|hold]] ({{abbr.}} H), which is a statistic that is not officially recognized by Major League Baseball.<ref name=tourtellotte>{{cite web |url=https://tht.fangraphs.com/the-unofficial-rules-of-holds-and-blown-saves/ |title=The Unofficial Rules: Of Holds and Blown Saves |first=Shane |last=Tourtellotte |website=fangraphs.com |date=December 28, 2017 |accessdate=June 6, 2021}}</ref>

A ''blown save'' ({{abbr.}} ''BS''; alternately BSV or B){{#tag:ref|An abbreviation of '''BL''' may be used to indicate that a reliever was charged with both a blown save and the loss.|group=note}} occurs when a reliever in a save situation surrenders the lead (allows the tying run, or more, to score). Like the hold, the blown save statistic is not officially recognized by Major League Baseball.<ref name=tourtellotte/> The blown save was adopted as part of the points system used by the [[Rolaids Relief Man Award]] starting in 1988.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79096121/thrown-for-a-loss/ |title=Thrown for a Loss |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |newspaper=[[Sun-Sentinel]] |location=[[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]] |page=48 |date=May 21, 1988 |accessdate=June 6, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=tourtellotte/> If the tying run was scored by a runner who was already on base when the reliever entered the game, the reliever will be charged with a blown save even though the run is charged to the pitcher who allowed that runner to reach base. A reliever cannot blow multiple saves in a game unless he has multiple save opportunities, a situation only possible if the reliever temporarily switches to another defensive position, then returns to pitching.

