Trevor Hoffman

San Diego Padres — No. 51
Closer
Born: October 13, 1967 (1967-10-13) (age 40) Bellflower, California
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
April 6, 1993 for the Florida Marlins
Selected MLB statistics (through June 11, 2008)
Win-Loss	54-64
Saves	539
Earned Run Average	2. In Baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer (abbreviated CL) is a Relief pitcher who specializes in closing out Events 54 - Nero ascends to the Roman throne 409 - Vandals and Alans crossed the Pyrenees Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. Bellflower is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and is a suburb of Los Angeles. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats Caecilius Metellus Scipio and Marcus Porcius Cato in the Battle of Thapsus Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) A win is a Statistic in Major League Baseball credited to the Pitcher for the winning team who was in the game when his team last took the lead In Baseball, a save (abbreviated SV or S) is credited to a Pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances In Baseball statistics, earned run average ( ERA) is the Mean of Earned runs given up by a Pitcher per nine Innings pitched 77
Strikeouts	1037
Teams
Florida Marlins (1993) San Diego Padres (1993-present)

Trevor William Hoffman (October 13, 1967 in Bellflower, California) is a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who has played for the San Diego Padres since 1993. In Baseball or Softball, a strikeout or strike out (denoted by SO or K) occurs when a batter receives three strikes The Florida Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami Gardens Florida. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Toronto Blue Jays over Philadelphia Phillies (4-2 Paul Molitor, The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego California since their founding in 1969 Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Toronto Blue Jays over Philadelphia Phillies (4-2 Paul Molitor, Events 54 - Nero ascends to the Roman throne 409 - Vandals and Alans crossed the Pyrenees Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. Bellflower is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and is a suburb of Los Angeles. A relief pitcher or reliever is a Baseball or Softball Pitcher who enters the game after the Starting pitcher is removed due to injury The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego California since their founding in 1969 He bats and throws right-handed. He reigns as the all-time Major League save record holder with 536 total saves, having broken the previous record held by Lee Smith on September 24, 2006. In Baseball, a save (abbreviated SV or S) is credited to a Pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances Lee Arthur Smith (born December 4 1957 is a retired American right-handed Relief pitcher who played for eight teams in Major League Baseball from 1980 Events 622 - Prophet Muhammad completes his hegira from Mecca to Medina. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Hoffman is frequently referred to as one of the best closers in baseball history. In Baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer (abbreviated CL) is a Relief pitcher who specializes in closing out He has been listed by major sports publications as one of the best pitchers of his era ,^[1] and is considered extremely likely to be elected to the Hall of Fame. ^[2]

Early life

When Hoffman was six weeks old, he had to have one of his kidneys removed because an arterial blockage had formed there.

When he wasn't following Glenn, or his other brother, Greg, a high school basketball coach, he was going with his father, Ed, to California Angels games. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California. For 15 years Ed Hoffman was the famous singing usher at Angels games. Before that, he sang with the Royal Guards, a troupe that performed all over the world. "We get our professionalism from him," Trevor says. "But none of us kids can carry a tune. It's pretty sad, because my father [who died in 1995] was great. " Trevor's mother, Mikki, is a former ballerina who was born in England. "She says we get our athleticism from her," says Trevor.

Trevor Hoffman proposed to his wife, Tracy, a former Buffalo Bills cheerleader, during Super Bowl XXVII in 1993. The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo New York Metropolitan area, playing seven of their home games in the suburb Super Bowl XXVII was an American football game played on January 31 1993 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena California to decide the National Football They have three sons: Brody Burke, Quinn Eddie, and Wyatt Quade.

