Closing Time 90s Edition: Bobby Thigpen

 

-Matthew McConkey

I remember back in 1990, there was no closer more dominant than the Chicago White Sox's own Bobby Thigpen. In that season, Thigpen set the MLB record for saves with 57, blowing by the old MLB save record in a single season by 11. Dave Righetti, of the New York Yankees, had set the new standard for saves in a single season with his 46 in 1986. Thigpen, four years later, would smash that one. 

He wasn't the best closer in the game before 1990, or even after. But whatever it was during that season, something clicked with him. He was able to catch lightning in a bottle, which very few closers can do. 

Thigpen's single-season MLB save record stood for eighteen years until Francisco Rodriguez set the new mark with 62 in 2008.

Bobby Thigpen's 1990 Season At A Glance

57 saves, led MLB and set a new single-season record

He was selected for his first All-Star Game 

Had a career low 1.84 ERA that season, the lowest of his career

Saved 30 games on the road, with a 1.70 ERA. Home teams only hit .144

In June of that season, he posted a 1-0 record, while saving 10 games with a 1.35 ERA

Dominated the New York Yankees. 1-0, 8 saves, 1.13 ERA. He allowed one ER in 8 games

Bobby Thigpen Stats

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thigpbo01.shtml