Trevor Hoffman

Trevor William Hoffman (born October 13, 1967) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 18 years in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1993 to 2010.

A long-time closer, he pitched for the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, and Milwaukee Brewers, including more than 15 years for the Padres.

Hoffman was born on October 13, 1967, in Bellflower, California.

When he was six weeks old, Hoffman had to have a damaged kidney removed because an arterial blockage had formed there.

His father, Ed, who stood at 6 ft and 225 lb, was a Marine and a veteran of the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.

He later became a professional singer before he quit being on the road and got a job at the post office.

He was also an usher at California Angels games; he was known as the Singing Usher, leading the crowd in the singing of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" in the seventh-inning and filling in if the designated national anthem singer did not show up.

Ed would often bring Trevor to the games with him.

Hoffman's mother, Mikki, was an English-born ballerina and came from an athletic family.

Her father, Jack French, was a professional soccer player with Southend United FC before World War II.

She met Hoffman's father in a play in England in which she was performing and he was acting and singing.

Hoffman was taught by his mom to take responsibility.

"Bad workmen always blame their tools," Mikki would say.

Hoffman's older brother, Glenn, was nine years older and played shortstop in the Boston Red Sox organization.

During summer vacation when Hoffman was 10 years old, he joined Glenn while he was playing in Pawtucket.

His oldest brother, Greg, was 14 years Hoffman's senior and a mentor to his two younger brothers.

After Hoffman's first Little League game, Greg asked him how he did.

Hoffman said, "I went 2-for-4, double, RBI."

Greg replied, "That'll be the last [blanking] time you tell me how you did. When I ask you how you did, it's how the team did."

Hoffman never forgot that.

Given their age difference, Hoffman considered his brothers more role models than playmates.

"[Glenn] was the guide while Greg was the drill instructor", said Hoffman.

Because of his damaged kidney, Hoffman was not allowed to play football or wrestle.

The Marlins acquired Hoffman in the 1992 expansion draft, and he pitched for Florida until he was traded to the Padres, mid-season in 1993, in a deal that sent star Gary Sheffield to the Marlins.

Hoffman recorded 20 saves in 1994 in his first season as Padres closer, and in the following years, he became the face of the franchise after Tony Gwynn retired.

Though Hoffman entered the majors with a powerful fastball, an injury after the 1994 season permanently diminished his fastball velocity and forced him to reinvent his pitching style; he subsequently developed one of the best changeups in baseball.

Hoffman's entrance at home games accompanied by the AC/DC song "Hells Bells" was popular with fans.

After retiring as a player, Hoffman returned to the Padres as a special assistant in the front office.

Hoffman collected at least 30 saves each year for the next 14 years, except for 2003 when he missed most of the year recovering from shoulder surgery.

Hoffman was the major leagues' first player to reach the 500- and 600-save milestones, and was the all-time saves leader from 2006 until 2011.

After San Diego did not re-sign him following the 2008 season, Hoffman pitched for two years with the Brewers before retiring after the 2010 season.

Hoffman was selected for the All-Star team seven times, and twice he was the runner-up for the National League (NL) Cy Young Award, given annually to the top pitcher in the league.

Hoffman retired with MLB records of fifteen 20-save seasons, fourteen 30-save seasons (including eight consecutive), and nine 40-save seasons (including two streaks of four consecutive).

He also retired with the highest career strikeout rate of any reliever.

Hoffman played shortstop collegiately at the University of Arizona and was drafted in the 11th round by the Cincinnati Reds.

After not having much success batting, he was converted to a pitcher, as he was able to throw up to 95 miles per hour (MPH).

In 2014, he became the team's pitching coordinator at their upper minor league levels, which included working with the Padres general manager.

The following year, Hoffman's role expanded to overseeing pitching instruction at all levels in the minors.

He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018.

Hoffman currently serves as senior advisor for baseball operations for the Padres.