Holds Records by Baseball Almanac

Holds Records

The most holds by a team, the most holds by a pitcher in a career & in a season, the fewest in a season, and other similar hold records are presented below and research is complete through completion of the previous season. Note: The hold stat is NOT retroactive so seasons prior to 1999 are not included in the record book.

Baseball Almanac is pleased to present the FIRST EVER record book for the Hold stat — a pitching stat created in 1999 that is awarded to the pitcher(s) who is / are able to appear in relief and hold the victory for the closer (who might or might not get the save).

"Since I was a little kid, I have always felt very lucky to be able to play the game of baseball. It's been a gift. I've been able to play for the White Sox, Tigers and Marlins. And in 1996, I joined the Oakland A's. Playing baseball has always made me happy." - Buddy Groom

Holds Career Holds Records
Record	Lg	Name(s)	Team(s)	Data
Most In A Career	AL	Scot Shields	Los Angeles	155	155
	NL	Mike Remlinger	Atlanta	105	140
	NL	Mike Remlinger	Chicago	35	140
	ML	Arthur Rhodes	Baltimore [AL]	5	215
			Seattle [AL]	111
			Oakland [AL]	3
			Cleveland [AL]	16
			Philadelphia [NL]	23
			Florida [NL]	11
			Cincinnati [NL]	51
Holds Single Season Holds Records
Record	Lg	Name(s)	Team(s)	Data
Fewest By The League Leader	AL	Buddy Groom	Oakland	27	1999
Fewest By The League Leader	NL	John Johnstone	San Francisco	28	1999
Most In A Season	AL	Tom Gordon	New York	36	2004
Most In A Season	NL	Luke Gregerson	San Diego	40	2010
Most By A Lefthander	AL	J.C. Romero	Minnesota	33	2002
Most By A Lefthander	NL	Jeremy Affeldt	San Francisco	33	2009
Most By A Righthander	AL	Tom Gordon	New York	36	2004
Most By A Righthander	NL	Luke Gregerson	San Diego	40	2010
Most By A Rookie First Season EVER	AL	Daniel Bard	Boston	32	2010
Most By A Rookie First Season EVER	NL	Akinori Otsuka	San Diego	34	2004
Holds Team / Franchise Records
Record	Lg	Team(s)		Data
Fewest by any Franchise	AL	Kansas City Royals		633	1999 - 2010
Fewest by any Franchise	NL	Arizona Diamondbacks		695	1999 - 2010
Most by any Franchise	AL	Texas Rangers		834	1999 - 2010
Most by any Franchise	NL	St. Louis Cardinals		906	1999 - 2010
Holds Team Single Season Holds Records
Record	Lg	Team(s)		Data
Fewest In Any Season	AL	2000 Kansas City Royals		20	2000
Fewest In Any Season	NL	2002 Chicago Cubs		31	2002
Most In Any Season	AL	2001 Seattle Mariners		91	2001
Most In Any Season	NL	2010 San Diego Padres		111	2010
Record	Lg	Team(s)		Data
Hold Record Book by Baseball Almanac, Inc.

Did you know that the first player to lead his respective league in the Hold stat (1999) was: John Johnstone who had twenty-eight holds with the National League Giants & Buddy Groom who had twenty-seven holds with the American League Athletics?

Felix Rodriguez led the National League in holds in 2000 (thirty with the San Francisco Giants) and again in 2001 (thirty-two with the San Francisco Giants) making him the first pitcher from either league to ever lead a league in holds more than once during a career.

How do you feel about the newly created hold stat? Will it survive the test of time? Baseball Almanac invites you to share your opinion(s) about the hold stat on Baseball Fever.

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