Career

Originally drafted by the Cincinnati Reds as a shortstop after leading the University of Arizona team in hitting in 1988 with a . The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati Ohio, USA Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and Third base. The University of Arizona (also referred to as UA, U of A, or Arizona) is a Land-grant and space-grant public institution 371 batting average, 35 points better than teammate J.T. Snow in 1989, Hoffman was converted to a pitcher in 1991 after batting . Jack Thomas "J T" Snow Jr (born February 26, 1968 in) is a former Major League Baseball player Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Oakland Athletics over San Francisco Giants (4-0 Dave Stewart, In Baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the Pitcher's mound toward the Catcher to begin each play with the goal of Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Minnesota Twins over Atlanta Braves (4-3 Jack Morris, MVP Batting average is a Statistic in both Cricket and Baseball measuring the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters, respectively 212 with 23 RBI in 103 games while playing short and third for Single-A Charleston (then a Cincinnati Reds minor league affiliate). A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in Baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of The West Virginia Power is a Minor league baseball team of the South Atlantic League, and is the Class A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The move, suggested by Charleston manager Jim Lett, was so successful that in his first season on the mound, Hoffman threw a total of 47⅔ innings at Cedar Rapids and at Double-A Chattanooga, and had a 1. James Curtis Lett (b January 3, 1951 in Charleston, West Virginia) is the hitting coach of the South Atlantic League's defending North Division 89 ERA and 75 strikeouts.

Hoffman proved to have such a live arm that he was taken by the Florida Marlins in the 1992 expansion draft and a year later was involved in the five-player trade that sent slugger Gary Sheffield from the San Diego Padres to Florida during the infamous 1993 fire sale. See also List of baseball jargon lace To hit the ball very hard typically a line drive. The Florida Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami Gardens Florida. The 1992 MLB Expansion Draft was held November 17, 1992. This Expansion draft was conducted by Major League Baseball to stock the major league Gary Antonian Sheffield (born November 18, 1968 in Tampa Florida) is a Major League Baseball Designated hitter and Outfielder The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego California since their founding in 1969 In Professional sports, a fire sale occurs when a team trades many of its veteran players especially expensive star players to other teams for less expensive and Hoffman is the only prospect acquired from the fire sale to develop into a legitimate star despite the Padres dumping players of the caliber of Sheffield, Fred McGriff, Bruce Hurst, and Craig Lefferts among others. Frederick Stanley "Crime Dog" McGriff (born October 31, 1963 in Tampa Florida) is a former left-handed Major League Baseball player Bruce Vee Hurst (born March 24, 1958 in St George Utah) is a former Major League Baseball left-handed Starting pitcher who played Craig Lindsay Lefferts (born September 29, 1957 in Munich, Germany was a relief pitcher for the Chicago Cubs (1983 San Diego Padres

Hoffman is one of only two currently active players in Major League Baseball remaining from the Marlins' 1993 inaugural season (the other being fellow relief pitcher David Weathers). John David Weathers (born September 25, 1969 in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee) is a Major League Baseball Pitcher for the

During the strike-shortened 1994, Hoffman first took over closer duties, replacing Gene Harris. Headline events of the year As a result of a players' strike the MLB season ends prematurely on August 11, 1994. Gene Harris (born December 5, 1964 in Sebring Florida) is a retired professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1989-1995 Although at the time Tony Gwynn's flirtation with batting . Anthony Keith Gwynn (born May 9 1960 in Los Angeles California) is a former Right fielder in Major League Baseball, statistically one of the best and 400 was the only truly positive note in that terrible season for the Padres, in retrospect Hoffman's 20 saves and ERA of 2. 57 portended a brighter future for himself and the team. 1995 was a step backwards and remains Hoffman's worst non-injury year as a closer, with an ERA of 3. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Atlanta Braves over Cleveland Indians (4-2 Tom Glavine, MVP 88; though he had 31 saves, Hoffman also finished with 7 blown saves. The next two years showed great improvement and first achieved Hoffman larger notice. Both years he pitched over 80 innings, with 111 strikeouts, averaged approximately 40 saves, and had ERAs of 2. 25 and 2. 66. In 1996, at Los Angeles, Hoffman defeated the Dodgers to the clinch the NL West.

