In expectation of the Big game happening this year in Tampa Florida United States ,Betway has featured a collection of the most powerful players of all time in the Super Bowl history.
Super Bowl LV, the 51st modern-era National Football League (NFL) championship game happening on 7th February 2021 where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers meet Kansas City Chiefs on Raymond James Stadium, we have made up the team with all the smartest American footballers to date.
It will also be the fifth Super Bowl hosted in the Tampa area and the Buccaneers will be the first team ever to play a Super Bowl at its Home stadium under COVID-19 protocol.
The players selected are mostly the fans’ favorites. They also hold the record for their touchdowns.
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Patrick Mahomes II / 287 rushing yards, 41 TDs
We startup with the team’s most wishful choice.
Patrick is one of the most determined quarterbacks in Super Bowl history, He has also played the crucial traits of Quarterback and has kept his cool even in his most crucial moment of the game.
Running back: Clyde Ewards-Helaire / 1414 yards, 16 TDs
Clyde Edwards is one remarkable player of all time.
He is a threat to the opponents because of his ability to make the defenders miss into the both running and passing game, he is a very slippery target for the defenders due to his average height of 5’07
Running back: Anthony Sherman/ Caught 11 passes for 127 yards, 1 TD
Anthony Sherman is not much of an impulsive player but a blocker of a kind.
He is an effective player in pass protection and his power lies with the toughness of his kick-out block. But he had only carried the ball 5 times in the past two years.
Left Wide receiver: Tyreek Hill/ 5081 185 4.31
Tyreek Hill is well known for his domestic violence but as a footballer of Kansas City, his talent remains in his world-class speed which makes his opponents difficult.
He was dismissed from the Oklahoma state team on 12/12/14.
Right Wide receiver: Sammy Watkins/ 14.4Ypr, 12 TDs
Sammy Watkins is a double-move-creating magician which he reaches out to get the ball and freezes at the opposing defenders but once he finds his way, he accelerates and wins the one-on-one battle with his instant acceleration.
Tight End: Travis Kelce/ 16.0 Ypr, 8 TDs
Travis Kelce is a good mover who plays in balance and when it comes to blocking, he is so much aggressive that he snatches the ball and his explosiveness makes him a tight end for the opposing teams.
DEFENSE
Left Defensive End: Tanoh Kpassagnon/ 6067 280 4.8
Tanoh is a battle mammoth, he has gained so much weight but his tackles are highly professional he tosses the opposing players, He may be a risk when the runners approach him and the technique he uses is very raw. He is not much of a person with speed.
Keep up to date with Superbowl tips with the Insider.
According to mybesthookup users, modern media culture has definitely influenced their dating lifestyle, with musical tastes being a prime motivator. While everyone has a particular genre they enjoy listening to the most, certain trends are guaranteed to produce a sense of excitement and sexual tension, even if this sound isn’t necessarily your first preference. Take rock n’ roll the style that pretty much-transformed society in the 1950s and 1960s single-handedly creating the younger generation and hookup culture.
The impact of the rock n’ roll lifestyle on the sexual behavior of modern adults
Before this defining moment, there was little to differentiate between young people and their parents. They would dress similarly, and share many of the same hobbies or tastes in music. The advent of rebellious, dangerous, and downright sexy performers such as Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the ‘King of Rock n’ Roll himself – Elvis Presley – in the 1950s led to a generation gap. Older people frowned on these lewd performers. When Elvis appeared on television shows, he was always filmed from the waist up, as his hip gyrations were deemed far too suggestive for family viewing!
Rock n’ roll icons often seem to live in a world far removed from the mere mortals who buy their records and watch their concerts. They party hard, take illicit substances, are far from monogamous, and generally love subscribing to the ‘live fast, die young’ cliché. While this is perhaps irresponsible for anyone seeking a meaningful relationship, it can influence sexual behavior amongst fans, steering them towards ‘no strings attached’ encounters.
The contribution of rockn’roll to hookup culture
Unlike pop music that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, with a lot of the marketing specifically targeting the adolescent market, rock n’ roll tends to be for grown-ups. A key aspect of this form of loud and aggressive music is its sex appeal, from those girls screaming out their teenage crushes at The Beatles, up to today’s groupies hanging around outside dressing rooms hoping to catch the eye of one of their idols, perhaps initiating a hookup that night.
Here are four famed artists, and their key songs that celebrate this somewhat casual but passionate attitude to romance.
The lead singer of the English band Queen, Freddie Mercurywas renowned for being one of the most flamboyant frontmen in rock n’ roll, strutting across stages across the world, his ambiguous sexual status appealing across the board. Queen’s anthemic hit ‘Don’t Stop Me Know’captures his exuberance, inviting singles to follow in his footsteps, and go out there and grab life by the horns!
Kurt Cobainwas the iconic figurehead of the late 1980s revival in US heavy rock that became labeled ‘grunge’.Far removed from the pompous and theatrical behavior of the likes of Guns N’Roses, his band was rawer, hearkening back to the rebellious punk movement from the previous decade.‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’, the song that brought them international fame, is a celebration of what it is to be young, and ready to embrace the possibilities of life and love. It’s not about settling down with commitments!
In the mid-1970s, an entirely new subculture of rock n’ roll music, fashion, and, above all, attitude, swept over the USA, springboarding into the UK. The tabloid press were quick to label this loud, proud, frenetic but anti-social movement ‘punk rock’. But it gave a staid industry a timely shake-up, and one of the primary exponents, Londoners The Clash, led by the late the charismatic, Joe Strummer. The title of their song ‘Lover’s Rock’was a celebration of love.
And, of course,Elvis Presley, who may have originated in relative poverty in Tupelo, Mississippi in the USA, but went on to become one of the most popular and influential rock n ‘roll singers of all time. He could convey strong emotions so effortlessly, in his instantly-recognizable voice. Who’s to say whether these intense feelings were most appropriate for a long-term romance or casual hookups? The common denominator is the depth of passion, applicable to the moment – whether that lasts for one night, or is spread throughout one lifetime.
Is this the year Curt Schilling makes it into the National Baseball Hall of Fame? Will Schilling be the only player elected to the Hall this year? After all the tumultuous voting activity of the 2010s, has voting for the Hall returned to "normal"?
Only a crystal ball, or the patience to wait until voting results for the 2021 Baseball Hall of Fame are announced on January 26, 2021, can give us the definitive answers, but of course that doesn't stop us from prognosticating before we learn the results.
For now, the short answers are:
1. Maybe.
2. Possibly.
3. Likely.
Mahomes’ Status Unclear in AFC Championship
The Chiefs did what everyone, but the most diehard Dawg Pound fan, believed they would do when they defeated the Cleveland Browns, 22-17, in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.
However, a not so funny thing happened on the way to the conference title tilt for the defending Super Bowl champs. Their All-Pro quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, sustained a head injury during the third quarter that sidelined him for the remainder of the game.
The NFL’s concussionprotocol is stringent and the rules are clear. There are five steps a player must pass but there is no specified number of days that said player must sit. Based on the postgame reports, Mahomes appears to be shaking off the effects of a jarring tackle from Browns’ linebacker, Mack Wilson.
After Sunday's game, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, "He’s doing great now, which is a real positive as we looked at this. He passed all the deals that he needed to pass, so we’ll see where it goes from here.”
Mahomes tweeted after the game, "#HenneThingIsPossible" which is a clever nod to backup Chad Henne, the 13-year journeyman backup who came in after Mahomes went down.
His second tweet was in response to Mack Wilson’s tweet, “Prayers to @PatrickMahomes. I pray you back next week! Go be great like you have been!”
Mahomes replied, “All good brother!”
Positive vibes coming out of the KC camp but that still doesn’t answer whether or not the 25-year-old wunderkind will be back under center when the Chiefs welcome the upstart Buffalo Bills to Arrowhead Stadium.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Mahomes’ status, the Super Bowl odds at all of the major online sportsbooks are dealing the Chiefs as favorites to repeat as champions. But that will all change if Mahomes is ruled ineligible for the showdown with the Bills on Sunday. And speaking of which, the Chiefs are currently anywhere from 2 ½ to 4-point favorites depending on where you shop but if Henne does get tapped to play on Sunday, that number will reverse course in a hurry.
John Murray, executive director of the SuperBook at Westgate Las Vegas, noted that some of his oddsmakers speculated that Buffalo could soar from a three-point underdog to as high as a seven-point favorite if Henne, and not Mahomes, gets the start, "If Mahomes were ruled out, the Bills would be a decent favorite. That (Buffalo-7) sounds a little extreme to me, but it gives you an idea just how much drop-off it is from Mahomes to Henne, in terms of the point spread."
Brady’s Legend Grows
It’s not all that complicated to get your team into the NFL playoffs. Just purchase yourself the greatest quarterback to ever lace up the cleats, give him the ball and the keys to the offense, sit back, crack open a cold one, and let him drive your team to the big show. Simple, really.
And that’s exactly what Tom Brady has done in Tampa Bay. A perennial also-ran, the Bucs' only taste of Super Bowl glory came during the 2002 season. Since that time the franchise has been in only two postseason contests, losing in the wild card round on both occasions, and hasn’t sniffed a playoff berth in a dozen years before this season.
But Brady hasn’t done it alone. He has some very potent weapons surrounding him in the forms of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown, and a fading, but still effective, Rob Gronkowski.
Yet, it was the Bucs’ defense that came up with a few critical turnovers in the 30-20 victory over the New Orleans Saints, and one that likely spelled the end of a long and illustrious career for Saints’ 42-year-old quarterback, Drew Brees.
"I appreciate all that this game has given to me," Brees said. "There are obviously so many incredible memories."
Brady and company will face another future Hall-of-Fame quarterback next week when they travel to Lambeau Field to take on Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.