==Criticism==
[[File:Heath Bell congratulated after save.jpg|thumb|[[Heath Bell]] is congratulated by [[2009 San Diego Padres season|San Diego Padres]] teammates after a save in 2009]]
As [[Francisco Rodríguez (Venezuelan pitcher)|Francisco Rodríguez]] pursued the single-season saves record in 2008, [[Baseball Prospectus]] member [[Joe Sheehan (journalist)|Joe Sheehan]], ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' writer [[Tom Verducci]], and ''[[The New York Sun]]'' writer Tim Marchman wrote that Rodríguez's save total was enhanced by the number of opportunities his team presented, allowing him to amass one particular statistic. They thought that Rodríguez on his record-breaking march was less effective than in prior years.<ref name="RodriguezMediocre" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Verducci |first=Tom |author-link=Tom Verducci |title=What would my idol say about K-Rod's chase of the saves record? |date=July 22, 2008 |work=SI.com |url=http://si.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?expire=-1&title=What+would+my+idol+say+about+K-Rod%27s+chase+of+the+saves+record%3F+-+Tom+Verducci+-+SI.com&urlID=29904180&action=cpt&partnerID=2356&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2F2008%2Fwriters%2Ftom_verducci%2F07%2F22%2Fverducci.krod%2Findex.html |df=mdy-all |access-date=April 4, 2016 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Marchman |first=Tim |title=K-Rod May Be Baseball's First 60-Save Man |date=July 22, 2008 |newspaper=[[The New York Sun]] |url=http://www.nysun.com/sports/k-rod-may-be-baseballs-first-60-save-man/82368/ |access-date=October 5, 2011 |quote=Half of the Angels' games so far this year have offered a save opportunity, much higher than the typical team's rate, because they play a lot of close games, having only outscored their opponents 429-396.}}</ref> Sheehan offered that saves did not account for a pitcher's proficiency at preventing runs nor did it reflect leads that were not preserved.<ref name="RodriguezMediocre">{{citation|last=Sheehan |first=Joe |author-link=Joe Sheehan (journalist) |title=Prospectus Today: Closing In |date=September 11, 2008 |work=[[Baseball Prospectus|BaseballProspectus.com]] |url=http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=8060 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213073350/http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=8060 |archive-date=February 13, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Bradford Doolittle of ''[[The Kansas City Star]]'' wrote, "[The closer] is the only example in sports of a statistic creating a job."  He decried the best relievers pitching fewer innings starting in the 1980s with their workload being [[Closer (baseball)#Strategy|reduced from two- to one-inning outings]] while less efficient pitchers were pitching those innings instead.<ref>{{cite news |last=Doolittle |first=Bradford |title=Wishing that baseball's save statistic had never been invented |date=July 28, 2008 | newspaper=[[The Kansas City Star]] |url=http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/724382.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080729141935/http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/724382.html |archive-date=July 29, 2008 |access-date=February 28, 2011 |quote=Prior to the save, there was no such thing as a closer in baseball. It is the only example in sports of a statistic creating a job&nbsp;— a well-paying job. But that's not my issue with the save.}}</ref> [[ESPN.com]] columnist [[Jim Caple]] has argued that the save statistic has turned the closer position into "the most overrated position in sports.”<ref name="caple">{{cite news |last=Caple |first=Jim |title=The most overrated position in sports |date=August 5, 2008 |work=ESPN.com |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=caple/080805 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629023701/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=caple%2F080805 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=live |access-date=May 24, 2017 }}</ref> Caple and others contend that using one's best reliever in situations such as a three-run lead in the ninth—when a team will almost certainly win even with a lesser pitcher—is foolish, and that using a closer in the traditional fireman role exemplified by pitchers such as [[Goose Gossage]] is far wiser. (A "fireman" situation is men on base in a tied or close game, hence a reliever ending such a threat is "putting out the fire".)<ref name="caple" /><ref>{{cite news|first=Jeff |last=Passan |author-link=Jeff Passan |title=Should managers play Scrabble with relievers? |publisher=Yahoo! Sports |date=April 26, 2010 |url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-relievers042610 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119211627/http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-relievers042610 |archive-date=January 19, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Firemen frequently pitched two- or three-inning outings to earn saves. The modern closer, reduced to a one-inning role, is available to pitch more save opportunities. In the past, a reliever pitching three innings one game would be unavailable to pitch the next game.<ref>[[#zimniuch|Zimniuch 2010]], pp.xxvi,158–9</ref> Gossage had more saves of at least two innings than saves where he pitched one inning or less.<ref>{{cite web |last=Schecter |first=Gabriel |title=The Evolution of the Closer |date=January 18, 2006 |publisher=[[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|National Baseball Hall of Fame]] |url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/library/columns/gs_060118.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070608125510/http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/library/columns/gs_060118.htm |archive-date=June 8, 2007 |quote=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 less.}}</ref> "The times I did a one-inning save, I felt guilty about it. It's like it was too easy,” said Gossage.<ref>[[#zimniuch|Zimniuch 2010]], p.99</ref> ESPN.com wrote that saves have not been determined to be "a special, repeatable skill—rather than simply a function of opportunities.” <ref name="philip">{{cite news|last=Philip |first=Tom |title=Blown saves are overblown |date=April 30, 2011 |work=ESPN.com |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/9892/blown-saves-are-overblown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808184640/http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/9892/blown-saves-are-overblown |archive-date=August 8, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> It also noted that blown saves are "non-qualitative", pointing out that both Gossage and [[Rollie Fingers]], who each had over 100 career blown saves, were both inducted into the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]].<ref name="philip" /> Fran Zimniuch in ''Fireman: The Evolution of the Closer in Baseball'' wrote, "But you have to be a great relief pitcher to blow that many saves. Clearly, [Gossage] saved many, many more than he did not save."<ref>[[#zimniuch|Zimniuch 2010]], p.98</ref> More than half of Gossage's and Fingers' blown saves came in tough save situations, where the tying run was on base when the pitcher entered. In nearly half of their blown tough saves, they entered the game in the sixth or seventh inning. Multiple-inning outings provide more chances for a reliever to blow a save.  The pitchers need to get out of the initial situation and pitch additional innings with more chances to lose the lead. A study by the Baseball Hall of Fame<ref group=note>The March 2006 study analyzed the career saves of [[Rollie Fingers]], [[Goose Gossage]], [[Bruce Sutter]], [[Lee Smith (baseball)|Lee Smith]], [[Dennis Eckersley]], [[Trevor Hoffman]], and [[Mariano Rivera]]. Hoffman and Rivera were still active, and had 436 and 379 career saves, respectively, at that time.</ref> found modern closers were put into fewer tough save situations compared to past relievers.<ref group=note>Tough save opportunities (tough saves + tough blown saves): Fingers (161). Gossage (138), Hoffman (49), Rivera (46).</ref> The modern closer also earned significantly more "easy saves", defined as saves starting the ninth inning with more than a one-run lead.<ref group=note>Easy saves: Hoffman (261), Rivera (235), Fingers (114), Gossage (113).</ref><ref name="schechter" /> The study offered "praise to the combatants who faced more danger for more innings".<ref name="schechter" />

