Saves : 2003 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:

"Over 162 games, if my big guys are hitting and we get even halfway decent pitching, we'll beat their (our opponents) brains out." - Cincinnati Reds' Manager Sparky Anderson
 

2003 Saves Leaders

Top 25 in the National League

Eric Gagne 55 Los Angeles Dodgers 1
John Smoltz 45 Atlanta Braves 2
Billy Wagner 44 Houston Astros 3
Tim Worrell 38 San Francisco Giants 4
Rocky Biddle 34 Montreal Expos 5
Joe Borowski 33 Chicago Cubs 6
Matt Mantei 29 Arizona Diamondbacks 7
Braden Looper 28 Florida Marlins 8
Mike Williams 28 Pittsburgh Pirates  
Philadelphia Phillies  
Jose Mesa 24 Philadelphia Phillies 10
Jason Isringhausen 22 St. Louis Cardinals 11
Armando Benitez 21 New York Mets 12
Dan Kolb 21 Milwaukee Brewers  
Scott Williamson 21 Cincinnati Reds  
Rod Beck 20 San Diego Padres 15
Jose Jimenez 20 Colorado Rockies  
Mike DeJean 19 Milwaukee Brewers 17
St. Louis Cardinals  
Chris Reitsma 12 Cincinnati Reds 18
Julian Tavarez 11 Pittsburgh Pirates 19
Jose Valverde 10 Arizona Diamondbacks 20
Justin Speier 9 Colorado Rockies 21
Cal Eldred 8 St. Louis Cardinals 22
David Weathers 7 New York Mets 23
Ugueth Urbina 6 Florida Marlins 24
Luis Ayala 5 Montreal Expos 25



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

Jose Cruz of the Houston Astros had his number twenty-five retired on October 3, 1992, and became the first Major League player with that particular retired number.

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?