"We worked hard to get to this point. Two road playoff wins is pretty sweet," Brady said. "We've got to go beat a great football team we know pretty well. Aaron's playing incredible."
It is getting to be that time!
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is getting ready to announce their Class of 2021, and it looks like we have a pretty good idea as to who some of those members might be.
According to SportsBettingDime.com, Peyton Manning is an absolute lock to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the stacked 2021 class, and there is no possible metric that can be pointed at to say that they are wrong. After Manning, Defensive Back, Charles Woodson, who is also in his first year of eligibility is expected to join him. Woodson is a nine-time Pro Bowler and former Defensive Player of the Year.
After Woodson, it becomes a little less clear. Many believe that six-time All-Pro, Alan Faneca might get the call this year. Anchoring the Steeler’s offensive line for nearly a decade, Faneca has been passed over for fellow linemen, Kevin Mawae and Steve Hutchinson despite having a better resume.
Calvin Johnson is another good bet. The man with the nickname of “Megatron” abruptly retired, and has substantially less Receiving Yards than other Finalists, Reggie Wayne and Torry Holt, however, he was considered the best wideout in football and his highlight reel puts the others to shame.
After these four it gets a little tricky. John Lynch is a Finalist for the eighth time, and with his former teammate and fellow Defensive Back, Ronde Barber, now making the Finals, it could push Lynch through. The buzz around Zach Thomas’ candidacy is growing as is LeRoy Butlers.
The most interesting candidate has to be former Linebacker, Clay Matthews Jr., who is a Finalist for the first time in what his last year of eligibility. There is no other candidate that has more fervent support, and could sentiment propel Matthews Jr. into the Hall of Fame?
Regardless of who gets in we will be watching!
Astrology is a complex and inexplicable non-science field that attracts supporters up to this day. Many even follow horoscopes to make gambling predictions. What’s more, there’s a themed casino — Zodiac Casino — that assigns gambling-related horoscopes and lucky numbers to each zodiac sign daily. Does it really work?
Upon taking a quick look at the list of gambling champions, it seems that those people are just lucky, and there is nothing astrological about their victories. But what if we are wrong? Today, we’ll disclose the zodiac background of the most famous winners in gambling history.
Those familiar with land-based casinos know that Las Vegas is the motherland of gambling. Long ago, in 1989, a man named Elmer Sherwin won his first couple of millions ($4.6 million, to be precise) playing Mirage. Over 15 years later, he hit a $21-million jackpot just because he felt lucky. We could have left it as it is because lucky days do happen. However, we know that Elmer’s zodiac sign was Pisces.
Pisces is a water sign, so it’s not typical of them to take risks regularly. Besides, they worry about their financial state a little bit too much, so gambling is often referred to as an unjustified waste of money. But on rare occasions, Pisces may feel like they are about to win, and those feelings usually turn out to be true. Elmer Sherwin gambled twice and both times he was successful.
However, should Elmer have chosen poker, the odds wouldn’t be so satisfactory. With the emotions written all over their faces and the urge to make quick decisions, Pisces isn’t good at poker. Games that require little interaction, such as roulette or baccarat, suit people of this sign well. All in all, when gambling, Pisces should rely on their gut feeling or well-developed strategy, and the success will hit their way.
Lee Sang-hyeok is a Korean video gamer widely known under the name of Faker or Michael Jordan of League of Legends. He has led his team to the World Championship three times already. And that is surely not the end of his gaming career. What makes Lee so determined and victorious? Is it the upbringing, a strong passion for video games, or is there anything else?
Lee Sang-hyeok is the zodiac bull. Born under the sign of Taurus, the gamer absorbed all the most vital features of the sign and managed to effectively develop them. Taureans are believed to be stubborn, but in the case of Faker, this is rather a virtue than a vice. Taurean people like to keep things under control, and that is the feature typical of the victors.
Since Taurus is overly cautious about their finances, most assume that gambling is not for Taurus. However, eSports is different, isn’t it? eSports is among less risky options to try your luck. Games with fixed odds are potentially attractive to Taurus. Being financially-cautious, they are usually interested in growing their fortunes using the fastest way possible.
Land-based casinos are usually too noisy and overwhelming for conservative Taurus. Thus, they mostly prefer online casinos instead. Card games, baccarat, and roulette are the best gambling games for level-headed and patient bulls.
Spanish-born and raised Gonzalo Garcia-Pelayo started his career as a film producer, but gambling turned out to be more profitable for him. His approach to gambling was unique and gained wide popularity. Some casinos even sued him.
Gonzalo noticed that some numbers were favored by the roulette wheel more than the others. After comprehensive research, Garcia-Pelayo figured out the numbers to bet on and enjoyed gambling throughout Spain and later, Las-Vegas. Over time, casino owners uncovered the gambler's trick, and he wasn’t welcome in casinos anymore. However, his research and dedication improved his financial state tremendously, so he no longer needed to gamble to make a profit.
Now that you know Gonzalo Garcia-Pelayo’s story, it’s easy to assume that his personality is quite an extraordinary one. His zodiac sign may be a reason for that. Gonzalo was born under the sign of Gemini. Being a sign of air, Gemini loves to lead an active and exciting life. They are full of ideas and take an innovative approach to the things that most people are already used to. Gemini gambles for the sake of gambling. The process and the rush of adrenaline are more essential for them than the profit generated.
Gemini is the sign of twins, so they tend to get bored quickly. Fast-paced games, such as roulette, are the best choice for them. Since they approach the gambling activity with a curious and positive spirit, Gemini usually wins the game. However, the awareness of when to stop may be vague at times, leading to profit loss.
To sum it all up, it’s safe to say that your zodiac sign affects the way you gamble. What is more, the sign you were born under can point out which games to choose as well as those that you should avoid. Whenever you feel like it’s your lucky day, you should grab the opportunity, especially if your sign is Pisces. Lastly, it never hurts to develop some victory-determining traits of other signs such as patience and optimism when heading for the win!
The Rapid and Random History of the Royal Rumble Match
In 2021, the Royal Rumble match will take place for the first time since its creator, WWE Hall of Famer, the late Pat Patterson passed away. For over 30 years, this battle royale with a twist has been delighting fans of pro wrestling each and every January.
First held in 1988 when “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan won after entering at number 13, early editions of the Royal Rumble were a vehicle used to get big babyfaces over. Hulk Hogan became the first wrestler to win the match more than once with consecutive successes in 1990 and 1991.
The stakes with the Royal Rumble really kicked up at notch the following year when the vacant WWE Championship was up for grabs. Hogan and The Undertaker had traded the world title in controversial circumstances towards the end of 1991, but the match and belt went to “Nature Boy” Ric Flair.
Every year after 1992 with the exception of 2016 when the WWE Championship was on the line again, the winner of the Royal Rumble received a world title match at the next major event, WrestleMania. In 1994, the match was declared a draw when Bret “Hitman” Hart and Lex Luger eliminated one another.
WWE hasn’t always taken a consistent attitude to that. Although the 1994 finish was planned, the 2005 Royal Rumble saw John Cena and Batista, the intended winner, accidentally both go over the top rope and hit the floor together.
An infuriated Vince McMahon tore both his quads when getting into the ring and ordering the match to be restarted, so it could reach its intended conclusion. Speaking of the WWE chairman, he entered and won the 1999 Royal Rumble but relinquished any WrestleMania championship opportunity.
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin, the only three-time winner of the match to date, was stripped of his title match in 1997 after referees missed the fact he was eliminated. The Texas Rattlesnake managed to slither back into the ring before the officials noticed.
Getting the push
Austin and Shawn Michaels had never been WWE Champion before winning two Royal Rumbles each. This shows how the match can be used to elevate wrestlers into major title contenders, but it has also been used to catapult those returning from injury back into the spotlight.
A first Royal Rumble win in 2002 for Triple H following the first of two quad tears and Edge coming back from an Achilles problem in 2010 show how the match works that dynamic. Surprise entrants, including wrestlers making comebacks or debuts, are all part of the fabric of this.
Royal Rumble pushes come in many forms. Besides the shock return, there is also a common angle where a wrestler takes out many opponents but doesn’t win the match with Kane setting a then record of 11 eliminations in 2001.
Usually speaking, the Royal Rumble has 30 entrants in it but in 2011 – perhaps to reflect the ever-expanding WWE roster – there were 40 competitors. Alberto Del Rio became the first wrestler born from outside the USA or Canada to win the match.
In the last decade, entrants from the UK, Ireland and Japan have all been crowned Royal Rumble winners. A women’s only match was introduced in 2018, although female wrestlers had competed on occasion against the men with Chyna blazing that trail back in 1999.
Destined for greatness
You would think winning the Royal Rumble would help to secure a place in the Hall of Fame, but as yet wrestling icons like The Undertaker, successful in 2007, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson who was victorious in 2000 don’t have spots. That may only just be a matter of time. Speaking of The Rock, there is plenty of speculation about him returning to WWE soon. Always a monster box office draw whether acting in a movie or stepping back inside the ring, the latest Betway betting on headlining WrestleMania in 2021 has him at 4/1 to battle cousin Roman Reigns as of December 30.
Using the Royal Rumble to start that program with the current Universal Champion could bring mainstream attention on WWE in the coming months. Seeing The Rock win another world title is precisely the kind of feelgood moment pro wrestling can go for in the main event of a major pay-per-view.
WWE has been willing to put its top titles on part-time wrestlers in recent years. See 2003 Royal Rumble winner Brock Lesnaror Goldberg for evidence of that. From Kofi Kingston’s acrobatics to the emotional 2006 win for Rey Mysterio, even smaller competitors can get in on the act, and that is what keeps us still watching the Royal Rumble now into its fifth different decade.
