#7
of 20
Lee Smith
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Lee Smith was baseball’s all-time saves leader before being surpassed by Hoffman and Rivera. He finished with 478 saves across nearly 1,300 relief innings. His 3.03 ERA came during high-offense environments in the 1980s and 1990s. Smith led the league in saves four times. He combined durability with power stuff. His strikeout totals exceeded 1,200. Smith remained effective into his late 30s. While not defined by postseason heroics, his regular season consistency was impressive. Longevity and accumulation firmly establish him among the all-time great closers.
Career Numbers
71-92
W-L
3.03
ERA
1,251
K
1,289.1
IP
478
SV
Lee Smith at No. 7
This slide covers number 7 of 20 in Top 20 Closers of All Time in History of MLB Baseball: Lee Smith. Lee Smith's pitching line on the card: 71 wins, a 3.03 ERA, 1,251 strikeouts. It also counts 478 saves. The Explore section links Lee Smith's debut decade, the 1980s, and other players born in USA. Rollie Fingers is ranked just above at 6; Kenley Jansen follows at 8. The ranking and the write-up above it are the list's editorial judgment; the career numbers come from the same tables as the player pages.