Major League Saves are a Funny Thing - All Time Leaders are Low

    To make it in the top 1,000 saves leaders of all time, there are around a dozen or so pitchers with only 15 saves. That is paltry, in my opinion. Saves have become much more prevalent in the last few decades, so guys throwing before the 1970s did not have as many chances. Also, close wins are part of the save as a statistic. If a great closer is part of a team that blows out their competition a lot, he does not get as many chances to score the save.

    One great closer in a big season can get 50 or more saves. A few have done this consistenly. Some have some great seasons and peter out faster than others. The Wild Thing for Los Angeles was that way.

    It is hard to believe that 15 saves gets you into the top thousand of all time in 2026.

    Blog it, discuss it.