63 Facts About Joe Nathan

Joseph Michael Nathan was born on November 22,1974 and is an American former professional baseball pitcher.

Joe Nathan played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball for the San Francisco Giants, Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, and Chicago Cubs.

Joe Nathan started out his baseball career as a shortstop in high school and in college for Stony Brook, but converted to a pitcher after being drafted by the Giants.

Joe Nathan worked his way through the minor leagues, alternating between spots in the rotation and the bullpen.

From 2004 to 2009, Joe Nathan was considered one of the top closers in the major leagues, with four All-Star selections and a league-leading 246 saves.

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Joe Nathan finished fourth in American League Cy Young voting in 2004 and fifth in 2006.

In 2010, Joe Nathan underwent Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow and missed the entire season.

Joe Nathan retired during the 2017 season and is currently eighth on the all-time saves list.

Joe Nathan currently has the highest save percentage in MLB history amongst pitchers with at least 250 saves.

Joe Nathan graduated from Pine Bush High School in Pine Bush, New York in 1992, where he played basketball and baseball and ran track.

Joe Nathan first played shortstop for the then Division III Stony Brook Patriots at Stony Brook University on Long Island, New York.

Joe Nathan played for the Fairfield Stallions in the New England Collegiate Baseball League in 1994.

Joe Nathan became a two-time Academic All-American and graduated as a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society.

Joe Nathan was drafted in the sixth round of the amateur draft by the San Francisco Giants in 1995 and signed the next day, June 2.

Joe Nathan was inducted into the Stony Brook Hall of Fame in the class of 2006.

Joe Nathan began his minor league career in Class A for the Bellingham Giants.

Joe Nathan gave more thought to his future in baseball and after graduation decided to return to the Giants organization and developed into a standout pitching prospect.

Joe Nathan was promoted to the San Francisco Giants on April 20,1999, taking the roster spot of superstar slugger Barry Bonds, who went on the disabled list after left elbow surgery.

Joe Nathan spent all of 2003 with the Giants in the bullpen after marrying Lisa Lemoncelli, his girlfriend of five years, in November 2002.

Joe Nathan was hit hard in that series, blowing his only save opportunity.

Joe Nathan's team fared no better, winning Game 1 behind Jason Schmidt's complete game shutout before dropping the next three.

Joe Nathan was traded to the Minnesota Twins on November 16,2003.

Joe Nathan was signed to a three-year deal on March 4,2004 and agreed to an incentive-laden contract with a base salary of $440,000.

Joe Nathan was the only Twin on the squad and pitched a perfect seventh inning, getting Bobby Abreu to strike out, Mike Lowell to fly out and Miguel Cabrera to strike out.

Joe Nathan picked up his first postseason save in Game 1, but blew his second opportunity in Game 2 as the Twins went on to lose the ensuing three games.

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Joe Nathan's first child, a son named Cole, was born on November 9,2004.

Joe Nathan picked up from where he left off in 2004, allowing no earned runs in 15 appearances from April 5 to May 10.

Joe Nathan earned another All-Star appearance in 2005 for his pitching in the first half of the season.

Joe Nathan pitched in the 2005 MLB All-Star Game alongside fellow pitcher Johan Santana.

Felipe Lopez singled, and Joe Nathan was able to get Miguel Cabrera and Luis Castillo out, but not before Alou scored.

Joe Nathan became the third pitcher in club history to post consecutive 40 save seasons.

Joe Nathan went on to pitch the last game for the United States in the ninth inning against Mexico, again not allowing a run and striking out two.

On September 25,2007, Joe Nathan was named as one of 10 finalists for the "DHL Delivery Man of the Year Award", the third year in a row that he has been a finalist.

Joe Nathan finished the year with 39 saves and a career best 1.

Joe Nathan ranked seventh in the majors in saves and had the lowest ERA of the top 30 save leaders in 2008.

Joe Nathan had a strong season, as he was selected as an All-Star for the 2009 MLB All Star Game, and he finished the year with 2.

Joe Nathan shared honors for the AL Rolaids Relief Man award with Mariano Rivera.

On October 11,2009, after the Twins lost the final game at the Metrodome, Joe Nathan took a pile of dirt from the mound as a keepsake from the Metrodome.

On March 21, after attempting to pitch without having surgery, Joe Nathan decided to undergo Tommy John surgery, missing the entire 2010 season.

Joe Nathan earned his first save at Target Field on April 8,2011.

Joe Nathan emptied the container of dirt he took from the Metrodome on the mound at Target Field before pitching.

On May 28,2011, Joe Nathan was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right flexor muscle strain.

Joe Nathan is currently the Minnesota Twins leader in career saves, with 260.

On November 21,2011, Joe Nathan agreed to terms on a two-year deal with the Texas Rangers worth $14.

Joe Nathan had a strong first season with the Rangers, as he was selected to the represent the Rangers at the 2012 MLB All Star Game, the fifth all star selection of his career.

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Joe Nathan finished his 2012 campaign with 37 saves and an ERA of 2.

Joe Nathan was selected to his sixth All Star Game in 2013, and earned the save for the American League.

Joe Nathan improved on his 2012 campaign, finishing his 2013 season with 43 saves and an ERA of 1.

On May 5,2014, Joe Nathan recorded his 347th career save, tying him with Randy Myers for ninth on the all-time saves list.

Two days later, Joe Nathan recorded career save number 348, putting him alone at ninth on the all-time saves list.

Joe Nathan finished his first season with the Tigers making 62 appearances and recording 35 saves in 42 chances, while posting an ERA of 4.

Joe Nathan made one postseason appearance in 2014, retiring all three batters he faced in a non-save situation in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Baltimore Orioles.

Joe Nathan was immediately placed on the 60-day disabled list upon signing to continue recovery from his previous Tommy John surgery.

Joe Nathan made his Cubs debut on July 24,2016 against the Milwaukee Brewers, pitching one inning and striking out three while allowing one hit and one walk.

Joe Nathan signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Washington Nationals for the 2017 season.

Joe Nathan opted out of his contract and was released on March 27,2017, as spring training came to a close.

On September 3,2017, Joe Nathan held a press conference with the Minnesota Twins, where he announced his retirement after signing a one-day contract to end his career in Minnesota.

Joe Nathan threw out the first pitch during that night's game against the Kansas City Royals.

Joe Nathan retired with 377 saves, at the time eighth-most in MLB history, a 2.

Joe Nathan was inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame on August 3,2019.

Joe Nathan was included on the ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame class of 2022 when it was announced on November 22,2021.

Joe Nathan's main breaking ball was a hard slider in the upper 80s, occasionally even touching 90.

Joe Nathan used the slider less frequently against left-handed hitters, preferring to use a curveball in the low 80s.