"Trevor Time," which flashes on the scoreboard when Hoffman enters a game

The 1998 season was arguably Hoffman's best. Headline events of the year Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey Jr He had a career-high 53 saves and a career-best 1. 48 ERA. His 53 saves that year tied the NL single-season record set in 1993 by the Cubs' Randy Myers. Randall Kirk Myers (born September 19, 1962 in Vancouver Washington, U His numbers got him into the Cy Young race that year, but he lost to Tom Glavine of the Atlanta Braves, despite receiving 13 first-place votes to Glavine's 11. Thomas Michael Glavine (born March 25, 1966 in Concord Massachusetts) is an American Left-handed Starting pitcher Hoffman is the only pitcher to ever receive the most first-place votes and not win the Cy Young. Hoffman didn't go unrecognized for his achievements in 1998, however. He won the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award and the The Sporting News Reliever of the Year Award. In Major League Baseball, the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award, first awarded in, is a distinction given to the top Relief pitcher in each league at the end of The Sporting News Reliever of the Year Award was established in 1960 by The Sporting News (TSN as TSN Fireman of the Year Award Hoffman led San Diego to the 1998 World Series but lost against the New York Yankees. The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of The Bronx, in New York City, New York. It was during this year that Hoffman began entering save situations in Padres home games with AC/DC's "Hells Bells" playing over the public address system, starting a trend in closers having their own entrance music. AC/DC are an Australian Hard rock band formed in Sydney, Australia in 1973 by brothers Angus and Malcolm Young. " Hells Bells " is the first track of the album Back in Black of Australian Hard rock band AC/DC. ^[3]

The May 13, 2002 cover of Sports Illustrated featured the first national media article arguing that Trevor Hoffman is the greatest closer ever.

Hoffman followed his 1998 performance by averaging over 40 saves over the next four years (40, 43, 43, 38). His 1998 and 1999 seasons were rewarded with a four-year contract for 2000-04 worth $32 million. Further, his career was beginning to be followed on a national stage and compared to other greats including Dennis Eckersley. Dennis Lee Eckersley (born October 3 1954 nicknamed "Eck" is a former American Major League Baseball player Hoffman broke Eckersley's record for most saves with one team (320) in 2002. ^[4] Significantly, Sports Illustrated dedicated their May 13, 2002 issue to Hoffman calling him the greatest closer in MLB history (see image above). ^[5]

Hoffman (left) with fellow Padres reliever Cla Meredith in 2008. Olise Claiborne "Cla" Meredith III (kleɪ nicknamed "The Claw" (born June 4, 1983 in Richmond, Virginia) is an American

On May 6, 2005, Hoffman recorded his 400th save against the St. Louis Cardinals and became the third pitcher in Major League history to reach the milestone, following John Franco (424 saves) and Lee Smith (478 saves). 2005 Major League Baseball season Headline events of the year Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros to win the World Series The St Louis Cardinals (also referred to as "the Cards " or "the Redbirds " are a professional Baseball team based in St John Anthony Franco (born September 17 1960 in Brooklyn, New York) is a former left-handed Relief pitcher in Major League Baseball Lee Arthur Smith (born December 4 1957 is a retired American right-handed Relief pitcher who played for eight teams in Major League Baseball from 1980 On August 24, 2005, Hoffman passed Franco for second place on the all-time saves list with #425 after the Padres beat the Houston Astros 7-4. The Houston Astros are a Professional baseball team based in Houston Texas. Against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Hoffman clinched the Padres to the post-season. The Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles California, USA

2006 was a year of several milestones, including one significant disappointment for Hoffman. He was the losing pitcher in the 2006 All-Star Game, despite having two strikes with two outs on eventual MVP Michael Young. The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also popularly known as the "Midsummer Classic" is an annual Baseball game between players from the National League Michael Brian Young (born October 19, 1976 in Covina California) is a Major League Baseball Shortstop currently playing for the On the positive side, August 20 marked Hoffman's 776th outing for the Padres, breaking the Pirates Elroy Face's major league record for most relief appearances with one club, according to the Elias Sports Bureau [6]. Events 636 - Battle of Yarmouk: Arab forces led by Khalid ibn al-Walid take control of Syria and Palestine Elroy Leon Face (born February 20 1928 in Stephentown New York) is a former right-handed Relief pitcher in Major League Baseball The Elias Sports Bureau is a company that provides historical research and statistical services in the field of Professional sports. Even more significantly, on September 24, Hoffman became the all-time Major League saves leader by saving his 479th career game in a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, surpassing Lee Smith's record. The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Hoffman ended the season against the Arizona Diamondbacks in 4 straight clinching playoff appearances. The Arizona Diamondbacks (also referred to as the D-backs) are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix Arizona.

