27 MLB records that will never be broken
71. . Eric Gagne. 2001-2003. 84 Consecutive Saves. 21. player
If you want to look a high-profile example of the volatile career of a Major League closer, look no further than Eric Gagne.
After parts of three seasons as a starter for the Los Angeles Dodgers Gagne moved to the bullpen, and specifically the closer’s role, in 2002. He was a smashing success and recorded 52 saves in 77 games while posting a 1.97 ERA and 114 strikeouts across 82.1 innings. The next season, the hard-throwing right-hander was even better.
Gagne won the National League Cy Young Award in 2002 and finished sixth in MVP voting. He led the Majors with 55 saves (which tied the National League record) in 55 chances. He was the first pitcher to ever record multiple 50-save seasons. Gagne posted a miniscule 1.20 ERA, also in 77 games and 82.1 innings and struck out 137 batters that season. He allowed just 37 hits and 20 walks.
An All-Star for the third consecutive season, Gagne posted a 2.19 ERA and 114 K’s with 45 saves in 2004, which made him the Dodgers’ franchise leader in saves. Unfortunately, Gagne only appeared in 13 games in 2005 due to injury and was lost for most of the 2006 season due to Tommy John Surgery. He was never the same, and saved just 16 games with the Rangers in 2007 and ten with the Brewers in 2008.
By the age of 32, Eric Gagne was out of the Majors. Still, he posted a Major League record that will probably never be broken. Prior to his 55 consecutive saves in 2002, Gagne had a streak of eight straight opportunities without a blown save. In 2003, he began the season 21-for-21 in save opportunities to set the current Major League record for 84 consecutive saves.
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