Fansided

MLB: Top 20 closers in Major League Baseball history

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Sep 26, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera tips his cap to the crowd in the 9th inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera tips his cap to the crowd in the 9th inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 9, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila (left) and relief pitcher Joe Nathan (right) celebrate after the game against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Detroit won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila (left) and relief pitcher Joe Nathan (right) celebrate after the game against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Detroit won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Career Statistics:

  • Games: 777
  • Saves: 377
  • Won-Loss Record: 62-34
  • ERA: 2.89
  • ERA+: 150
  • FIP: 3.37
  • WHIP: 1.118
  • Innings: 917
  • Strikeouts: 967
  • Strikeout Percentage: 25.8%
  • All-Star Appearances: 6
  • World Series Championships: 0
  • Awards: None

As a 24-year old in 1999, former shortstop Joe Nathan made his big league pitching debut with the San Francisco Giants and spent the next four years shuffling between Triple-A and the Majors, primarily as a starter. Finally, in 2003 when Nathan was 28, he stuck with the Giants as a middle reliever and posted a 2.96 ERA in 79 innings across 78 appearances.

Nathan was traded to the Minnesota Twins following the season, and from there his career took off. In seven seasons with the Twins, Nathan posted a 2.16 ERA with 260 saves. After signing with the Texas Rangers as a free agent in 2012, Nathan was even better and compiled a 2.09 ERA and 80 saves in two years. At the age of 39, he joined the Detroit Tigers and had 35 saves, but was injured early in 2015 and managed to pitch only one game this season. Now with 377 saves, Nathan ranks in the top eight in big league history in the category.

Next: 14. Jonathan Papelbon

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