On April 29, 2007, Hoffman pitched in his 803rd game for the Padres, breaking the record for games pitched for any one team. The record was previously held by both Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators and Elroy Face of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Walter Perry Johnson ( November 6, 1887 – December 10, 1946) nicknamed "The Big Train" was an American right-handed The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Elroy Leon Face (born February 20 1928 in Stephentown New York) is a former right-handed Relief pitcher in Major League Baseball The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

On June 6, 2007, at PETCO Park, Hoffman recorded his 500th career save against the Los Angeles Dodgers. PETCO Park is an open-air Stadium in downtown San Diego, California. He struck out Russell Martin looking, with a fastball, to secure the 5-2 win for the Padres. Russell Nathan Jeanson Coltrane Martin Jr (born February 15 1983 in East York Ontario, Canada is a professional Baseball player for the Los Angeles Hoffman is the only pitcher in history to log 500 saves.

On July 1, 2007, Hoffman was named to the NL All Star Team for the sixth time in his career, along with teammates Jake Peavy and Chris Young. Champions Major League Baseball Regular Season Champions Other champions Minor League Baseball Jacob "Jake" Edward Peavy, (ˈpʰiːvi born May 31, 1981, in Mobile, Alabama) is a Cy Young Award -winning Starting

On September 8, 2007 (against the Colorado Rockies) Hoffman struck-out his 1000th hitter, a feat matched by only 7 other relief pitchers.

On September 27, 2007 (against the Pittsburgh Pirates) Hoffman picked up his 40th save of the 2007 season. This is his ninth season with 40 saves, another Major League record.

On October 1, 2007, in the Padres' tie-breaker wild card game against the Colorado Rockies, Hoffman blew a save and his team's 8-6 lead in the 13th inning. He took the loss when he allowed the game-winning run to score on a sacrifice fly.

During Spring Training 2008, Hoffman repeatedly told the sports press that he was looking forward to vindicating his lost save against the Colorado Rockies. On April 1, 2008, during the second game of the season, Hoffman recorded his first save of the 2008 season against the Houston Astros.

Milestone saves

• x-Current as of June 4, 2008. The Chicago Cubs are a Professional Baseball franchise based in Chicago, Illinois. Events 781 BC - The first historic Solar eclipse is recorded in China. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common

Saves by opponent

• As of June 4, 2008 ^[6]

Saves by stadium

• As of May 29, 2008 ^[7]

Pitches

When Hoffman first came into the league he was a fireballer, throwing in the low to mid 90’s with a tight curveball. In Baseball, a fireballer is a Pitcher who throws at a notably high velocity Hoffman’s repertoire now includes one of the game’s best changeups, a more modest four-seam fastball in the 84-88 MPH range, a slower cut fastball that moves in towards a left-handed batter, and he even mixes in a slider and a curveball a handful of times a year for good measure. A changeup is a type of pitch in Baseball. Other names include change-of-pace and simply change. A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch in Baseball. In Baseball, a cutter, or cut fastball, is a type of Fastball which breaks slightly as it reaches Home plate. In Baseball, a slider is a pitch halfway between a Curveball and a Fastball. The curveball is a breaking pitch in Baseball thrown with a grip and hand movement that imparts down and/or sideways spin to the ball. However, for all intents and purposes, Hoffman is a two-pitch pitcher, alternating between fastballs and changeups. It is the arm action on the change up and the late sink just before it reaches the plate (almost as if someone was pulling on a string attached to the pitch) that has allowed Hoffman to be as successful as he has been over the years.

Trevor Hoffman learned the change up, which he actually throws with a palmball [7] grip instead of a circle changeup grip, from teammate Donnie Elliott during the 1994 player's strike and began using the pitch in 1995 when he did not have his best fastball because he was pitching most of the year with a torn rotator cuff. In Baseball, the palmball pitch is a type of Changeup. It requires placing the baseball tightly in the palm and then throwing it as if throwing a Fastball In Baseball, a circle changeup is a pitch thrown with a grip that includes a circle formation hence the name The 1994 Major League baseball strike was the eighth work stoppage in Baseball history as well as the fourth in-season work stoppage The rotator cuff (rotor cuff is an anatomical term given to the group of Muscles and their Tendons that act to stabilize the Shoulder. Hoffman opted to pitch through the pain and have surgery in the off-season rather than end his season early. He came back the following year to throw in the low 90's, with a tight curveball and that terrific changeup, which reportedly made his fastball look as if was going 110 mph (180 km/h). The key to the pitch, Hoffman explains in the September 11, 2006 edition of ESPN The Magazine, is how he pinches the seam of the ball with his thumb and index finger as he releases it. ESPN The Magazine is a bi-weekly sports Magazine published by the ESPN sports network in Bristol CT in the United States. He throws the changeup with the arm speed used to throw a fastball, the hitter thinks it's a fastball, it looks like a fastball. But when the hitter starts to swing, the ball is still yards away from the plate. In this article, writer Buster Olney attributes Hoffman's initial loss of velocity and torn rotator cuff in 1995 to horsing around at Del Mar Beach near San Diego during the strike. Robert Stanbury "Buster" Olney III (born 17 February 1964 in Washington D Del Mar is a city in San Diego County, California, United States.

