Mariano Rivera Becomes the Saves Leader

On September 19, 2011, New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera recorded his 602nd career save, passing Trevor Hoffman to become Major League Baseball's all-time saves leader.

Rivera built his career almost entirely on a single pitch, a cut fastball that broke bats and confounded hitters for nearly two decades despite them knowing exactly what was coming. He was a key figure in five Yankees World Series championships between 1996 and 2009.

Rivera retired after the 2013 season with 652 career saves, a record that still stands, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019 as the first player ever elected unanimously.