Like all other businesses, online casino websites also receive their fair share of public opinions and varying reviews. Some of these reviews may be biased towards negativity and disapproval as customers tend to be more critical of any bad experiences. However, this doesn’t mean that all online casinos with bad reviews are bad; you may just be surprised at the inaccuracy of some personal reviews.
Luckily, newer reviews are becoming more and more reliable compared to the past as the positivity of these reviews are often supported with research and figures. In addition, the industry has seen many new changes such as for ownership, licensing, regulations, and more. With better responsibility on the customers, we have started to see better reliability on reviews and ratings as well. And for fans of online casinos, be sure to find sites where you can play for free on registration for the best deals.
In the beginnings of online gaming casinos, the industry was flooded with various types of gambling websites for their respective providers. While some gambling sites tried to stay, most of them would obtain the money and disappear. These rogue casinos spurred on an era of cash-grabbing casinos with unfair practices and payout problems. In addition, the aspect of customer service was missing.
As a response to these rogue gambling sites, customers took it upon themselves by setting up reviews and posting their opinions of various online casinos. These lead to the birth of review sites and eventually, a system for reporting and blackmailing any unfair or shady practices. This helped to reform online gambling sites and brought about positive change as they were unable to hide any problems or unlawful acts.
While there are definitely lesser rouge sites right now, one still needs to be careful of online gambling sites even if they have received good reviews. However, the chances of stumbling upon a good and reliable site is much higher now.
Look for reviews that include as many details as possible, describing any fees or important information. A good review should encompass the customer’s experience in a way that is not only personal but also useful for others who are looking into the service. Avoid reviews that are oversimplified.
A good review also includes reliable facts rather than just personal preferences. Some important facts that should be included in a review are the user’s first impressions, the customer service, types of games, and the site’s reputation. For those who are concerned about the financial reliability of the place, look out for details on deposits and payouts, bonuses and promotions as well as other gambling details to take note of.
Remember that the rating of a review does not represent the quality of the online gambling site as these can be subjective. One may decide to give a lower or higher star rating depending on what is more important to their experience. Hence, it is still most important to read unbiased and in-depth reviews as well as from multiple sources.
For an online casino which began in 2020, Las Atlantis does not have payout track records nor player feedback to reference from. Regardless, the site has managed to keep good reviews and ratings. This is due to the impressive casino design that Las Atlantis offers consisting of free deposits and payouts, an estimated 250 games, mobile pay, and bonus incentives. The casino also has proper licensing and offers customer service in multiple ways. Just for the unique and well-thought-through user experience, the new casino has managed to garner quite a few positive feedback from customers.
Likewise, Super Slots is another new casino which began in 2020. It is a sister site to a few other gambling websites such as BetOnline sportsbook and Wild Casino, giving it the advantage of adopting past review material. In addition, although the gambling site is independent, it’s evaluation still depends on the other websites as they are all operating under the same umbrella. This has helped grow positive reviews for Super Slots. The site also boosts licensed software as well as two live casinos, allowing users to pick from cryptocurrencies to traditional banking routes. Mobile play is also available.
While Red Dog Casino does not belong under the BetOnline umbrella, it is affiliated to well-known sister sites such as El Royale and Slots Empire. What makes Red Dog Casino stand out is the VIP atmosphere that each of the sites oozes, along with licensed RealTime Gaming slots, various interesting games, and a live casino. Not to mention, the promotions and opportunities given out are very generous. But the main highlight of Red Dog Casino is the ability to accept credit cards in both directions, allowing payouts back to credit cards. For those who prefer the banking route, they might just leave the site with a high rating and review.
Accessibility to cash will always garner a gambling site’s high reviews as customers always treasure the ability to cash in and out of their accounts as fast as possible. Vegas Casino Online offers a low minimum deposit and does not charge extra fees for payouts in either direction. With only five dollars in Bitcoin, one can give this casino a try; not to mention it is also a low price of twenty dollars for the traditional credit card route. For those who want to give online casinos a try without making a big investment, Vegas Casino Online is one of the best ways for recreational players and beginners to get started.
With a unique theme, easy to use interface and a $5,000 bonus for new players to get started with, it is no wonder that Wild Casinos receives such positive reviews. While a significant amount of positive feedback may come from its sister website BetOnline, Wild Casino also uses Betsoft Gaming which includes games such as Frankenslots Monster and Good Girl-Bad Girl. As public information on the games are easily accessible by customers, this could have boosted their reviews as well. However, for those who are interested in banking, Wild Casino does not offer a menu that is as attractive as Vegas Casino Online or Red Dog Casino.
While it is clear that a lot of reviews are subjective, the importance of good reliable reviews is that they help to weed out rogue casinos which can potentially land your finances in danger with their questionable practices. An unbiased and in-depth review of a service can also help customers understand the site better and deem it by their own standards if it is to their taste or not. Always make sure to read from a wide variety of sources as well to get the full picture.
We here at Notinhalloffame.com thought it would be fun to take a look at the major awards in North American team sports and see how it translates into Hall of Fame potential.
Needless to say, different awards in different sports yield hall of fame potential. In basketball, the team sport with the least number of players on a roster, the dividend for greatness much higher. In baseball, it is not as much as a great individual season does not have the same impact.
Last time, we looked at the now defunct Delivery Man of the Year, a trophy that only existed from 2005 to 2013. We also looked at recently the Rolaids Reliever of the Year, which was mathematically calculated to honor the best closer. In 2014, a new award, which will likely be the gold standard for closers arrived, the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year and Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year.
These awards honor the best modern closers after being named after two Hall of Famers.
Yes, we know that this is embryonic, but that will only be temporary, so we know that this won’t yield anyone…for now.
So how many Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year and Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year winners have made the Baseball Hall of Fame?
Let’s find out!
The following are the past players who have won either the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year and Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year who are eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.
None
The following are the players who have won the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year and Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year who are eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame and have not been selected:
None.
Let’s update our tally, shall we?
|
Award in Question |
Percentage of recipients who have entered the HOF |
Percentage of recipients by year who have entered the HOF. |
|
NBA MVP |
100% |
100% |
|
NHL Art Ross |
100% |
100% |
|
NHL Hart Trophy |
93.6% |
96.3% |
|
NBA Finals MVP |
91.3% |
94.9% |
|
NHL Norris |
90.5% |
96.4% |
|
NHL Ted Lindsay Award |
90.0% |
|
|
NBA All-Star Game MVP |
89.5% |
91.7% |
|
NHL Conn Smythe |
74.2% |
85.4% |
|
NFL Bert Bell Award |
73.7% |
71.4% |
|
NFL AP Offensive Player of the Year |
73.1% |
79.4% |
|
NFL AP MVP |
68.3% |
74.0% |
|
NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year |
66.7% |
66.7% |
|
NHL Lady Byng |
63.8% |
76.0% |
|
NFL Defensive Player of the Year |
60.8% |
71.1% |
|
NFL Super Bowl MVP |
60.6% |
64.9% |
|
NHL Mark Messier Leadership Award |
60.0% |
60.0% |
|
NBA Defensive Player of the Year |
58.3% |
56.5% |
|
NHL Vezina |
57.1% |
66.3% |
|
NBA Rookie of the Year |
56.5% |
56.5% |
|
MLB MVP |
55.0% |
60.2% |
|
NFL Pro Bowl MVP |
52.3% |
54.8% |
|
MLB Lou Gehrig Award |
51.9% |
51.9% |
|
MLB Roberto Clemente Award |
47.4% |
47.4% |
|
NHL Calder Trophy |
46.5% |
46.5% |
|
NBA J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award |
46.0% |
46.0% |
|
MLB/NL/AL Cy Young Award |
44.4% |
55.4% |
|
MLB Babe Ruth Award |
37.0% |
39.3% |
|
NHL King Clancy Award |
36.8% |
36.8% |
|
NHL Frank J. Selke Trophy |
33.3% |
36.7% |
|
MLB World Series MVP |
33.3% |
36.8% |
|
MLB Hutch Award |
33.1% |
33.1% |
|
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year |
28.6% |
28.6% |
|
NHL Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy |
27.9% |
27.9% |
|
MLB Edgar Martinez Award |
26.7% |
17.2% |
|
MLB Delivery Man of the Year |
25.0% |
50.0% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Designated Hitter) |
25.0% |
30.8% |
|
MLB Comeback Player of the Year |
25.0% |
25.0% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Shortstop) |
23.5% |
52.6% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove |
21.7% |
36.8% |
|
NHL William M. Jennings Trophy |
20.7% |
40.4% |
|
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year |
20.6% |
20.6% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Catcher) |
20.0% |
22.5% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Second Base) |
18.8% |
39.8% |
|
MLB Rolaids Reliever of the Year |
18.6% |
33.3% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Shortstop) |
18.2% |
35.1% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Pitcher) |
18.2% |
20.1% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Second Base) |
16.7% |
32.7% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Outfield) |
16.7% |
30.1% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Outfield) |
15.7% |
25.2% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Third Base) |
14.3% |
14.3% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Third Base) |
13.6% |
14.3% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (First Base) |
13.6% |
13.3% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Rookie of the Year |
13.3% |
13.3% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Catcher) |
10.3% |
15.2% |
|
NBA Most Improved Player of the Year |
5.3% |
3.2% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (First Base) |
3.8% |
3.2% |
|
NFL AP Comeback Player of the Year |
0.0% |
0.0% |
So, who is up next?
The following are the players who have won the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year and Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year in MLB who have retired but have not met the mandatory years out of the game to qualify for the Baseball Hall of Fame:
None.
The following are the players who have won the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year and Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year in MLB who are still active.
