Greatest MLB Closer of All Time?

[waxboxcards]

I noticed that today is Mariano Rivera's birthday and that got me thinking about three things:

1 - Who is the greatest MLB closer of all time?
2 - Will M. Rivera make a return to the bigs?
3 - Is there anything else he can do to drive more demand for his cards?

[tndcollectables]

That is very hard to say because the save has changed so much. The old days a closer would work 2 or 3 innings for a save. Now its 1 inning or less for one.

1. old days Goose Gossage or Rollie Fingers, new days Mariano
2. yes
3. no

[schwood]

1. The best I ever remember seeing is Rivera.
2. I think he might come back. I do however fear he might not be nearly as effective after the injury though.
3. Make the Hall of Fame. Other than that it seems he has done all he can as a player.

With all of this said, I am a Red Sox fan. Just realistic.

[whitney777]

He's a future Hall of Fame player and I think he will play this season. That should help the prices of his cards.

[ucffans]

Even by making the hall of fame, his cards will have value similar to Barry Larkin, Roberto Alomar, and Bert Blyleven.

[OriolesFan]

Personally, I don't think there is really a GREATEST CLOSER of ALL TIME. The reason I'm saying that is because the CLOSER, in the history of baseball, is fairly new. For "modern" times", the last 25 years or so (maybe 35 to 40), I'd go with Rivera (even though I don't like the Yankees). However, for "ALL TIME", I'd say no one. In the past, most of it, pitchers pitched much longer games, and threw many many more pitches and relief pitchers weren't used nearly as much. Also, in the past they were called RELIEF PITCHERS, none were referred to as CLOSER. Look at the HOF, no RELIEF pitcher made the HOF for a long long long time. And when the first RELIEF pitcher finally made the HALL he wasn't referred to as THE CLOSER.

Have a good day.

[waxboxcards]

Agreed on the Time Technicality

Certainly agree on the time assessment since the "Save" wasn't made official until 1969 - I believe.

Maybe the bigger question is - Is the closer role overrated? Has the closer really improved a team's winning pct. compared to earlier times when teams didn't go to a "closer"?

Personally, I don't think there is really a GREATEST CLOSER of ALL TIME. The reason I'm saying that is because the CLOSER, in the history of baseball, is fairly new. For "modern" times", the last 25 years or so (maybe 35 to 40), I'd go with Rivera (even though I don't like the Yankees). However, for "ALL TIME", I'd say no one. In the past, most of it, pitchers pitched much longer games, and threw many many more pitches and relief pitchers weren't used nearly as much. Also, in the past they were called RELIEF PITCHERS, none were referred to as CLOSER. Look at the HOF, no RELIEF pitcher made the HOF for a long long long time. And when the first RELIEF pitcher finally made the HALL he wasn't referred to as THE CLOSER.

Have a good day.

[gladdyontherise]

THIS GUY:



but seriously, it's Rivera and it's not even close.

[jsab4807]

Bob Wickman

[ucffans]

This was a topic on Best 9 last night. Actually, it was the top seasons by a closer.

1st Eck 1990
2nd Gagne 2003

[Dave Crum]

IMO Rivera is tops. But to me it is very close. I think Dennis Eckersley makes a strong case.

Eck had 361 starts in his career. Thats close to 10 years of service dedicated to starting games. He still ended up with 390 saves. It would have been fun to see how the numbers would have compared if Eck was to have spent his entire career focussing on saves. Or Rivera would have compared if he had spent his first 10 years as a starter.

Interesting point,
Rivera save percentage is around .893
Hoffman is .888
Valverde is .888
Papelbon is .886

but

Nathan is .895 and
Gagne is .917

Does the number of saves or best percentage make the best closer? Other closers had higher save percentages with inferior teams. Food for thought. Dave