SEPTEMBER 15, 1990 | CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – Bobby Thigpen of the Chicago White Sox became the first pitcher in major league history to record 50 saves in a season on this date in 1990. He went on to set the seasonal record for saves at 57.
Thigpen finished his 8-year career with 201 saves. He kept the saves in a season record until Francisco Rodriguez, K-Rod, of the Los Angeles Angels at Anaheim broke it in 2008.
So what is the history of the save?
The save is a relatively new baseball statistic. It was officially adopted in 1969 after a decade of research and lobbying by Chicago sportswriter Jerome Holtzman, a member of the Hall of Fame. It is the premier benchmark to gauge the effectiveness of closers. The save rule, officially Rule 10.19, basically states that to get a save a pitcher must satisfy one of these three conditions:
1. Enter the game with a lead of no more than three runs.
2. Enter the game with the potential tying run either on base, at bat or on deck.
3. Pitch at least three innings
The pitcher cannot surrender the lead at any point to get a save (but he can get the win if his team comes back to win after he relinquished the lead.)
CONTRIBUTING SOURCES:
September 15, 1990 box score/game notes
Single season Saves leaders