Greg Holland, Kansas City Royals: 1-3, 46 Saves, 1.44 ERA, 90 SO, 2014, AL
Greg Holland was in his fifth year in the Majors, all of which were in Kansas City. An All-Star in 2013, Holland was so again in 2014, and posted a 1.44 ERA with a 0.914 WHIP. Holland was ninth in Cy Young voting this year, and he helped the Royals win the American League Pennant. The Royals won the World Series in 2015, but Holland had to leave late in the season for Tommy John Surgery. He came back in 2016, but with St. Louis. Holland came back in 2020 to the Royals.
35 Years Old, Playing for the Kansas City Royals.
Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves: 0-3, 47 Saves, 1.61 ERA, 95 SO, 2014, NL
By this point, Craig Kimbrel already won the Rookie of the Year, and was the final NL Rolaids Reliever of the Year and Delivery Man of the Year. Kimbrel fittingly became the first Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year, and this was his fourth consecutive season leading the NL in Saves. He notably was named the TSN Pitcher of the Year, the second straight time that Kimbrel won that award. Kimbrel was ninth in Cy Young voting.
33 Years Old, Playing for the Chicago Cubs.
Andrew Miller, New York Yankees: 3-2, 36 Saves, 2.04 ERA, 100 SO, 2015, AL
It didn’t take long for a Yankee to win an award named after a Yankee, but it did take Miller long to win an award of any kind as a Major League Pitcher. Miller debuted in 2006 for Detroit, and he would later play for Florida, Boston and Baltimore, joining the Yankees in 2015. This was his only year as a closer, and only full year with the Yankees, as he was traded to Cleveland during the 2016 Season. Miller finished ninth in Cy Young voting this year and had a 0.859 WHIP.
36 Years Old, Playing for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Mark Melancon, Pittsburgh Pirates: 3-2, 51 Saves, 2.23 ERA, 62 SO, 2015, NL
Mark Melancon began his career with the New York Yankees, and he would later throw for Houston and Boston before becoming a Pittsburgh Pirate in 2013. An All-Star in 2013, Melancon was so again in 2015, where he led the National League in Saves (51) where he was eighth in Cy Young voting. He led the NL in Games Finished (67) the following year, though he split the season with the Pirates and Washington.
36 Years Old, Playing for the Atlanta Braves.
Zack Britton, Baltimore Orioles: 2-1, 47 Saves, 0.54 ERA, 74 SO, 2016, AL
Zack Britton began his career with the Baltimore Orioles in 2011, and he would be promoted to the team’s closer in 2014. Britton was an All-Star in 2015, leasing the American League in Games Finished (58), with 46 Saves and a 1.92 ERA, but he took that good number and sliced by nearly two-thirds with a 0.54 ERA. Britton led the AL in Games Finished that year (63) and Saves (47) and was an All-Star for the second time as well as the fourth-place finisher for the Cy Young.
33 Years Old, Playing for the New York Yankees.
Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers: 3-2, 47 Saves, 1.83 ERA, 104 SO, 2016, NL
Kenley Jansen debuted in the Majors for the Dodgers in 2010 where the native of Curacao has spent his entire career in the bullpen. Jansen became the closer in 2012, and in 2016, he was an All-Star for the first time on the strength of his 47 Saves, 1.83 ERA and 0.670 WHIP. His 13.6 SO/9 was also among the best in Baseball.
33 Years Old, Playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Craig Kimbrel, Boston Red Sox: 5-0, 35 Saves, 1.43 ERA, 126 SO, 2017, AL (2)
Kinbrel joined the Boston Red Sox in 2016, going to his fifth All-Star Game. This was best year in Boston, as he was an All-Star again where he again won the TSN Pitcher of the Year, and was sixth in Cy Young voting. Kimbrel became the first player to win the Hoffman and Rivera Award. He won a World Series Ring the following year, and he would leave Boston for the Cubs, going three-for-three in All-Star Games.
33 Years Old, Playing for the Chicago Cubs.
Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers: 5-0, 41 Saves, 1.32 ERA, 109 SO, 2017, NL (2)
Jansen followed up his 2016 Hoffman winning year with another one, and did so at an even higher level. Jansen dropped his ERA to 1.32, had a WHIP of 0.746 and posted a blistering of SO/BB of 15.57. Jansen was fifth in Cy Young voting that year.
33 Years Old, Playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Edwin Diaz, Seattle Mariners: 0-4, 57 Saves, 1.96 ERA, 124 SO, 2018, AL
Edwin Diaz may not have won a game this year, but who cares? He led the AL in Saves (57), and Games Finished (65) and he matched his sub-2 ERA with an even more impressive WHIP of 0.791. Diaz, who went to the All-Star Game this year, was eighth in Cy Young voting.
26 Years Old, Playing for the New York Mets.
Josh Hader, Milwaukee Brewers: 6-1, 12 Saves, 2.43 ERA, 143 SO, 2018, NL
From the 12 Saves, you could see that Hader was not the primary closer, but as relief pitching changes, so do stats for an award such as this. Hader fanned 143 batters, a filthy amount considering he only threw 81.1 Innings. His 15.8 SO/9 and 0.811 WHIP were incredible, and he was named to the All-Star Game in what was his second year in the Majors. He was also seventh in Cy Young in voting.
27 Years Old, Playing for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Aroldis Chapman, New York Yankees: 6-1, 12 Saves, 2.43 ERA, 143 SO, 2019, AL
A four-time All-Star with the Cincinnati Reds and World Series winner with the Chicago Cubs, Chapman later became a Yankee (twice actually) and in 2018 he was an All-Star for the first time in the American League. 2019 was Chapman’s sixth All-Star year, but first winning any individual award with his 37-Save year.
33 Years Old, Playing for the New York Yankees.
Josh Hader, Milwaukee Brewers: 3-5, 37 Saves, 2.63 ERA, 138 SO, 2019, NL (2)
Hader was a more traditional closer this year, but his Strikeout rate remained astronomical with a 16.4 SO/9. An All-Star for the second straight year, Hader had another great WHIP with a 0.806. He would become the first back-to-back Hoffman Award winner.
27 Years Old, Playing for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Liam Hendriks, Oakland Athletics: 3-1, 14 Saves, 1.78 ERA, 37 SO, 2020, AL
The native of Perth, Australia, Liam Hendriks was in his tenth season, and his second as a closer. In the COVID-19 stricken year, Hendricks also posted a WHIP of 0.671 and was ninth in Cy Young voting.
32 Years Old, Free Agent.
Devin Williams, Milwaukee Brewers: 4-1, 0 Saves, 0.33 ERA, 53 SO, 2020
For the first time in the history of the award, we have a winner who was not a closer, so much so that he had ZERO Saves. Devin Williams was incredible this year, allowing only one Run in his 27 Innings Pitched. He was so good in this season, that he had a SO/9 of 17.7 with a WHIP of 0.630. Amazingly, Williams was a rookie, and also won the Rookie of the Year Award. He also finished seventh in Cy Young Award voting.
26 Years Old, Playing for the Milwaukee Brewers.
We can’t wait to see how this award plays out in the future.
So, what is up next?
We go back to the baseball playoffs, and the ALCS and NLCS MVPs.
As always, we thank you for your support, and look for that soon.
We here at Notinhalloffame.com thought it would be fun to take a look at the major awards in North American team sports and see how it translates into Hall of Fame potential.
Needless to say, different awards in different sports yield hall of fame potential. In basketball, the team sport with the least number of players on a roster, the dividend for greatness much higher. In baseball, it is not as much as a great individual season does not have the same impact.
Last time, we looked at the William M. Jennings Trophy, which is given to the Goalie(s) who allowed the fewest Goals for their team. That was our last hockey award, as we return to Baseball, specifically the Relief Pitchers, which will be a little complicated as you will see with the next paragraphs.
The Rolaids Reliever of the Year first came to existence in 1976, and was sponsored by the antiacid product, Rolaids. At the time, the slogan for the product was “ROLAIDS spells Relief”, so it was a perfect pairing.
This is the first time that we are looking at a defunct award, as when the new parent company of Rolaids opted to not continue the award, it ended in 2012. It would be replaced in 2014 with the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year and Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year. Coincidentally, there was a separate reliver award that began in 2005, The Delivery Man of the Year, which ran from 2005 to 2013.
Specifically, with the Rolaids Relief Award, it was awarded on a point system, tabulating Wins, Saves, Losses and Blown Saves.
Nevertheless, these were significant awards in our eyes, and we plan to look at them all!
So how many Rolaids Reliever of the Year winners have made the Baseball Hall of Fame?
Let’s find out!
The following are the past players who have won the Rolaids Reliever of the Year Award who are eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.
Rollie Fingers, San Diego Padres: 8-9, 35 Saves, 2.99 ERA, 113 SO, NL 1977
This was Fingers’ first season in San Diego and the closer had already gone to four All-Star Games and won three World Series Rings with the Oakland Athletics. This year, Fingers topped the NL in Saves (35), Games Pitched (78), and Games Finished (69), and he was 14thin MVP voting.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.
Rich Gossage, New York Yankees: 10-11, 27 Saves, 2.01 ERA, 122 SO, AL 1978
Prior to what was his first year with the Yankees, Gossage already was a three-time All-Star, two with the Chicago White Sox, and one with the Pittsburgh Pirates. This year, “Goose” led the AL in Saves (27) and Games Finished (55), and was fifth in Cy Young Voting. Gossage also helped New York win the World Series that year. As All-Star in 1978, Gossage had five more All-Star appearances, three with the Yanks and two with San Diego. He retired in 1994 following runs with San Francisco, New York (again), Texas, Oakland and Seattle and had 310 career Saves.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.
Rollie Fingers, San Diego Padres: 6-13, 37 Saves, 2.52 ERA, 72 SO, NL 1978 (2)
Fingers went to the All-Star Game for the fifth time, and his 37 Saves would not only lead the NL, but would be a personal high. He was eighth for the Cy Young and 14thfor the MVP this year.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.
