Jose Mesa, closer
Jose Mesa, yeah, we all know, Game 7 of the 1997 World Series. I’m not over it, you’re not over it and the 2016 loss to the Cubs just made it worse because we’re all still waiting.
But Mesa’s stache-game was the ultimate closer, and with it, the starter turned reliever had a great career.
Mesa ended his career with 321 saves, which is 18th all time.
Mesa’s 1995 season will go down as one of the greatest ever for a reliever. He won the Rolaids Relief award then, given to the game’s top reliever. He even picked up an MVP vote.
Mesa had 46 saves that season to go along with a 1.13 ERA. He ended his career with a 12.2 WAR.
The Tribe moved him before the trade deadline in 1998, because of Mesa’s impending free agency. Then GM John Hart dealt Mesa to the Giants for Jacob Cruz and Steve Reed.
That offseason, Mesa signed a free-agent contract with the Seattle Mariners.
His 104 saves are fifth all-time in Cleveland Indians history.