Ranking the Relief Pitchers

Mariano Rivera has been so dominating as a closer, that he stands head and shoulders above all other relief pitchers in history. Though relief aces have only been in vogue for about 40 years, many remarkable and colorful pitchers have filled that role, including five Hall of Famers, three of whom have been elected since 2004.

♦  Gutsiest comeback, Hiller
♦  Best trick pitch, Sutter
♦  Most intimidating, Radatz

Reliever Facts
In the first decades of the 20th century, many managers used their ace starters in relief roles in-between starts. Lefty Grove and Walter Johnson would typically make 8-10 relief appearances each season... In 1944, when he won 29 games and the AL MVP Award, Hal Newhouser pitched in relief 13 times.

The Mad Hungarian
With a slam of the ball into his glove, a menacing scowl, and a knee-high fastball, Al Hrabosky was a spectacle on the mound, a bundle of energy that unnerved opposing batters. Out of the pen, Hrabosky finished third and fifth in Cy Young voting with the Cardinals in 1974-1975.
Al Hrabosky's page

"A manager uses a relief pitcher like a six shooter, he fires until it's empty then takes the gun and throws it at the villain."
— Dan Quisenberry

Dan Quisenberry's page

Top 50 List

Goofiest Relievers
Sparky Lyle
Al Hrabosky
Larry Andersen
Tug McGraw
Dan Quisenberry

Biggest Goats
Donnie Moore
Mitch Williams

Best of the Unranked
Clay Carroll
Ted Abernathy
Jeff Shaw
Greg Minton
Tom Gordon
Ron Perranoski
Stu Miller
Eric Gagne
Gary Lavelle

Free Agent Busts
Bill Campbell, Bos
Rawley Eastwick, NYY
Dave Righetti, SF
Bryan Harvey, Fla

Submariners
Kent Tekulve
Dan Quisenberry
Byung-Hyun Kim

Best setup men
Jesse Orosco
Mike Stanton
Dan Plesac
Paul Quantrill
Jeff Nelson
Tim Worrell
Darold Knowles
Eric Plunk
Mark Eichhorn