#86 Trevor Hoffman

Trevor Hoffman
P
1993-2010
7 Time All Star, 601 Saves
Baseball Hall of Fame

So personal biases come into play when you undertake a project like this. I'm a very very tough grader on relief pitchers in terms of their value. You're only on the field for a small percentage of the game, but it is certainly a high leverage spot. For me a truly great relief pitcher is like a Supreme Court Justice and pornography...I know it when I see it. 

Trevor Hoffman saved a staggering 601 games in his major league career. The converted shortstop was the best relief pitcher in the national league for a decade and a half. Closers have short shelf lives generally, studs come and go, but he just kept punching the clock and getting people out. 

His out pitch was a devastating change up, which blew my mind because I had been programmed to think the only way to be a closer was to come in blowing 98 and gas dudes up. Despite not being a power pitcher he was a strike out pitcher. He had a 9.4 Kper9 average which is good for fifth all time and highest among relievers. His career WHIP of 1.058 is good for 10th all time. 

When you heard Hells Bells in San Diego, you were all done. 

Hoffman was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2018.

 

Anthony Leonelli is a 37 year old College Baseball Coach and amateur baseball arguer. If you wanna know how this list came together check here criteria. He thinks that George Brett winning batting titles in 3 decades is pretty awesome. 

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