As recently as 1998, Trevor’s finest season when he finished second in Cy Young Award voting and seventh in MVP voting, he was throwing his fastball in the low 90’s. In Baseball, the Cy Young Award is an honor given annually to the best Pitcher in Major League Baseball (one each for American and National However, his velocity has dropped off in recent years. His velocity has actually improved since he had shoulder surgery that forced him to miss most of the 2003 season. Before that procedure, Hoffman’s fastball had slowed to the mid 80’s. Despite his diminished velocity, Hoffman’s strikeout numbers remained very good, striking out more than a batter per inning every season up to 2003 and striking out nearly that many in 2004 and 2005. The 2006 season, though, saw his strikeout numbers fall off noticeably.

Accomplishments

• 6-time All-Star (1998-2000, 2002, 2006-2007)
• 2-time winner of Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award (1998, 2006)
• Hutch Award for service to the community (2004)
• Lou Gehrig Memorial Award (2006)
• 3-time winner of TSN Reliever of the Year Award (1996, 1998, 2006)
• 2-time National League saves leader (1998, 2006)
• NL Pitcher of the month for May, 2005
• Holds MLB record for most Pitching Appearances with one team (803)
• 714 Games finished, most among any active pitcher (3rd All-Time)
• Holds MLB record with 8 consecutive seasons with 30 or more saves (1995-2002)
• Holds MLB record with 13 20-Save seasons [8] (1994-2002, 2004-2007) (Tied with Lee Smith)
• Holds MLB record with 12 30-Save seasons [9] (1995-2002, 2004-2007)
• Holds MLB record with 9 40-Save seasons [10] (1996, 1998-2001, 2004-2007)
• Holds MLB record as the only pitcher with 500 MLB career saves (June 6, 2007)
• 89. The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also popularly known as the "Midsummer Classic" is an annual Baseball game between players from the National League In Major League Baseball, the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award, first awarded in, is a distinction given to the top Relief pitcher in each league at the end of The Hutch Award is a Major League Baseball award given to an active player who best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire to win The Lou Gehrig Memorial Award was created by the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity in honor of the former Major League Baseball player Lou Gehrig, who was a member of the The Sporting News Reliever of the Year Award was established in 1960 by The Sporting News (TSN as TSN Fireman of the Year Award The Pitcher of the Month award is a Major League Baseball award named by each league for each month of the regular season In Baseball statistics, a Relief pitcher is credited with a game finished (denoted by GF) if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game Lee Arthur Smith (born December 4 1957 is a retired American right-handed Relief pitcher who played for eight teams in Major League Baseball from 1980 53% career save percentage [11] (522 saves in 583 opportunities) is best in MLB History (minimum 190 opportunities) (as of Sept. 20, 2007)
• 3-time winner of the “DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month Award” (May, 2005; September, 2006; May 2007)

See also

• List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders
• List of Major League Baseball leaders in games finished
• List of Major League Baseball individual streaks
• List of Major League Baseball saves champions

Trivia

Hoffman pitched for the Padres in the longest game in Major League Baseball history in 1993 at Veteran's Stadium against the Phillies, a rain-shortened double-header that lasted more than 12 hours. This is a list of the top 300 Major League Baseball leaders in career saves. In Baseball statistics, a Relief pitcher is credited with a game finished (denoted by GF) if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game The following is a list of notable individual streaks achieved in Major League Baseball. Major League Baseball recognizes saves champions in the American League and National League each season The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Hoffman lost in the bottom of the 10th inning by the surprising surrender of an RBI single to Mitch Williams, the Phillies closing pitcher. Mitch Williams redirects here For the fictional character please see Mitch Williams (General Hospital.

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube