San Francisco Giants: Barry Bonds and My IBWAA Hall of Fame Ballot
By Michael Saltzman
Lee Smith
29.4 Career WAR, 478 saves, 1251 strikeouts, 3.03 ERA, 2.93 FIP, 132 ERA+
Since 1969, most 4+ out saves:
— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) November 21, 2013
Rollie Fingers 201
Rich Gossage 193
Bruce Sutter 188
Lee Smith 169
Dan Quisenberry 160
Jeff Reardon 152
Lee Smith is the last of a dying breed of closers that adapted to the new era and continued to excel. Lee Smith came into a sport that expected closers to pitch multiple innings and ended his career asked to get the final three outs. Smith did his job regardless of assignment as well as anyone who ever played the game. Ultimately, Smith is being hurt by being the fourth best closer of a generation, when in reality, he should be looked at as one of the best to ever pitch out of the bullpen.