Bruce Sutter, Chicago Cubs: 6-6, 37 Saves, 2.22 ERA, 110 SO, NL 1979
Bruce Sutter was already a two-time All-Star at this point, and in what was his third consecutive All-Star year, Sutter began a four-year streak of leading the National League in Saves. The flamethrower had a WHIP of 0.977, and he would win the Cy Young with a seventh place finish for the MVP.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.
Rollie Fingers, San Diego Padres: 11-9, 23 Saves, 2.80 ERA, 69 SO, NL 1980 (3)
This was Fingers’ last year with San Diego, and he went three for four for Rolaids Reliever of the Year Awards.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.
Rollie Fingers, Milwaukee Brewers: 6-3, 28 Saves, 1.04 ERA, 61 SO, AL 1981 (4)
Fingers returned to the American League, where in the strike-shortened 1981 Season he had his best year of his li6e. He was first in the AL in Saves (28), and he had the best ERA (1.04) and WHIP (0.872) and he became the first Rolaids Reliever winner to win both the Cy Young and the MVP. Fingers had three more seasons in the Majors with 341 Saves.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.
Bruce Sutter, St. Louis Cardinals: 3-5, 25 Saves, 2.62 ERA, 57 SO, NL 1981 (2)
Sutter was now a St. Louis Cardinal, and his skill as the top closer in the National League remained intact. Sutter was fifth for the Cy Young and eighth in MVP voting.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.
Bruce Sutter, St. Louis Cardinals: 9-8, 36 Saves, 2.90 ERA, 61 SO, NL 1982 (3)
Sutter was not an All-Star this year, but he finished strong again finishing first in Saves (36). He would be third for the Cy Young and fifth for MVP and in that post-season, Sutter helped the Redbirds win the World Series.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.
Bruce Sutter, St. Louis Cardinals: 5-7, 45 Saves, 1.54 ERA, 77 SO, NL 1984 (4)
This was the last great year for Sutter, and coincidentally his final one with St. Louis. Sutter led the National League in Saves (45) and Games Finishes (63), both of which were career-highs, and he was also third for the Cy Young and sixth in MVP voting. He played three more years in the Majors, all with Atlanta. Sutter retired with an even 300 Saves.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.
Dennis Eckersley, Oakland Athletics: 4-2, 45 Saves, 2.35 ERA, 70 SO, AL 1988
Dennis Eckersley converted from a starter to reliever the year before, but this was the year where he proved that this was what he was meant to be. Eckersley led the AL in Saves (45) this year with a WHIP of 0.867. The A’s made it to the World Series that year, and he was second for the Cy Young and fifth for the MVP.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.
Lee Smith, St. Louis Cardinals: 6-3, 47 Saves, 2.34 ERA, 67 SO, NL 1991
Lee Smith was already a Major Leaguer since 1980, and he already had nine 25-plus Save campaigns. The Cardinals were his third team, (following Chicago and Boston) and this season he set a personal record with 47 Saves (also league-leading) as well as finishing first in Games Finished (61). He finished second for the Cy Young and eighth in MVP voting.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.
Dennis Eckersley, Oakland Athletics: 7-1, 45 Saves, 1.91 ERA, 93 SO, AL 1992 (2)
In the three years between Rolaids Reliever of the Year wins, Eckersley won a World Series, and had 124 Saves. This year, Eckersley was first for the second time in Saves (51) and first time in Games Finished (65). Eckersley won the Cy Young and MVP, and cemented his place in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.
Lee Smith, St. Louis Cardinals: 4-9, 43 Saves, 3.12 ERA, 60 SO, NL 1992 (2)
Smith led the NL in Saves for the second straight season, and was fourth for the Cy Young this year. He would also go to his fourth All-Star Game, and his fifth would come the following year.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.
Lee Smith, Baltimore Orioles: 1-4, 33 Saves, 3.29 ERA, 42 SO, AL 1994 (3)
Smith was only with the Baltimore Orioles for one season, and it was a good one where he won not only the Rolaids Reliever of the Year, but was an All-Star for the sixth time. Smith led the AL in Saves (33) and was fifth in Cy Young voting. Smith joined the California Angels the following year and had one more All-Star year with him. He retired in 1997 after stops in Cincinnati and Montreal with 478 career Saves, which was then the all-time record.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.
Trevor Hoffman, San Diego Padres: 4-2, 53 Saves, 1.48 ERA, 86 SO, NL 1998
Trevor Hoffman had been the Padres closer since 1994, and this was the year he let everyone in the baseball world know he was elite. Hoffman was an All-Star for the first time and his league-leading 53 Saves, 1.48 ERA, and 0.849 WHIP landed him second in Cy Young voting and seventh in MVP voting.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.
Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees: 4-3, 45 Saves, 1.83 ERA, 52 SO, AL 1999
Mariano Rivera was already established as an elite reliever in the American League, and had already won two World Series Championships. This year, Rivera won his first of five Rolaids Reliever of the Year Awards, and he led the AL in Saves (45) with a 1.83 ERA and a 0.884 WHIP. Rivera was third in Cy Young voting, and he helped the Yankees win the World Series, winning the World Series MVP.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.
Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees: 4-6, 50 Saves, 2.34 ERA, 83 SO, AL 2001 (2)
Rivera was an All-Star for the fourth time this year, and the season before he won his fourth World Series. Rivera again had a WHIP under 1.000 (0.905), and was eleventh in MVP voting.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.
John Smoltz, Atlanta Braves: 3-2, 55 Saves, 3.25 ERA, 85 SO, NL 2002
Prior to taking on the role of the Braves’ closer, Smoltz was a top starter for years, going to four All-Star Games, winning a World Series Ring and earning a Cy Young. Smoltz excelled in this role too, with his 55 Saves leading the NL and finishing third in Cy Young voting. He would later go back to being a starter, and would retire in 2009, with his final year being split between Boston and St. Louis. Smoltz had a lifetime record of 213-155 with 3,084 Strikeouts and 154 Saves.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.
Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees: 5-2, 40 Saves, 1.66 ERA, 63 SO, AL 2003 (3)
Another spectacular season happened for Rivera, whose 1.63 was the second lowest of his career. In the playoffs, Rivera won the ALCS MVP, but the Yankees lost to the Marlins in the World Series.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.
Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees: 7-4, 43 Saves, 1.38 ERA, 80 SO, AL 2005 (4)
Rivera was electric again this year, posting his all-time best ERA (1.38) with a phenom20al WHIP of 0.868. Rivera was second for the Cy Young to Bartolo Colon of Cleveland and was ninth in MVP voting. Rivera also won the Delivery Man of the Year Award, which was in its first year of existence.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.
Trevor Hoffman, San Diego Padres: 0-2, 46 Saves, 2.14 ERA, 50 SO, NL 2006 (2)
Hoffman went to his second, third and fourth All-Star Game in between his Rolaids Reliver wins, and was an All-Star again this year. Hoffman led the NL in Saves (46) and had a sub 1.000 WHIP. He was again second in Cy Young voting. Hoffman went to two more All-Stars, the last one as a Milwaukee Brewer. He retired in 2010 with 601 career Saves.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.
Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees: 3-3, 44 Saves, 1.76 ERA, 72 SO, AL 2009 (5) Co-Winner
This was Rivera’s fifth and final Rolaids Reliever of the Year Award, and he would also win his third Delivery Man of the Year (he won his second in 2006). Rivera would later take the Yankees to another World Series win, his fifth. He played until 2013, was a thirteen-time All-Star, and retired with 652 Saves, the most all-time. Rivera entered the Baseball Hall of Fame with a perfect ballot, the first man to do so.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.
The following are the players who have won the Rolaids Relief Award who are eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame and have not been selected:
Bill Campbell, Minnesota Twins: 17-5, 20 Saves, 3.01 ERA, 115 SO, AL 1976
This was Campbell’s final season in Minnesota, and he would not only win the inaugural American League Rolaids Relief Award, he was the league-leader in Games Pitched (78) and Gamed Finished (68). Campbell finished seventh for the Cy Young and eighth for the MVP.
Eligible since 1993. Campbell was on the ballot for one year and received 0.2% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com
Rawly Eastwick, Cincinnati Reds: 11-5, 26 Saves, 2.09 ERA, 70 SO, AL 1976
The rookie and sophomore seasons of Rawly Eastwick are forgotten gems in the lore of the Cincinnati Reds. As a rookie, he led the NL in Saves (22) and was third in Rookie of the Year voting while helping the Reds win the World Series. This season, he was even better with a career-high 26 Saves and was fifth in Cy Young voting and thirteenth for the MVP, and he was again a part of the Reds World Series win. His career regressed after that, and he bounced around to St. Louis, New York (AL), Philadelphia, Kansas City and Chicago (NL) with his Major League career coming to an end in 1981. He had 68 career Saves, with 48 coming in 1975 and 1976.
Eastwick did not play the mandatory ten years to qualify for the Hall of Fame. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com
Bill Campbell, Boston Red Sox: 13-9, 31 Saves, 2.96 ERA, 114 SO, AL 1977 (2)
Campbell signed with Boston this year and arguably, this was his last real good season in the Majors, though he played until 1987 with stops in Chicago (NL), Philadelphia, St. Louis, Detroit and Montreal. This year, Campbell led the AL in Saves (32) and Games Finished (60), and was fifth for the Cy Young and tenth for the MVP. Campbell had 126 career Saves.
Eligible since 1993. Campbell was on the ballot for one year and received 0.2% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Jim Kern, Texas Rangers: 13-5, 29 Saves, 1.57 ERA, 136 SO, AL 1979
Jim Kern went to three straight All-Star Games, with this year being his third. Also in his first season in Texas (he was with Cleveland before), Kern had his best year by far in the Majors. In addition to his personal best 29 Saves, he also set career-highs in Games Played (71), Games Finished (57), and was fourth in Cy Young voting and eleventh in MVP voting. Kern never had a year close to this again, and he bounced around to Cincinnati, Chicago (AL), Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Cleveland before his career ended in 1986. He had 88 career Saves.
