Allen Ties the Indians Franchise Mark for Saves; Where Does He Rank Among Tribe Closers?

Tuesday night Indians closer Cody Allen notched his 139th career save, tying former Indians reliever Bob Wickman for the most saves as a member of the Wahoo's.

Tuesday night Indians closer Cody Allen notched his 139th career save, tying former Indians reliever Bob Wickman for the most saves as a member of the Wahoo's.

It's an interesting mark for Allen to say the least considering not many would consider likely consider him the greatest closer in the history of the franchise, but in what could wind up being his final season with the Indians, following the 2018 season he'll have the mark for the most saves and then some.

Allen has been a staple for the Indians since his call-up in July of 2012, and was moved into the closer role in May of 2014 for a struggling John Axford.

There's been some great closers in history of the Indians franchise, and it's not easy to figure out where Allen should land on the list, but now we take a look at the teams' all-time best closers and see where Allen fits in.

5. Chris Perez

Perez came out of nowhere to become one the best closers the team ever had, having a career from 2010 till issues in the end led to him losing the job in 2013.

In his time as the Tribe closer he compiled 124 saves, good enough right now for 4th on the list all-time for the Indians.

He went 11-17 with a 3.33 ERA in his time with the Indians, but many fans will remember him for his rants at the fans at times for supporting the Browns more than the Indians, and the legal issues that saw him send a shipment of weed to his home in 2013 in the name of his dog.

4. Doug Jones

Not many Indians fans today remember Doug Jones, but from 1988 to 1990 the closer had three very memorable seasons on some bad Indians teams that earns him a place on this list.

Jones came to the Indians in 1986, and two years later took over as the closer and was outstanding, saving 37, 32 and 43 games over the next three seasons.

He held the Indians' all-time record for saves with 129 until Bob Wickman broke it in 2006, and was a three-time All-Star with the Indians.

3. Bob Wickman

The player currently tied with Cody Allen for the most saves in franchise history came to the team in a seven-player trade between the Brewers and Indians during the 2000 season.

He took over the closer role right away, and saved 14 games in his first season with the Indians, and held the job as closer over the next five seasons until he was sent to the Atlanta Braves in 2006, the season he became the Indians' all-time franchise leader in saved games with 130,

Wickman's 45 saves on the season in 2005 is tied for second-best in team history, and in his time with the Tribe went 8-16 with a 3.23 ERA.

He wasn't as dominant as some would have liked, but he was very good and was an All-Star with the Indians in the 2005 season.

2. Cody Allen

As mentioned in the open, Allen became the Indians closer in 2014, and that season had 76 appearances, a 6-4 record with a 2.07 ERA, 91 strikeouts, and 24 saves in 69.2 innings.

Oddly enough he's never been an All-Star (the only one on the list) but has been as good as most closers in baseball in the time he's been in the role, with a 22-26 record with a 2.75 ERA with now 139 saves.

His most saves in a season (to this point) came in the 2015 season when he saved 34 games, his saves per season is as follows - 24, 34, 32, 30 and right now he's at 17.

He's probably underrated as a closer for this franchise, but the thought of losing him this offseason should give Indians fans some sleepless nights.

1. Jose Mesa

This won't likely be a popular choice due to what happened in game seven of the 1997 World Series against the Florida Marlins, but there's no denying that the stretch that Jose Mesa had as Indians closer was as dominant as any in all of baseball.

Mesa actually was a starter when the team decided to put him in the closer role, and all he did on the historic 1995 team that made it to the World Series was save a franchise record and MLB high 46 games that season.

He went 3-0 that season with a 1.13 ERA, and basically when he came in - the game was as good as over. 38 of Mesa's 46 saves were recorded in consecutive appearances in save situations; a major-league record at the time.

He put up another solid 2006 with 39 saves, and made the All-Star team again with a 3.33 ERA for the Indians who were knocked out of the playoffs by the Orioles in the Divisional round.

Everyone remembers 1997 and while Mesa had just 16 saves and a record of 4-4 with a 2.40 ERA, it was all up to him to get the Marlins out in the 9th inning which would have won the Tribe a title.

Instead it was heartbreak, and by the middle of 1998 Mesa was shipped to the Giants, and just like that his time as the best Indians closer was over.