Baseball sure does like its round numbers doesn’t it?
On the same night that Boston’s Tim Wakefield became the 108th pitcher to win 200 games and Tampa Bay’s Johnny Damon became just the ninth member of the 200/400 (home runs/steals) club comes this…New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera is now only the second pitcher to reach 600 saves.
“It’s a great number,” Rivera told reporters following the game. “I’m not a guy who looks for things like that.”
The master of the cutter joined fellow future Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman after closing out the Bombers 3-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners Tuesday night
“I don’t know if we’ll ever see it again. That’s how much of an accomplishment this is that he and Trevor Hoffman have done. Simply remarkable,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “This is a guy who I believe is the best closer that’s ever been in the game and I’ve had the fortune of catching him, coaching him and managing him and it’s a treat.”
Up next for Rivera is Hoffman’s all-time record of 601 saves. After that, when he reaches 602…the saves record will be his for, probably, ever.
But hey, let’s not talk just about 600 saves…what else has Rivera done to secure his spot in Cooperstown?
- 12-time All-Star (1997, 1999-2002, 2004-2006 and 2008-2011)
- Five-time World Series champion (1996, 1998-2000 and 2009)
- 1999 World Series MVP Award
- 2003 AL Championship Series MVP Award
- All-time leader in postseason saves with 42
- All-time leader in games finished
- One of two pitchers to record at least 40 saves in eight separate seasons
- One of two pitchers to record at least 50 saves in two separate seasons
I’m going to stop now, because something tells me this post could go on for a while otherwise.
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