Los Angeles — When the Dodgers signed Eric Gagné as an amateur free agent in 1995, there were no headlines. No expectations of greatness. Just another arm added quietly to the system. Four years later, on September 7, 1999, Gagné finally made his Major League debut — and even then, nothing about his early career suggested that he would one day become one of the most dominant closers baseball had ever seen.
In fact, for his first three seasons in Los Angeles, Gagné looked like a problem, not a solution.
Used primarily as a starting pitcher, Gagné struggled badly to establish himself. Outside of five starts late in 1999, he was largely ineffective, unable to command games or inspire confidence. By the early 2000s, his future with the Dodgers appeared uncertain. Then came a franchise-altering decision in 2002.
With longtime closer Jeff Shaw retiring, the Dodgers made a bold — and risky — move: they shifted Gagné to the bullpen and handed him the ninth inning. What followed was nothing short of shocking.
Gagné didn’t just adapt to his new role — he exploded into it.
In his first season as the Dodgers’ closer, he posted a 1.97 ERA, an absurd 0.86 WHIP, and 114 strikeouts in 82.1 innings. The transition transformed him overnight, earning him the first of three consecutive All-Star selections and announcing the arrival of a new force at the back end of games. More importantly, it marked the beginning of something historic.
On August 28, 2002, Gagné recorded a save that would start a streak that still echoes through MLB history: 84 consecutive saves, the longest run the sport has ever seen. He finished that season with 52 saves, instantly becoming one of the most feared pitchers in baseball.
And somehow, 2003 was even better.
That year, Gagné was untouchable. He converted all 55 save opportunities, becoming the first pitcher to record 50 or more saves in consecutive seasons and the fastest ever to reach 100 career saves. Those 55 saves also tied John Smoltz’s National League single-season record, a mark that still stands today. More than half of the batters he faced that season never even put the ball in play — they walked back to the dugout via strikeout.
The final numbers were staggering: a 1.20 ERA, 137 strikeouts, and 82.1 innings of dominance. For his efforts, Gagné became just the fifth relief pitcher in National League history — and the ninth overall — to win the Cy Young Award, joining a rare class that included former Dodgers reliever Mike Marshall, who won the honor in 1974.
By mid-2004, Gagné had already carved his name deep into Dodgers lore. On July 15, 2004, he recorded his 130th career save, surpassing Jeff Shaw to become the franchise’s all-time saves leader at the time. He followed that milestone with another elite season, posting a 2.19 ERA and 114 strikeouts, further cementing his reputation as automatic in the ninth inning.
But dynasties can be fragile. And dominance, especially for pitchers, often comes with a cost.
The brilliance of those three seasons effectively marked the peak — and the beginning of the end — of Gagné’s Dodgers career. Injuries ravaged him in 2005, limiting him to just 14 appearances. An elbow injury ended his season early, though he managed to avoid Tommy John surgery. The pain lingered into 2006, and matters worsened when Gagné underwent back surgery in July to repair two herniated discs, shutting him down for the rest of the year.
After the season, the Dodgers made a cold but calculated decision: they declined to re-sign him. Gagné entered free agency and signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Texas Rangers, with incentives that could push the value to $11 million.
Then came the controversy.
In December 2007, Gagné was named in the infamous Mitchell Report, the result of a 20-month investigation by U.S. Senator George J. Mitchell into steroid and HGH use in Major League Baseball. Gagné later stated that his HGH use was limited to a three-year stretch near the end of his career, a revelation that complicated his legacy but did not erase what he accomplished on the mound.
In a Dodgers uniform, the numbers remain undeniable.
As a relief pitcher in Los Angeles, Eric Gagné went 14–7 with a 1.82 ERA, 390 strikeouts, and 161 saves in 240 appearances. His save total ranks second in franchise history, trailing only Kenley Jansen.
Gagné’s career burned fast and bright — a reminder of how quickly baseball can elevate, punish, and immortalize. From failed starter to Cy Young winner, from dominance to decline, his story remains one of the most dramatic transformations the Dodgers have ever witnessed.
And decades later, one thing is still certain: when Eric Gagné entered a game with a lead, it was over.
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