Baseball's all-time saves leader got the call from the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday to deliver the closing bell, and, as usual, the San Diego Padres great was up to the task. All that was missing at the 4 p.m. ET bell-ringing was a rousing PETCO Park ovation after Hoffy's familiar entrance to the sounds of AC/DC's "Hells Bells."

This was a first for Hoffman, but he's accustomed to handling responsibility under pressure, having saved a Major League-record 482 games.

Hoffman is coming off one of his finest seasons, aging like fine wine at 39. He was runner-up to Arizona's Brandon Webb in the National League's Cy Young Award balloting after notching a league-best 46 saves -- the second highest total of his career -- in 51 opportunities for the National League West champion Padres.

His 2.14 ERA was well below his 2.71 career norm, and opposing batters hit only .205 against him.

Hoffman's .896 career save percentage is the highest among pitchers with at least 190 saves. He began his Major League career with Florida in 1993, departing at midseason for San Diego in a trade that sent Gary Sheffield to the Marlins.

A five-time All-Star, Hoffman has been a model of consistency, delivering at least 30 saves a record 11 times and 40 or more saves an unprecedented eight times. He has produced 965 career strikeouts in 885 1/3 innings while walking only 250 hitters.

He collected his 479th career save, eclipsing former record-holder Lee Smith, in dramatic fashion. In the Padres' final home game on Sept. 24, Hoffman pitched a perfect ninth inning against Pittsburgh to nail down a 2-1 victory in the heat of an intense division race.

He was honored with the National League's Rolaids Relief Man Award, named Padres Pitcher of the Year and was the first recipient of the Fireman's Award, recognizing the Padres' top relief pitcher.