MLB to honor top relievers with awards named for Rivera, Hoffman
Major League Baseball announced Wednesday that the new awards created to acknowledge the league's top relievers will be named for Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman, two of history's greatest closers.
MLB will honor top relievers annually with “Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year Award” & “Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year Award.”
— MLB (@MLB) April 9, 2014
Rivera, who retired after the 2013 campaign, collected 652 saves over 19 seasons in the majors, cementing his status as history's greatest closer throughout his illustrious tenure with the Yankees. Hoffman, meanwhile, is the only other player to reach 600 saves, enjoying a comparably impressive 18-year career.
The voters: Rivera, Hoffman, Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Rich “Goose” Gossage, Bruce Sutter, Lee Smith, John Franco and Billy Wagner.
— MLB (@MLB) April 9, 2014