Eligible since 1992. Despite being Hall of Fame eligible in 1992, he was not on the ballot. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Dan Quisenberry, Kansas City Royals: 12-7, 33 Saves, 3.09 ERA, 37 SO, AL 1980
This was Quisenberry’s breakout year where the submarine-style Pitcher led the AL in Saves (33), Gamed Finished (68) and Games Pitched (75). Quisenberry was fifth in Cy Young and eighth in MVP voting, and he helped Kansas City reach the World Series.
Eligible since 1996. Quisenberry was on the ballot for one year and received 3.8% of the vote in 1996. Ranked #94 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Dan Quisenberry, Kansas City Royals: 9-7, 35 Saves, 2.57 ERA, 46 SO, AL 1982 (2)
“Quiz” was finally an All-Star, and he did what he did in 1980, which was lead the AL in Saves (35) and Games Finished (68). He was third for the Cy Young and ninth for the MVP, and this began a four-year streak of top three Cy Young finishes.
Eligible since 1996. Quisenberry was on the ballot for one year and received 3.8% of the vote in 1996. Ranked #94 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Dan Quisenberry, Kansas City Royals: 5-3, 45 Saves, 1.94 ERA, 46 SO, AL 1983 (3)
Quisenberry’s 45 Saves not only led the American League but it would be a personal best for the closer. He was also first in the AL in Games Pitched (69) and Games Finished (62), and the “Quiz” was the runner-up for the 7y Young with a sixth-place finish in MVP voting.
Eligible since 1996. Quisenberry was on the ballot for one year and received 3.8% of the vote in 1996. Ranked #94 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Al Holland, Philadelphia Phillies: 8-4, 25 Saves, 2.26 ERA, 100 SO, NL 1983
After playing in San Francisco for four years, he joined Philadelphia in 1983, and became their closer. Holland help take the Phillies to the World Series that year but they lost to Baltimore Orioles in five. The southpaw was an All-Star the following year, and exceeded his Saves mark to 2, but he was used in middle relief afterward, and later played for Pittsburgh, California and the New York Yankees. He only had 78 career Saves.
Eligible since 1993. Despite being Hall of Fame eligible in 1993, he was not on the ballot. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Dan Quisenberry, Kansas City Royals: 6-3, 44 Saves, 2.64 ERA, 41 SO, AL 1984 (4)
Quisenberry was an All-Star for the third and last time, but he was on year three of four straight Save-leading seasons. He was again the second-place finisher for the Cy Young, and he was third for the MVP, his highest ever finish.
Eligible since 1996. Quisenberry was on the ballot for one year and received 3.8% of the vote in 1996. Ranked #94 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Dan Quisenberry, Kansas City Royals: 8-9, 37 Saves, 2.37 ERA, 54 SO, AL 1985 (5)
Quisenberry secured his fifth and final Rolaids Relief Award, and it is also marked the last of five times he was the American League leader in Saves (37), the third and final time in Games Pitched (84) and fourth and final time in Games Finished (37). He played with the Royals until 1988, winning a World Series Ring in 1985, and he later joined St. Louis and San Francisco. He retired with 244 career Saves.
Eligible since 1996. Quisenberry was on the ballot for one year and received 3.8% of the vote in 1996. Ranked #94 on Notinhalloffame.com.
Jeff Reardon, Montreal Expos: 2-8, 41 Saves, 3.18 ERA, 67 SO, NL 1985
Jeff Reardon had at least 20 Saves in the three years before, but he improved that total to 41 this year, which was the only time he ever finished first in his respective league. He was seventh in Cy Young voting and two years later he helped the Minnesota Twins win the 1987 World Series. A four-time All-Star, Reardon would later play for Boston, Atlanta, Cincinnati and New York (AL), and he amassed 367 Saves.
Eligible since 2000. Reardon was on the ballot for one year in 2000 and received 4.8% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Dave Righetti, New York Yankees: 8-8, 46 Saves, 2.45 ERA, 83 SO, AL 1986
Dave Righetti began his career as a starter where he was the 1981 American League Rookie of the Year. Three years later he was moved to the bullpen and after two good years in that role, he was named to the All-Star team with league leading numbers in Saves (46) and Games Finished (68). Righetti was fourth for the Cy Young and tenth for the MVP.
Eligible since 2001. Righetti was on the ballot for one year in 2001 and received 0.4% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Todd Worrell, St. Louis Cardinals: 9-10, 36 Saves, 2.08 ERA, 73 SO, NL 1986
1986 was the best year of Todd Worrell’s career, which coincidentally was also his rookie year. Not only would he win the Rolaids Reliever of the Year, he was also the Rookie of the Year. Worrell led the NL in Saves (36), Games Finished (60), and he was fifth for the Cy Young. Worrell would later be an All-Star in 1988, and twice for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1995-96). He retired in 1997 with 256 Saves.
Eligible since 2003. Worrell was on the ballot for one year in 2003 and received 0.0% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Dave Righetti, New York Yankees: 8-6, 31 Saves, 3.41 ERA, 77 SO, AL 1987 (2)
Righetti was an All-Star again, which would be the second and last time. He would have at least 24 Saves over the next four years, and he also played for San Francisco, Oakland, Toronto and the Chicago White Sox. He accrued 252 total Saves.
Eligible since 2001. Worrell was on the ballot for one year in 2001 and received 0.4% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Steve Bedrosian, Philadelphia Phillies: 5-3, 40 Saves, 2.83 ERA, 74 SO, NL 1987
Bedrosian was a Relief Pitcher for most of his career, and his best year by far at it was 1987, where his 40 Saves were league-leading. An All-Star this year, Bedrosian won the Cy Young Award, which was coincidentally the only year he would get a vote. Bedrosian would later win a World Series Ring with the Minnesota Twins in 1991, and he had 184 career Saves.
Eligible since 2001. Worrell was on the ballot for one year in 2001 and received 0.2% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
John Franco, Cincinnati Reds: 6-6, 39 Saves, 1.57 ERA, 46 SO, NL 1988
Franco was an All-Star in the two years before, and he led the NL in Games Finished (60) with 32 Saves the year before. This season, his 39 Saves topped the National League and his 61 Games Finished were also atop the leaderboard. Franco was an All-Star the next year, and joined the Mets in 1990.
Eligible since 2011. Franco was on the ballot for one year in 2011 and received 4.6% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Jeff Russell, Texas Rangers: 6-4, 38 Saves, 1.98 ERA, 77 SO, NL 1989
Over Jeff Russell’s 14-year career, he was predominantly used in relief, but this would be the first season he became a closer. Russell led the AL in Saves (38) and Games Finished (66), and would me ninth for the Cy Young. Russell later played for Oakland, Boston and Cleveland before returning to Texas and closing his career in 1996 with 186 career Saves.
Eligible since 2002. Franco was on the ballot for one year in 2002 but did not receive any votes. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Mark Davis, San Diego Padres: 4-3, 44 Saves, 1.85 ERA, 92 SO, NL 1989
Mark Davis made his Major League debut in 1980 with the Philadelphia Phillies, and he would later play for San Francisco before joining the Giants in 1987. Davis was anointed the team’s closer in 1988 and was an All-Star, but he had the season of his life in 1989 where he was again an All-Star and led the NL in Saves (44) and Games Finished (65). He would win the Cy Young while also finishing sixth for the MVP. Davis signed with Kansas City afterward but he never had a season like 1989 again. He went on to play for Atlanta, Philadelphia with a return to San Diego. Davis retired for good after a brief comeback in 1997 with the Brewers.
Eligible since 2003. Davis was on the ballot for one year in 2003 and received 0.2% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Bobby Thigpen, Chicago White Sox: 4-6, 57 Saves, 1.83 ERA, 70 SO, NL 1989
Bobby Thigpen had already been the primary closer for the ChiSox for the past two years, but this year he set a then Major League record in Saves with 57, while also leading the American League in Games Pitched (77) and Games Finished (73). He only had two more seasons where he had at least 20 Saves, but his skills were eroding quickly and he was out of Baseball by 1994.
Thigpen did not play the minimum ten years to qualify for the Hall of Fame. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
John Franco, New York Mets: 5-3, 33 Saves, 2.53 ERA, 56 SO, NL 1990 (2)
This was Franco’s first of 14 years as a Met, and it was also his last All-Star year. Franco led the NL in Saves for the second time, and later on in 1994, he would again with 30 Saves, but he was not a Rolaids winner that year. He finished his career with a season in Houston in 2005, and retired with 424 Saves.
Eligible since 2011. Franco was on the ballot for one year in 2011 and received 4.6% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Bryan Harvey, California Angels: 2-4, 46 Saves, 1.60 ERA, 101 SO, AL 1991
This Harvey’s best season in the Majors, where his 46 Saves led the AL, as did his 63 Games Finished; both of which were career-highs. Harvey finished fifth in Cy Young voting, and was an All-Star. While this was his only Rolaids win, two years ago he had another All-Star season, albeit with the Florida Marlins in a World Series winning year. Harvey had 177 career Saves.
Harvey did not play the minimum ten years to qualify for the Hall. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Jeff Montgomery, Kansas City Royals: 7-5, 45 Saves, 2.27 ERA, 66 SO, AL 1993
Montgomery went to three All-Star Games over his career, which was all but 14 Games as a Kansas City Royal. A late-inning reliever for most of career, Montgomery had four 30-plus Save years, with the 45 this year being league-leading and his career-high. Montgomery retired in 1999 with 304 Saves.
