300 save club

Group of pitchers with 300 or more regular-season saves in their careers From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In Major League Baseball (MLB), the 300 save club is the group of pitchers who have recorded 300 or more regular-season saves in their careers.[1][2][3][4] Most commonly a relief pitcher ("reliever" or "closer") earns a save by being the final pitcher of a game in which his team is winning by three or fewer runs and pitching at least one inning without losing the lead. The final pitcher of a game can earn a save by getting at least one batter out to end the game with the tying run on base, at bat, or on deck, or by pitching the last three innings without relinquishing the lead, regardless of score.[5] The statistic was created by Jerome Holtzman in 1959 to "measure the effectiveness of relief pitchers" and was adopted as an official statistic by MLB in 1969.[6][7] The save has been retroactively measured for past pitchers where applicable. Hoyt Wilhelm retired in 1972 and recorded just 31 saves from 1969 onwards, for example, but holds 228 total career saves.[8]

A right-handed Hispanic baseball pitcher, wearing a grey uniform with the lettering "NEW YORK" across it, with his body facing the right as he prepares to throw a baseball.
Mariano Rivera has the most career saves in Major League Baseball history with 652.

Mariano Rivera holds the MLB save record with 652. Only Rivera and Trevor Hoffman have exceeded 500 or 600 saves, and Hoffman was the first to achieve either. Only eight pitchers have recorded 400 or more saves: Rivera, Hoffman, Kenley Jansen, Lee Smith, Craig Kimbrel, Francisco Rodríguez, John Franco, and Billy Wagner.

Rollie Fingers was the first player to record 300 saves, reaching the mark on August 21, 1982. Aroldis Chapman is the most recent, achieving his 300th on August 26, 2021. The New York Mets are the only franchise to see three players reach the milestone while on their roster—John Franco, Billy Wagner, and Jason Isringhausen. In total, 31 players have recorded 300 or more saves in their career. Only nine relievers – Dennis Eckersley, Fingers, Goose Gossage, Hoffman, Rivera, Smith, Bruce Sutter, Wagner, and Wilhelm – have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame;[9] all but Wilhelm also have at least 300 saves.[10] Jansen, Kimbrel, and Chapman are the only active players with more than 300 saves.[11]

Key

More information †, ‡ ...
PlayerName of the player
SVTotal career saves
DateDate of the pitcher's 300th save
TeamThe pitcher's team for his 300th save
† Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame
‡ Player is active[note 1]
Close

List

A man in a white baseball uniform and navy blue cap stands on a dirt mound throwing a pitch with his right hand. He is wearing a black belt, black shoes, and a black baseball glove, and his uniform reads "Padres" in navy blue script across the chest, outlined in tan. His cap has two interlocked letters: "S" and "D".
Trevor Hoffman was the first player to reach the 500 and 600 save milestones.
Aroldis Chapman, joining the club on August 26, 2021, is the most recent addition.
  • Stats updated as of May 1, 2026.
More information Player, SV ...
Player SV 300th save Years active Ref(s)
Date Team
Mariano Rivera† 652 May 28, 2004 New York Yankees 1995–2013 [12][13]
Trevor Hoffman† 601 August 15, 2001 San Diego Padres 1993–2010 [14]
Kenley Jansen‡ 482 September 25, 2019 Los Angeles Dodgers 2010–present [15]
Lee Smith† 478 August 25, 1991 St. Louis Cardinals 1980–1997 [16][17]
Craig Kimbrel‡ 440 May 5, 2018 Boston Red Sox 2010–present [18]
Francisco Rodríguez 437 June 22, 2013 Milwaukee Brewers 2002–2017 [19][20]
John Franco 424 April 29, 1996 New York Mets 1984–2005 [21]
Billy Wagner† 422 July 4, 2006 New York Mets 1995–2010 [22]
Dennis Eckersley† 390 May 24, 1995 Oakland Athletics 1975–1998 [23]
Joe Nathan 377 April 8, 2013 Texas Rangers 1999–2000, 2002–2009, 2011–2016 [24][25]
Aroldis Chapman‡ 373 August 26, 2021 New York Yankees 2010–present [26]
Jonathan Papelbon 368 June 10, 2014 Philadelphia Phillies 2005–2016 [27]
Jeff Reardon 367 May 20, 1991 Boston Red Sox 1979–1994 [28][29]
Troy Percival 358 July 28, 2004 Anaheim Angels 1995–2005, 2007–2009 [30][31]
Randy Myers 347 July 1, 1997 Baltimore Orioles 1985–1998 [32][33]
Rollie Fingers† 341 August 21, 1982 Milwaukee Brewers 1968–1985 [34]
John Wetteland 330 May 12, 2000 Texas Rangers 1989–2000 [35]
Francisco Cordero 329 June 1, 2011 Cincinnati Reds 1999–2012 [2][36]
Fernando Rodney 327 September 22, 2017 Arizona Diamondbacks 2002–2003, 2005–2019 [37]
Roberto Hernández 326 May 25, 2002 Kansas City Royals 1991–2007 [38][39]
Huston Street 324 July 22, 2015 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 2005–2017 [40]
José Mesa 321 April 27, 2005 Pittsburgh Pirates 1987, 1990–2007 [41][42]
Todd Jones 319 September 16, 2007 Detroit Tigers 1993–2008 [43][44]
Rick Aguilera 318 June 2, 2000 Chicago Cubs 1985–2000 [45][46]
Robb Nen 314 August 6, 2002 San Francisco Giants 1993–2002 [3][47]
Tom Henke 311 August 18, 1995 St. Louis Cardinals 1982–1995 [48]
Goose Gossage† 310 August 6, 1988 Chicago Cubs 1972–1989, 1991–1994 [49]
Jeff Montgomery 304 August 25, 1999 Kansas City Royals 1987–1999 [50]
Doug Jones 303 September 11, 1999 Oakland Athletics 1982–2000 [51]
Jason Isringhausen 300 August 15, 2011 New York Mets 1995–2012 [52]
Bruce Sutter† 300 September 9, 1988 Atlanta Braves 1976–1986, 1988 [53]
Close
A ticket from the game where Goose Gossage became the second player in MLB history to earn 300 career saves on August 6, 1988.

See also

Notes

  1. [1]
    A player is considered inactive if he has announced his retirement or not played for a full season.

References

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