Saves : 2002 National League Top 25

Finding the American or National League leader in virtually every hitting & pitching statistic is easy-to-do. Finding the top 25 players during any given season is far more challenging. Baseball Almanac has taken away that difficult problem and is pleased to present the data you requested:

"Although baseball decided to extend the regular season deeper into October to play 162 games (after the 09-11 disaster), why not just play 154? Baseball has dealt with shortened seasons before. (Bud) Selig spoke about the sanctity of playing 162 games, but baseball played 154 games until 1961. Baseball should have just let the games go and continued with the current schedule." - Joe Morgan on ESPN (September 19, 2001)
 

2002 Saves Leaders

Top 25 in the National League

John Smoltz 55 Atlanta Braves 1
Eric Gagne 52 Los Angeles Dodgers 2
Mike Williams 46 Pittsburgh Pirates 3
Jose Mesa 45 Philadelphia Phillies 4
Robb Nen 43 San Francisco Giants 5
Jose Jimenez 41 Colorado Rockies 6
Trevor Hoffman 38 San Diego Padres 7
Byung-Hyun Kim 36 Arizona Diamondbacks 8
Billy Wagner 35 Houston Astros 9
Armando Benitez 33 New York Mets 10
Danny Graves 32 Cincinnati Reds 11
Jason Isringhausen 32 St. Louis Cardinals  
Mike DeJean 27 Milwaukee Brewers 13
Vladimir Nunez 20 Florida Marlins 14
Antonio Alfonseca 19 Chicago Cubs 15
Scott Stewart 17 Montreal Expos 16
Braden Looper 13 Florida Marlins 17
Scott Williamson 8 Cincinnati Reds 18
Octavio Dotel 6 Houston Astros 19
Matt Herges 6 Montreal Expos  
Steve Kline 6 St. Louis Cardinals  
Graeme Lloyd 5 Montreal Expos 22
Florida Marlins  
Luis Vizcaino 5 Milwaukee Brewers  
Mike Myers 4 Arizona Diamondbacks 24
T.J. Tucker 4 Montreal Expos  



The most recognizable Detroit Tiger to wear the number twenty-five was probably Norm Cash (who wore it from 1960 through 1974), but did you know that Hall of Famer Larry Doby also wore it during his single season with Detroit?

The first player from the Angels franchise (they were the California Angels at the time) to wear the number twenty-five was Bob Perry.

Did you know that more than forty players have worn the number twenty-five for the Boston Red Sox — including Jack Clark, Denny Galehouse, Dizzy Trout and Tony Conigliaro.