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 RecordsCareer Holds Records |
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Holds Record(s) | LG | Pitcher(s) | Team(s) | Data | |
Most Holds In A Career |
AL | Matt Thornton | Seattle | 5 | 182 |
Chicago | 146 | ||||
Boston | 19 | ||||
New York | 12 | ||||
NL | Tony Watson | Pittsburgh | 152 | 234 | |
Los Angeles | 8 | ||||
San Francisco | 74 | ||||
ML | Tony Watson | Pittsburgh | 152 | 246 | |
Los Angeles [NL] | 8 | ||||
San Francisco | 67 | ||||
Los Angeles [AL] | 12 | ||||
San Francisco | 7 | ||||
Holds Record(s) | LG | Pitcher(s) | Team(s) | Data | |
Holds RecordsSingle Season Holds Records |
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Holds Record(s) | LG | Pitcher(s) | Team(s) | Data | |
Fewest Holds League Leader | Full Season |
AL | Buddy Groom | Oakland | 27 | 1999 |
NL | John Johnstone | San Francisco | 28 | 1999 | |
Most Holds In A Season |
AL | Joel Peralta | Tampa Bay | 41 | 2013 |
NL | Tony Watson | Pittsburgh | 41 | 2015 | |
Most Holds In A Season | Lefthander |
AL | J.C. Romero | Minnesota | 33 | 2002 |
NL | Tony Watson | Pittsburgh | 41 | 2015 | |
Most Holds In A Season | Righthander |
AL | Joel Peralta | Tampa Bay | 41 | 2013 |
NL | Tyler Clippard | Washington | 40 | 2014 | |
Luke Gregerson | San Diego | 2010 | |||
Most Holds In A Season | Rookie |
AL | Daniel Bard | Boston | 32 | 2010 |
NL | Akinori Otsuka | San Diego | 34 | 2004 | |
Holds Record(s) | LG | Pitcher(s) | Team(s) | Data | |
Holds RecordsTeam Single Season Holds Records |
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Holds Record(s) | LG | Team(s) | Data | ||
Fewest Holds In Any Season |
AL | 2000 Kansas City Royals | 22 | 2000 | |
NL | 2002 Chicago Cubs | 31 | 2002 | ||
Most Holds In Any Season |
AL | 2011 New York Yankees | 96 | 2011 | |
NL | 2010 San Diego Padres | 111 | 2010 | ||
Holds Record(s) | LG | Team(s) | Data | ||
Hold Records | Research by Baseball Almanac |
Did you know that the first player to lead his respective league in holds (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 (relatively) newly created hold stat? Will it survive the test of time? Will it eventually lead to a specific pitcher type? Baseball Almanac invites you to share your opinion(s) about the hold stat on Baseball Fever.