Craig Kimbrel
| Birthdate | 5/28/1988 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 2010 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Braves, Cubs, Padres, Red Sox |
| Position | Pitcher |
The 2011 Rookie of the Year, Craig Kimbrel is a seven-time All Star who led the National League in saves each of his first four full seasons.
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Craig Kimbrel was the unanimous choice for 2011 NL Rookie of the Year
Craig Kimbrel was the unanimous choice for 2011 NL Rookie of the Year
Craig Kimbrel’s 2011 rookie season was quite possibly the best ever by a reliever. As a 23-year old he made the National League All Star team, led the league in saves, and posted a 2.10 ERA.
His performance made him the unanimous choice for Rookie of the Year. The runner-up for the honor was Kimbrel’s Braves teammate Freddie Freeman. No slouch himself, the first baseman slugged 21 homers and drove in 76 runs.
Shown here is the receipt Freeman signed to receive his 2014 All Star ring. The game marked Freeman’s first in the Mid Summer Classic.
Craig Kimbrel's body of work puts him in the Cooperstown conversation
Craig Kimbrel's body of work puts him in the Cooperstown conversation
After an outstanding rookie year, Craig Kimbrel ignored the sophomore jinx. He lowered his ERA to 1.01 and again led the Senior Circuit in saves.
An All Star in each of his first four full seasons, and in seven of his first eight, the closer led the league in saves four times. In 2023 he became just the seventh reliever in big league history to record 400 saves.
His body of work puts him in the Cooperstown conversation..
Hall of Fame hurlers Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman are the only two relievers to record 500 or more saves. Rivera is the all-time leader with 652 while Hoffman has 601. The third man on the career leaderboard Cooperstown man Lee Smith, has 478 saves.
The next three men on the list Francisco Rodriguez (437), John Franco (424) and Billy Wagner (422) are not in the Hall of Fame.
In the collection is the All Star ring receipt that Kimbrel signed in his rookie year of 2011. One must imagine how surreal it must’ve been for the youngster to stand alongside the greatest players in the game in the Midsummer Classic.
Craig Kimbrel has struck out the most 9th-inning hitters in baseball history
Craig Kimbrel has struck out the most 9th-inning hitters in baseball history
Craig Kimbrel holds the distinction of striking out the most 9th-inning hitters of any pitcher in big league history. Directly behind him is left-hander Billy Wagner with 936. The two men are the only to strike out 900 men in any inning of play.
Among starters, Nolan Ryan’s 845 first-inning strikeouts stands as the most in any one inning. The Express also holds the second spot among starting pitchers with 843 second-inning whiffs.
In the collection is this 1996 contract extension between Topps Chewing Gum and Wagner, one of the best relievers baseball has ever known.