[[File:Rich Gossage - New York Yankees - 1981.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|Goose Gossage, namesake of the proposed "goose egg"]]
[[Nate Silver]] of ''[[FiveThirtyEight]]'' has suggested the "goose egg,” a new statistic that he considers to be a better evaluation of relief performance than the save.<ref name=silver>{{cite web|last1=Silver|first1=Nate|title=The Save Ruined Relief Pitching. The Goose Egg Can Fix It.|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/goose-egg-new-save-stat-relief-pitchers/|website=FiveThirtyEight|date=April 17, 2017}}</ref> A reliever earns a goose egg for each scoreless inning pitched (no earned or unearned runs, no inherited runners score) in the seventh inning or later, where when he starts the inning: the score is tied, his team holds a lead of no more than two runs, or the tying run is on base or at the plate. Should the reliever be charged with an earned run in a goose egg situation, he will be credited with a "broken egg,” the counterpart of the blown save, unless he finishes the game. The statistic is named for Goose Gossage, who is the all-time leader in goose eggs but recorded relatively few saves compared to modern closers.<ref name=silver/>

In the piece in which he introduced the "goose egg" concept, Silver added more criticisms of the save, noting, "It doesn't give a pitcher any additional reward for pitching multiple innings — even though two clutch innings pitched in relief are roughly twice as valuable as one. And a pitcher doesn't get a save for pitching in a tie game, even though it's one of the highest-leverage situations." He also considered saves and blown saves "highly punitive to guys who aren't closers." As an example, Silver noted that in the 2016 season, Chicago White Sox middle reliever [[Nate Jones (baseball)|Nate Jones]], who by Silver's calculations converted 83% of his goose opportunities, led the American League in blown saves with nine, while only recording three saves. Silver added, "The problem is that you can only get a save if you finish the game, whereas blown saves aren't restricted to the final inning."<ref name=silver/>

==Leaders in Major League Baseball==

===Saves===
The statistic was formally introduced in 1969,<ref name="holtzman" /> although research has identified saves earned prior to that point.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Armour|first1=Mark L.|last2=Levitt|first2=David R.|title=Paths to Glory: How Great Baseball Teams Got That Way|pages=92–93|year=2004|publisher=Potomac Books|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0CmV1N3fU94C&q=baseball%20retroactive%20save&pg=PA92|isbn=9781574888058|access-date=April 25, 2013}}</ref>

;Key
{| class="wikitable"
|'''Player'''
|Name of the player
|-
|'''Saves'''
|Career saves
|-
|'''Years'''
|The years this player played in the major leagues
|-
| style="background:#ffb;"|†
|Elected to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]]
|-
| style="background:#cfecec;"|*
|Denotes pitcher who is still active
|-
| L
|Denotes pitcher who is left-handed
|}

====Most saves in a career====
{{see also|300 save club}}
The 10 Major League Baseball players with the most saves in a career are:

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! style="background:#dde;" colspan="3"|Regular season
|-
!scope="col"|Player
!scope="col"|Saves
!scope="col"|Years
|-
|style="background:#ffb;"|{{sortname|Mariano|Rivera}}<sup>†</sup>
|652
|1995–2013
|-
|style="background:#ffb;"|{{sortname|Trevor|Hoffman}}<sup>†</sup>
|601
|1993–2010
|-
|style="background:#ffb;"|{{sortname|Lee|Smith|Lee Smith (baseball)}}<sup>†</sup>
|478
|1980–1997
|-
|style="background:#cfecec;"|{{sortname|Kenley|Jansen}}<sup>*</sup>
|476
|2010–present
|-
|style="background:#cfecec;"|[[Craig Kimbrel]]<sup>*</sup>
|440
|2010–present
|-
|{{sortname|Francisco|Rodríguez|Francisco Rodríguez (Venezuelan pitcher)}}
|437
|2002–2017
|-
|{{sortname|John|Franco}}<sup>L</sup>
|424
|1984–2005
|-
|style="background:#ffb;"|{{sortname|Billy|Wagner}}<sup>L†</sup>
|422
|1995–2010
|-
|style="background:#ffb;"|[[Dennis Eckersley]]<sup>†</sup>
|390
|1975–1998
|-
|{{sortname|Joe|Nathan}}
|377
|1999–2016
|}
:''Stats updated through the 2025 season''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SV_career.shtml |title=Career Leaders & Records for Saves |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |accessdate=January 22, 2025}}</ref>

====Progression of career saves leaders====
The following 14 pitchers have led the major leagues in total saves for a career, since the formation of the [[National Association of Professional Base Ball Players]] (NA) in 1871.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SV_progress.shtml |title=Progressive Leaders & Records for Saves |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |accessdate=June 6, 2021}}</ref> This table is based on career totals at the end of each baseball season, including retroactive application of the saves definition prior to 1969, when it was first recognized as an official statistic by MLB.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan=2|Player !! colspan=2|Start !! colspan=2|End
|-
! Season !! Career saves !! Season !! Career saves
|-
| style="background:#ffb;"|[[Harry Wright]]<sup>†</sup> || 1871 || 3 || 1893 || 14
|-
| [[Tony Mullane]] || 1894 || 15 || 1903 || 15
|-
| style="background:#ffb;"|[[Kid Nichols]]<sup>†</sup> || 1899 || 15 || 1906 || 16
|-
| style="background:#ffb;"|[[Joe McGinnity]]<sup>†</sup> || 1907 || 19 || 1909 || 24
|-
| style="background:#ffb;"|[[Mordecai Brown]]<sup>†</sup> || 1910 || 26 || 1925 || 49
|-
| [[Firpo Marberry]] || 1926 || 53 || 1945 || 99
|-
| [[Johnny Murphy]] || 1946 || 104 || 1961 || 107
|-
| [[Roy Face]] || 1962 || 118 || 1963 || 134
|-
| style="background:#ffb;"|[[Hoyt Wilhelm]]<sup>†</sup> || 1964 || 146 || 1979 || 228
|-
| style="background:#ffb;"|[[Rollie Fingers]]<sup>†</sup> || 1980 || 244 || 1991 || 341
|-
| [[Jeff Reardon]] || 1992 || 357 || 1992 || 357
|-
| style="background:#ffb;"|[[Lee Smith (baseball)|Lee Smith]]<sup>†</sup> || 1993 || 401 || 2005 || 478
|-
| style="background:#ffb;"|[[Trevor Hoffman]]<sup>†</sup> || 2006 || 482 || 2010 || 601
|-
| style="background:#ffb;"|[[Mariano Rivera]]<sup>†</sup> || 2011 || 603 || ''incumbent'' || 652
|}
Notes:
* Mullane and Nichols shared the record from 1899 through 1903.
* Mullane pitched both right-handed and left-handed.

====Most in a single season====
Below are the Major League Baseball players who have recorded 50 or more saves in a single season.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! style="background:#dde;" colspan="4"|Regular season
|-
!Player
!Saves
!Team
!Year
|-
|{{sortname|Francisco|Rodríguez|Francisco Rodríguez (Venezuelan pitcher)}}
|62
|[[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim]]
|2008
|-
|{{sortname|Bobby|Thigpen}}
|rowspan=2|57
|[[Chicago White Sox]]
|1990
|-
| style="background:#cfecec;"|{{sortname|Edwin|Díaz|Edwin Díaz (pitcher)|}}<sup>*</sup>
|[[Seattle Mariners]]
|2018
|-
| style="background:#ffb;"|{{sortname|John|Smoltz}}<sup>†</sup>
|rowspan=2|55
|[[Atlanta Braves]]
|2002
|-
|{{sortname|Éric|Gagné}}
|[[Los Angeles Dodgers]]
|2003
|-
|{{sortname|Randy|Myers}}<sup>L</sup>
|rowspan=3|53
|[[Chicago Cubs]]
|1993
|-
| style="background:#ffb;"|{{sortname|Trevor|Hoffman}}<sup>†</sup>
|[[San Diego Padres]]
|1998
|-
| style="background:#ffb;"|{{sortname|Mariano|Rivera}}<sup>†</sup>
|[[New York Yankees]]
|2004
|-
|{{sortname|Éric|Gagné}}
|52
|Los Angeles Dodgers
|2002
|-
| style="background:#ffb;"|{{sortname|Dennis|Eckersley}}<sup>†</sup>
|rowspan=5|51
|[[Oakland Athletics]]
|1992
|-
|{{sortname|Rod|Beck}}
|Chicago Cubs
|1998
|-
| {{sortname|Jim|Johnson|dab=baseball, born 1983}}
|[[Baltimore Orioles]]
|2012
|-
| |{{sortname|Mark|Melancon}}
|[[Pittsburgh Pirates]]
|2015
|-
| {{sortname|Jeurys|Familia}}
|[[New York Mets]]
|2016
|-
| {{sortname|Jim|Johnson|dab=baseball, born 1983}}
| rowspan=3|50
| Baltimore Orioles
| 2013
|-
| style="background:#cfecec;"|{{sortname|Craig|Kimbrel}}<sup>*</sup>
| Atlanta Braves
| 2013
|-
| style="background:#ffb;"|{{sortname|Mariano|Rivera}}<sup>†</sup>
| New York Yankees
| 2001
|}
:''Stats updated through the 2023 season''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SV_season.shtml |title=Single-Season Leaders & Records for Saves |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |accessdate=July 28, 2024}}</ref>
{{see also|List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders}}

====Most consecutive without a blown save====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! style="background:#dde;" colspan="5"|Regular season
|-
!Player
!Saves
!Team(s)
!Years
!Ref
|-
|{{sortname|Éric|Gagné}}
|84
|[[Los Angeles Dodgers]]
|2002–2004
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/eric_gagne_consecutive_saves.shtml |title=Eric Gagne Consecutive Saves Record |website=[[Baseball Almanac]] |accessdate=June 6, 2021}}</ref><ref name="center">{{cite news|last=Center |first=Bill |title=Pregame Preview: Will Bell set Padres saves record? |date=May 4, 2011 |newspaper=[[San Diego Union-Tribune]] |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/may/04/pregame-preview-will-bell-set-padres-saves-record-/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505233402/http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/may/04/pregame-preview-will-bell-set-padres-saves-record-/ |archive-date=May 5, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|{{sortname|Zack|Britton}}<sup>L*</sup>
|60
|[[Baltimore Orioles]]
|2015–2017
|<ref>{{cite news |last=Zucker |first=Joseph |title=Zach Britton Sets AL Record After Converting 55th-Straight Save Opportunity |date=July 23, 2017 |work=Bleacher Report |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2723351-zach-britton-sets-al-record-after-converting-55th-straight-save-opportunity }}</ref>
|-
|{{sortname|Tom|Gordon}}
|54
|[[Boston Red Sox]]
|1998–1999
|<ref name="center" />
|-
|{{sortname|Jeurys|Familia}}
|52
|[[New York Mets]]
|2015–2016
|<ref>{{cite news |title=Mets' Jeurys Familia: Cruises to 24th save |date=June 22, 2016 |work=RotoWite Staff |url=http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mets-jeurys-familia-cruises-to-24th-save/ }}</ref>
|-
|{{sortname|José|Valverde}}
|51
|[[Detroit Tigers]]
|2010–2011
|<ref>{{cite news|title=Tigers edge Red Sox after José Valverde blows save |date=April 5, 2012 |work=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=320405106 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407140552/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=320405106 |archive-date=April 7, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|{{sortname|John|Axford}}
|49
|[[Milwaukee Brewers]]
|2011–2012
|<ref>{{cite news|title=Corey Hart, Brewers edge Cubs in 13 innings |date=May 12, 2012 |work=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=320511108 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515104332/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=320511108 |archive-date=May 15, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|{{sortname|Brad|Lidge}}
|47
|[[Houston Astros]], [[Philadelphia Phillies]]
|2007–2009
|<ref name="center" />
|-
|{{sortname|Grant|Balfour}}
|44
| [[Oakland Athletics]]
|2012–2013
|<ref>{{cite news|title=Tommy Milone carries shutout into 9th, then A's hold on |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=330705107 |date=July 5, 2013 |work=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130711031011/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=330705107 |archive-date=July 11, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|{{sortname|Brad|Ziegler}}
|43
|[[Arizona Diamondbacks]]
|2015–2016
|<ref>{{cite news |last=Magruder |first=Jack |title=For Brad Ziegler, sealing a win includes SEALs |date=June 12, 2016 |work=todaysknuckleball.com |url=http://www.todaysknuckleball.com/arizona-diamondbacks/for-ziegler-sealing-a-win-includes-seals/ |access-date=June 14, 2016 |archive-date=June 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614124325/http://www.todaysknuckleball.com/arizona-diamondbacks/for-ziegler-sealing-a-win-includes-seals/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|{{sortname|Rod|Beck}}
|rowspan=3|41
|[[San Francisco Giants]]
|1993–1995
|<ref name="center" />
|-
| style="background:#ffb;"|{{sortname|Trevor|Hoffman}}<sup>†</sup>
|[[San Diego Padres]]
|1997–1998
|<ref name="center" />
|-
|{{sortname|Heath|Bell}}
|San Diego Padres
|2010–2011
|<ref name="center" />
|}
''Stats updated through 2019 season''{{cn|date=June 2021}}

===Blown saves===

====Career====
The below table lists MLB pitchers who have accrued 80 or more blown saves during their careers.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! style="background:#dde;" colspan="5"|Regular season
|-
!Player
!Blown<br>saves
!Saves
!Save %
!Years
|-
|style="background:#ffb;"|{{sortname|Goose|Gossage}}<sup>†</sup>
|112 || 310 || 73.5
|1972–1994
|-
|style="background:#ffb;"|{{sortname|Rollie|Fingers}}<sup>†</sup>
|109 || 341 || 75.8
|1968–1985
|-
|[[Jeff Reardon]]
|106 || 367 || 77.6
|1979–1994
|-
|style="background:#ffb;"|{{sortname|Lee|Smith|dab=baseball}}<sup>†</sup>
|103 || 478 || 82.3
|1980–1997
|-
|{{sortname|John|Franco}}<sup>L</sup>
|rowspan=2|101 || 424 || 80.8
|1984–2005
|-
|style="background:#ffb;"|{{sortname|Bruce|Sutter}}<sup>†</sup>
|300 || 74.8
|1976–1988
|-
|{{sortname|Sparky|Lyle}}<sup>L</sup>
|95 || 238 || 71.5
|1967–1982
|-
|{{sortname|Roberto|Hernández|dab=relief pitcher}}
|94 || 326 || 77.6
|1991–2007
|-
|{{sortname|Gene|Garber}}
|82 || 218 || 72.7
|1969–1988
|-
|{{sortname|Kent|Tekulve}}
|rowspan=2|81 || 184 || 69.4
|1974–1989
|-
|{{sortname|Gary|Lavelle}}<sup>L</sup>
| 136 || 62.7
|1974–1987
|-
|style="background:#ffb;"|{{sortname|Mariano|Rivera}}<sup>†</sup>
|rowspan=2|80 || 652 || 89.1
|1995–2013
|-
|{{sortname|Mike|Timlin}}
| 141 || 63.8
|1991–2008
|}
''Stats updated through 2020 season''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/zYrFU |title=Player Pitching Season & Career Finder: Spanning Multiple Seasons or entire Careers, In the Regular Season, from 1901 to 2020, requiring BSv >= 80, sorted by greatest BSv. |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |accessdate=June 10, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/R7pep |title=Player Pitching Season & Career Finder: Spanning Multiple Seasons or entire Careers, In the Regular Season, from 1954 to 2020, requiring BSv >= 80, sorted by greatest SV%. |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |accessdate=June 10, 2021}}</ref>

