best season of all time: closer edition

[Blackout]

Dennis Eckersley 1990: 0.61 ERA, 73.3 IP, 0.614 WHIP, 73 K, 48 saves, 4-2 record, 606 ERA+

Eric Gagne* 2003: 1.20 ERA, 82.3 IP, 0.692 WHIP, 137 K, 55 saves, 2-3 record, 335 ERA+

J.J. Putz 2007: 1.38 ERA, 71.7 IP, 0.698 WHIP, 82 K, 40 saves, 6-1 record, 314 ERA+

Mariano Rivera 2005: 1.38 ERA, 78.3 IP, 0.868 WHIP, 80 K, 43 saves, 7-4 record, 307 ERA+

Robb Nen 2000: 1.50 ERA, 66 IP, 0.848 WHIP, 92 K, 41 saves, 4-3 record, 284 ERA+

Joe Nathan 2006: 1.58 ERA, 68.3 IP, 0.790 WHIP, 95 K, 35 saves, 7-0 record, 283 ERA+

Trevor Hoffman 1998: 1.48 ERA, 73 IP, 0.849 WHIP, 86 K, 53 saves, 4-2 record, 263 ERA+

Rich Gossage 1977: 1.62 ERA, 133 IP, 0.955 WHIP, 151 K, 26 saves, 11-9 record, 243 ERA+

Bruce Sutter 1984: 1.54 ERA, 122.7 IP, 1.076 WHIP, 77 K, 45 saves, 5-7 record, 229 ERA+

Hoyt Wilhelm 1965: 1.81 ERA, 144.0 IP, 0.824 WHIP, 106 K, 20 saves, 7-7 record, 176 ERA+


This is going to be different considering how much the role of "closer" has evolved over time.

[AutographCollector]

Bobby Thigpen in 1990: 57 saves with a 1.83 era was my choice (other).

[futurehalloffamer]

Where's Rollie Finger's 1981, Tupac?

[Minstrel]

Eck. One of the few greatest ever who was pitching out of his mind that year. Good formula for the best season ever.

[Colorado Express]

I'll go with Gagne, closely followed by Eckersley in '90 and Gossage in '81 (easily the best closer season until Eck came along in '90).

[BlueBlood]

Gagne ignoring PEDs...but Eckersley when counting them against such users. Those known to have been involved with such substances shouldn't be in any of these polls...causes a split between wanting to choose what was the best regardless or selecting the one that didn't cheat.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Dennis Eckersley 1990: 0.61 ERA, 73.3 IP, 0.614 WHIP, 73 K, 48 saves, 4-2 record, 606 ERA+

This is going to be different considering how much the role of "closer" has evolved over time.

I would go with Eck. He was incredible that year.

Regarding the closer role though. I'm pretty sure that stat dudes will tell you, that with a three run lead, the bullpen coach could close his eyes, play eenie, meenie, miney, moe...and whatever guy goes out there will secure the win like 95% of the time.

I'm in the camp that would like to get rid of the three run lead, one inning save. And the DH. And armour...and...I'll stop now

[willshad]

Billy Wagner from 1999 also deserves consideration. He was as dominant that season as anyone ever, and in the middle of the steroid era.

[bob]

Gagne is 2003 was incredibly. 306 batters faced, 137 strikeouts (a 45% success rate!)
But its hard to top Eckersley in 1990. 5 Earned runs in 73 innings!

[RuthMayBond]

Too bad we couldn't include Eichhorn, 1986 :bowdown:

[RuthMayBond]

I'm not even sure if Putz was the best reliever in '07, I'm not sure if '05 was Rivera's best year

[RuthMayBond]

These are arguably better than any mentioned other than Eck, and Sutter '77

Kern '79
Schupp '16
Hiller '73
Abernathy '67
BAdams '09?
Papelbon '06
CHammond '02
TBurke '87

[GiambiJuice]

Papelbon's rookie season should be pretty high up there.

Some other ones deserving of an honorable mention

John Smoltz 2003
John Wetteland 1993

[BoSox Rule]

I'd probably go with Hiller '73 off the top of my head

[Edgartohof]

1.) Dennis Eckersly
2.) John Hiller