Eligible Since 2005. Montgomery was on the ballot for one year in 2005 and received 0.4% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Randy Myers, Chicago Cubs: 2-4, 53 Saves, 3.11 ERA, 86 SO, NL 1993
Before he was a Chicago Cub, Randy Myers was a New York Met, a Cincinnati Red, where the closer was an All-Star and World Series Champion and a San Diego Padre. With the Cubs, Myers went to two All-Star Games and in 1993, won the Saves Title (53) while also finishing eighth for the Cy Young. He would again lead the NL in Saves (38) in 1995 and the American League with 45 in 1997 as a Baltimore Oriole. Myers finished his career in 1998, splitting his time with Toronto and San Diego and would amass 347 total Saves.
Eligible Since 2004. Myers was on the ballot for one year in 2005 and received 0.2% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Rod Beck, San Francisco Giants: 2-4, 28 Saves, 2.77 ERA, 39 SO, NL 1994
Rod Beck was in his fourth season of Major League service and it was his second straight year as an All-Star. In this strike-shortened year, Beck led the NL in Games Finished (47) for the second consecutive year, and he would later do so again two more times. Beck would overall go three All-Star Games, and later play for the Chicago Cuba, Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres. Beck retired with 286 Saves.
Eligible Since 2008. Beck was on the ballot for one year in 2005 and received 0.4% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Jose Mesa, Cleveland Indians: 3-0, 46 Saves, 1.13 ERA, 58 SO, AL 1995
From the Dominican Republic, Jose Mesa had a 19-year career in the Majors, where he was mostly used coming out of the bullpen. This season, Mesa led the AL in Saves (46) and Games Finished (57), and he was an All-Star for the first time. Mesa was second this year for the Cy Young and fourth for the MVP and he secured 321 career Saves in 1,022 Games Pitched.
Eligible Since 2013. Mesa was on the ballot for one year in 2013 but did not receive any votes. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Tom Henke, St. Louis Cardinals: 1-1, 36 Saves, 1.82 ERA, 48 SO, NL 1995
Tom Henke won a World Series Rings with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he led the AL in Saves in 1987. After leaving the Jays for Texas in 1993, he played two years before going to St. Louis in the NL for his lone year there, where he had his best ERA (1.82), and the second of two All-Star campaigns. Henke retired on top, as he elected to retire at the end of the season.
Eligible Since 2001. Henke was on the ballot for one year in 2001 and received 1.2% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
John Wetteland, New York Yankees: 2-3, 43 Saves, 2.83 ERA, 69 SO, AL 1996
John Wetteland had at least 25 or more Saves in the four years before this season, three with Montreal and one with the Yankees. In this baseball campaign, Wetteland led the American League in Saves (43) in what was his first of three All-Star years. Wetteland helped the Yankees win the World Series that year while winning the World Series MVP, and after he was a Texas Ranger for his last four years. He had 330 career Saves.
Eligible Since 2006. Wetteland was on the ballot for one year in 2006 and received 0.8% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Jeff Brantley, Cincinnati Reds: 1-2, 44 Saves, 2.41 ERA, 76 SO, NL 1996
Jeff Brantley was an All-Star in 1990 as a San Francisco Giant, but it was in Cincinnati where the reliever had his best year. Brantley led the NL in Saves (44), which was the only time that would happen. He would late play for St. Louis, Philadelphia and Texas and managed 172 career Saves.
Eligible Since 2007. Brantley was eligible for the Hall in 2007 but was not on the ballot. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Randy Myers, Baltimore Orioles: 2-3, 45 Saves, 1.51 ERA, 56 SO, AL 1997 (2)
Myers would again lead the league (American) with 45 in 1997 as a Baltimore Oriole. Myers finished his career in 1998, splitting his time with Toronto and San Diego and would amass 347 total Saves.
Eligible Since 2004. Myers was on the ballot for one year in 2005 and received 0.2% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Jeff Shaw, Cincinnati Reds: 4-2, 42 Saves, 2.38 ERA, 74 SO, NL 1997
For the first time, we have a back-to-back winner from a team who was not the same player. Jeff Brantley won it in 1996, as opposed to Jeff Shaw this year, who was the National League Leader in Saves with 42. He had more in 48 the year after, but it was a season split between the Reds and the Dodgers. Shaw had 203 career Saves.
Eligible Since 2007. Shaw was eligible since 2007 but was not on the ballot. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Tom Gordon, Boston Red Sox: 7-4, 46 Saves, 2.72 ERA, 78 SO, AL 1998
After eight years in Kansas City, Tom Gordon became the Red Sox’ primary closer in his third year in Boston. This was arguably Gordon’s best season in Baseball, and it would be the first of three All-Star Game appearances for “Flash”, with the others coming as a Yankee and as a Phillie. Gordon led the AL in Saves (46) and Games Finished (69), and had a sparkling WHIP of 1.008. Gordon played 21 seasons and retired with a record of 138-126 with 158 Saves and 1,928 Strikeouts.
Eligible Since 2015. Gordon was on the ballot for one year in 2015 and received 0.4% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Billy Wagner, Houston Astros: 4-1, 39 Saves, 1.57 ERA, 124 SO, NL 1998
Wagner was a Strikeout machine this year for Houston with a 14.9 SO/9 with a 0.777 WHIP. This year saw Wagner go to his first of seven All-Star Games, and while he never led his league in Saves, he compiled 422 over his career. He also played for Philadelphia, New York (NL), Boston and Atlanta.
Eligible Since 2016. Wagner has been on the ballot for five years finishing as high as 31.7% in 2020. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Antonio Alfonseca, Florida Marlins: 5-6, 45 Saves, 4.24 ERA, 47 SO, NL 2000
Alfonseca led the National League in Saves (45), but his ERA was 4.24, his WHIP was over 1.500, and his bWAR was 0.5. He is arguably the worst recipient of this award. He would later play for Chicago (NL), Atlanta, Texas and Philadelphia and had 126 career Saves.
Eligible Since 2012. Although Alfonseca was Hall of Fame eligible in 2012 he was not on the ballot. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Todd Jones, Detroit Tigers: 2-4, 42 Saves, 3.52 ERA, 67 SO, AL 2000
Todd Jones was a journeyman reliever over his career, often in a closing capacity. This was his best year, going to his lone All-Star Game and leading the AL in Saves with 42. Jones would accumulate 319 Saves over 16 years.
Eligible Since 2014. Jones was on the ballot for one year in 2014 but he did not receive any votes. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Armando Benitez, New York Mets: 6-4, 43 Saves, 3.77 ERA, 93 SO, NL 2001
Armando Benitez had his second consecutive 40 Save year with the Mets, and would have another one in 2004 with 47 as a Marlin that led the NL. Benitez had 289 Saves over a career that also saw time spent with Baltimore, Seattle, San Francisco and Toronto.
Eligible Since 2014. Benitez was on the ballot for one year in 2014 and received 0.2% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Billy Koch, Oakland Athletics: 11-4, 44 Saves, 3.27 ERA, 93 SO, AL 2002
Billy Koch had at least 31 Saves over his first three years in the Majors which was in Toronto. The Jays traded Koch to Oakland, and he had the best year of his career, securing 44 Saves and leading the AL in Games Pitched (84) and Games Finished (79). Despite that, he was dealt to the White Sox, but he floundered after that and was out of the Majors by 2004.
Koch did not play the minimum ten years to qualify for the Hall of Fame. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Keith Foulke, Oakland Athletics: 9-1, 43 Saves, 2.08 ERA, 88 SO, AL 2003
Foulke arrived in Oakland when he was traded for Billy Koch, the Rolaids Reliever of the Year winner the year before. Foulke won it this year with a league-leading 43 Saves and 67 Games Finished, with a seventh-place finish in Cy Young voting. This was his last year in Oakland, as he signed with Boston and won a World Series. He retired in 2008 with 191 career Saves.
Eligible since 2014. Although Foulke was eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2014 he was not on the ballot. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Eric Gagne, Los Angeles Dodgers: 2-3, 55 Saves, 1.20 ERA, 137 SO, NL 2003
The numbers for Gagne were staggering, as he built upon his 52 Save season in 2002 with a 55 Save, 67 Games Finished performance that led both categories. Gagne’s anemic 1.20 ERA was matched by an even more impressive 0.692 WHIP and 15.0 SO/9. Gagne would also win the Cy Young this season and
Eligible since 2014. Gagne was on the ballot for one year in 2014 and received 0.4% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Eric Gagne, Los Angeles Dodgers: 7-3, 45 Saves, 2.19 ERA, 114 SO, NL 2004 (2)
Gagne went back-to-back with Rolaids wins, and while his numbers were still good, they were not at the 2003 level. Gagne was seventh in Cy Young voting and he had his third consecutive All-Star year. This was it for Gagne, who had arm trouble and was never the same again. Gagne bounced to Texas, Boston and Milwaukee and retired in 2008 with 187 Saves.
Eligible since 2014. Gagne was on the ballot for one year in 2014 and received 0.4% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Chad Cordero, Washington Nationals: 2-4, 47 Saves, 1.82 ERA, 61 SO, NL 2005
Cordero was only in the Majors for seven years (six with Washington) and this was easily his best year. Cordero’s 47 Saves led the NL, and this was the only year he had an ERA under two and WHIP under one. He had 128 career Saves.
Cordero did not play the minimum ten seasons required to qualify for the Hall of Fame. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
J.J. Putz, Seattle Mariners: 6-1, 40 Saves, 1.38 ERA, 82 SO, NL 2007
Putz was the Mariners closer for three years and he led the American League in Games Finished (65) and the All-Star had a spectacular 0.698 WHIP. Putz later played for New York (NL), Chicago (AL) and Arizona and would have 189 career Saves.
