Baseball History: All Time Saves Leader Lee Smith Retires

On this day in 1997, after a disappointing half season with the Montreal Expos, the all times saves leader in baseball history, Lee Smith, retired.

Closers have proven to be a rather volatile commodity. Throughout baseball history, closers have come and gone, streaking across the landscape before burning out. That track record is part of what makes the Proven Closer(tm) so valuable on the trade market and in free agency.

During the 1980s and into the 1990s, few closers were as successful, or consistent, as Lee Smith. He led the league in saves four times, and made seven All Star Games. From 1983, when he led the National League in saves for the first time, through 1995, Smith had at least 25 saves each season. In ten of those years, he reached the 30 save mark, and had four years with 40 or more saves.

The all time saves leader, Smith was no longer a closer in 1996, but he still pitched well. He served as a solid setup man for the Reds after being acquired from the Angels, posting a better than average ERA. However, he did not have much left in the tank after the season, as evidenced by his time with the Montreal Expos.

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Smith struggled through his time in Montreal, posting a 5.82 ERA and a 1.662 WHiP. Although he was still striking out batters at a decent clip, opponents were hitting Smith at a .308/.370/.440 clip. Realizing that the end had come, Smith retired on this day in 1997.

When he retired, Smith was the all time leader with 478 saves and 802 games finished. It took until 2006 before Trevor Hoffman topped his record in both categories, and he was eventually passed by Mariano Rivera as well. Currently, he still ranks third in both categories, trailing just to two legendary closers on the all time lists.

And yet, that consistency and ability did not generate much support for Smith when it came to the Hall of Fame. He cleared the 50% mark just once, and fell off the ballot after his 15th time this year. Should Smith be inducted into the Hall, it will be through the Veteran’s Committee.

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Lee Smith was one of the most consistent closers in baseball history. On this day in 1997, he called it a career.