====Single season====
The below table lists MLB pitchers who have accrued 13 or more blown saves during a single season.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! style="background:#dde;" colspan="7"|Regular season
|-
!Player
!Blown<br>saves
!Saves
!Save %
!Team
!Year
!class=unsortable|Ref.
|-
|{{sortname|Ron|Davis|dab=pitcher}}
|rowspan=5|14
|29 || 67.4
|[[Minnesota Twins]] ||1984 ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=davisro02&t=p&year=1984 |title=Ron Davis 1984 Pitching Game Logs |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:#ffb;"|{{sortname|Rollie|Fingers}}<sup>†</sup>
|20 || 58.8
|[[Oakland Athletics]] ||1976 ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=fingero01&t=p&year=1976 |title=Rollie Fingers 1976 Pitching Game Logs |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|{{sortname|Gerry|Staley}}
|9 ||39.1
|[[Chicago White Sox]] ||1960 ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=stalege01&t=p&year=1960 |title=Gerry Staley 1960 Pitching Game Logs |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|{{sortname|Bob|Stanley|dab=baseball}}
|33 || 70.2
|[[Boston Red Sox]] ||1983 ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=stanlbo01&t=p&year=1983 |title=Bob Stanley 1983 Pitching Game Logs |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:#ffb;"|{{sortname|Bruce|Sutter}}<sup>†</sup>
|27 || 65.9
|[[Chicago Cubs]] ||1978 ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=suttebr01&t=p&year=1978 |title=Bruce Sutter 1978 Pitching Game Logs |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:#ffb;"|{{sortname|Goose|Gossage}}<sup>†</sup>
|rowspan=6|13
|22 || 62.9
|[[New York Yankees]] ||1983 ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=gossari01&t=p&year=1983 |title=Rich Gossage 1983 Pitching Game Logs |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|{{sortname|John|Hiller}}<sup>L</sup>
|13 || 50.0
|[[Detroit Tigers]] ||1976 ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=hillejo01&t=p&year=1976 |title=John Hiller 1976 Pitching Game Logs |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|{{sortname|Clay|Holmes}}
|29 || 69.0
|New York Yankees ||2024 ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=holmecl01&t=p&year=2024 |title=Clay Holmes 2024 Pitching Game Logs |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |accessdate=September 24, 2024}}</ref>
|-
|{{sortname|Dan|Plesac}}<sup>L</sup>
|23 || 63.9
|[[Milwaukee Brewers]] ||1987 ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=plesada01&t=p&year=1987 |title=Dan Plesac 1987 Pitching Game Logs |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|{{sortname|Jeff|Reardon}}
|35 || 72.9
|[[Montreal Expos]] ||1986 ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=reardje01&t=p&year=1986 |title=Jeff Reardon 1986 Pitching Game Logs |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|{{sortname|Dave|Righetti}}<sup>L</sup>
|31 || 70.5
|New York Yankees ||1987 ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=righeda01&t=p&year=1987 |title=Dave Righetti 1987 Pitching Game Logs |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref>
|}
''Stats updated through 2020 season''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/YWcfk |title=Player Pitching Season & Career Finder: For Single Seasons, In the Regular Season, since 1871, requiring BSv >= 13, sorted by greatest BSv. |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |accessdate=June 10, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/QnIiG |title=Player Pitching Season & Career Finder: For Single Seasons, In the Regular Season, from 1954 to 2021, requiring BSv >= 13, sorted by greatest SV%. |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |accessdate=June 10, 2021}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Portal|Baseball}}
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
*[https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SV_career.shtml Career Leaders & Records for Saves] at [[Baseball-Reference.com]]
*[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_saves.shtml Saves Records] at [[Baseball Almanac]]

{{Baseball statistics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Save (Baseball)}}
[[Category:Pitching statistics]]
[[Category:Baseball terminology]]