Eligible since 2020. Putz was on the ballot for one year and had 0.3% of the vote. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Jose Valverde, Arizona Diamondbacks: 1-4, 47 Saves, 2.56 ERA, 78 SO, NL 2007
Valverde had a breakout year here he led the NL in Saves (47) went to the All-Star Game, and was sixth for Cy Young voting. Despite that, Valverde was traded to Houston and led the NL in Saves (44) again.
Eligible since 2020. Valverde was on the ballot for one year in 2020 but did not receive any votes. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Brad Lidge, Philadelphia Phillies: 2-0, 41 Saves, 1.95 ERA, 92 SO, NL 2008
After six years with the Houston Astros, Brad Lidge was traded to the Houston Astros where in his first year, he was an All-Star for the second time, won the Rolaids Relief Award, and helped the Phillies win the World Series. He would also finish fourth in Cy Young voting. Lidge played five more years, but it was up and down, and he never came close to his 2008 season again. He retired with 225 Saves.
Eligible since 2018. Lidge was on the ballot for one year on 2018 but did not receive any votes. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Heath Bell, San Diego Padres: 6-4, 42 Saves, 2.71 ERA, 79 SO, NL 2009
This was Bell’s sixth year in the Majors and third in San Diego, but it would be his first as a closer. Bell rose to the occasion, leading the National League in Saves (42) and he was an All-Star for the first time.
Eligible since 2020. Bell was on the ballot for one year on 2020 but did not receive any votes. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Heath Bell, San Diego Padres: 6-1, 47 Saves, 1.93 ERA, 86 SO, NL 2010 (2)
Bell went back-to-back for the Rolaids Award, exceeding his 42 Save mark to 47. This would be the only year where he dropped his ERA to below two, and he was an All-Star again. Bell had 43 Saves in 2011, and was an All-Star for the third straight year. His All-Star runs were over, as was his stay in San Diego. Bell played three more seasons, one with Miami, Arizona and Tampa Bay, and accrued 168 Saves over his career.
Eligible since 2020. Bell was on the ballot for one year on 2020 but did not receive any votes. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Jose Valverde, Detroit Tigers: 2-4, 49 Saves, 2.56 ERA, 78 SO, AL 2011 (2)
Joining the Detroit Tigers in 2010, Valverde led the AL in Saves (49), Games Finished (70) and Games Pitched (75) this season. He would also win the Delivery Man of the Year Award, and was fifth in Cy Young voting. Valverde played until 2014, with a final year as a Met, and he accrued 288 Saves.
Eligible since 2020. Valverde was on the ballot for one year but did not receive any votes. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.
Let’s update our tally, shall we?
|
Award in Question |
Percentage of recipients who have entered the HOF |
Percentage of recipients by year who have entered the HOF. |
|
NBA MVP |
100% |
100% |
|
NHL Art Ross |
100% |
100% |
|
NHL Hart Trophy |
93.6% |
96.3% |
|
NBA Finals MVP |
91.3% |
94.9% |
|
NHL Norris |
90.5% |
96.4% |
|
NHL Ted Lindsay Award |
90.0% |
|
|
NBA All-Star Game MVP |
89.5% |
91.7% |
|
NHL Conn Smythe |
74.2% |
85.4% |
|
NFL Bert Bell Award |
73.7% |
71.4% |
|
NFL AP Offensive Player of the Year |
73.1% |
79.4% |
|
NFL AP MVP |
68.3% |
74.0% |
|
NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year |
66.7% |
66.7% |
|
NHL Lady Byng |
63.8% |
76.0% |
|
NFL Defensive Player of the Year |
60.8% |
71.1% |
|
NFL Super Bowl MVP |
60.6% |
64.9% |
|
NHL Mark Messier Leadership Award |
60.0% |
60.0% |
|
NBA Defensive Player of the Year |
58.3% |
56.5% |
|
NHL Vezina |
57.1% |
66.3% |
|
NBA Rookie of the Year |
56.5% |
56.5% |
|
MLB MVP |
55.0% |
60.2% |
|
NFL Pro Bowl MVP |
52.3% |
54.8% |
|
MLB Lou Gehrig Award |
51.9% |
51.9% |
|
MLB Roberto Clemente Award |
47.4% |
47.4% |
|
NHL Calder Trophy |
46.5% |
46.5% |
|
NBA J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award |
46.0% |
46.0% |
|
MLB/NL/AL Cy Young Award |
44.4% |
55.4% |
|
MLB Babe Ruth Award |
37.0% |
39.3% |
|
NHL King Clancy Award |
36.8% |
36.8% |
|
NHL Frank J. Selke Trophy |
33.3% |
36.7% |
|
MLB World Series MVP |
33.3% |
36.8% |
|
MLB Hutch Award |
33.1% |
33.1% |
|
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year |
28.6% |
28.6% |
|
NHL Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy |
27.9% |
27.9% |
|
MLB Edgar Martinez Award |
26.7% |
17.2% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Designated Hitter) |
25.0% |
30.8% |
|
MLB Comeback Player of the Year |
25.0% |
25.0% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Shortstop) |
23.5% |
52.6% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove |
21.7% |
36.8% |
|
NHL William M. Jennings Trophy |
20.7% |
40.4% |
|
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year |
20.6% |
20.6% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Catcher) |
20.0% |
22.5% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Second Base) |
18.8% |
39.8% |
|
MLB Rolaids Reliever of the Year |
18.6% |
33.3% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Shortstop) |
18.2% |
35.1% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Pitcher) |
18.2% |
20.1% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Second Base) |
16.7% |
32.7% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Outfield) |
16.7% |
30.1% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Outfield) |
15.7% |
25.2% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Third Base) |
14.3% |
14.3% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Third Base) |
13.6% |
14.3% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (First Base) |
13.6% |
13.3% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Rookie of the Year |
13.3% |
13.3% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Catcher) |
10.3% |
15.2% |
|
NBA Most Improved Player of the Year |
5.3% |
3.2% |
|
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (First Base) |
3.8% |
3.2% |
|
NFL AP Comeback Player of the Year |
0.0% |
0.0% |
So, who is up next?
The following are the players who have won the Rolaids Reliever of the Year Award in MLB who have retired but have not met the mandatory years out of the game to qualify for the Baseball Hall of Fame:
Francisco Rodriguez, Los Angeles Angels: 2-3, 47 Saves, 1.73 ERA, 98 SO, NL 2006
Already a World Series Champion as a rookie, Rodriguez led the AL for the second straight year. He was fourth in Cy Young voting and posted a 12.1 SO/9
Eligible in 2023.
Francisco Rodriguez, Los Angeles Angels: 2-3, 62 Saves, 2.24 ERA, 77 SO, NL 2008 (2)
Rodriguez became the first player to record over 60 Saves (62), and he also led the AL in Games Pitched (76) and Games Finished (69). The Cy Young voters had him in third with him also placing him sixth in MVP voting. This would be K-Rod’s last year as an Angel as he signed with the New York Mets as a Free Agent. Later, he had two All-Star years with the Milwaukee Brewers, and he retired after two seasons with the Detroit Tigers. Rodriguez had 437 career Saves.
Eligible in 2023.
Joe Nathan, Minnesota Twins: 2-2, 47 Saves, 2.10 ERA, 89 SO, AL 2009
Joe Nathan was already an established closer, and this was his sixth consecutive season securing at least 36 Saves. Nathan who was an All-Star this year, would be one six times over his career and accumulate 377 career Saves.
Eligible in 2022.
Rafael Soriano, Tampa Bay Rays: 3-2, 45 Saves, 1.73 ERA, 57 SO, AL 2010
Rafael Soriano was in the Majors for 14 seasons, with only one as a Tampa Bay Ray. That lone year in Tampa, was his best, as this was the only year he was a league-leader in Saves (45) and had a sub-2 ERA. Soriano also played for Seattle, Atlanta, New York (AL), Washington and Chicago (NL) and had 207 Saves.
Eligible in 2021.
John Axford, Milwaukee Brewers: 2-2, 46 Saves, 1.95 ERA, 86 SO, NL 2011
This was John Axford’s third season and the best year of his career. Axford led the NL in Saves this year (46) and was also ninth in Cy Young voting. Axford would later play for St. Louis, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Colorado, Oakland, Toronto and Los Angeles and had 144 Saves over his career.
Eligible in 2024.
Jim Johnson, Baltimore Orioles: 2-1, 51 Saves, 2.49 ERA, 41 SO, AL 2012
Johnson was a closer for the first time in his career, and he responded by leading the American League in Saves (51). He led the AL in the same metric the year after (50) as well as finishing atop the AL leaderboard in Games Finished (63). He was not an elite closer afterward, playing for Oakland, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and the Angels, ending his career with 178 Saves.
Eligible in 2024.
The following are the players who have won the Rolaids Reliever of the Year who are still active.
Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves: 3-1, 42 Saves, 1.01 ERA, 116 SO, NL 2012
In the season before, Craig Kimbrel won the National League Rookie of the Year while leading the NL in Saves (46). Kimbrel’s save totals were a little less this year (42), but was still league-leading. What was really eye-popping was his ERA (1.01), SO/9 (16.7), SO/BB (8.29) and WHIP (0.654). Kimbrel was fifth in Cy Young voting this year and he also led the NL in Saves the next two seasons. Kimbrel would later win the Delivery Man of the Year of the Award (2013) and Trevor Hoffman Award (2017).
33 Years Old, Playing for the Chicago Cubs.
The Rolaids Reliever of the Year yielded a higher percentage than you would think considering that the Hall of Fame does not have that many Relief Pitchers in the Hall. As this is now a defunct award, this total is no likely to change much.
So, what is up next?
We are not venturing to far, as we look at another defunct award for Relief Pitchers, the MLB Delivery Man of the Year.
As always, we thank you for your support, and look for that soon.