The Best Entrance Songs and Rituals for Closers in MLB History

So this has been a discussion between my father and myself many times over the years arguing who has the better entrance song and ritual out of the bullpen. I was thinking back to the All-Star Game when Heath Bell did his patented "slide" (I'll get to that more later) and decided to make a post about. So here is my list of my Top Ten Entrance Songs and Rituals for Closers in MLB History. 

 1. Trevor Hoffman- Hells Bells (AC/DC): The All-Time Saves Leader (for now) had by far the best entrance song of anyone to play the game. The beginning of that song with the loud DONGGGGGGG just sounds so perfect in a ballpark and you KNOW who is coming out of that bullpen when you hear that bell toll. 

Hoffman Celebrates Yet Another Save (netbrawl.com)

2. Mariano Rivera- Enter Sandman (Metallica): Maybe the best closer of all time picked one of the best closing songs of all time in Enter Sandman. Forget about his devastating cutter that reinvented pitching at one point, the sight of him walking onto the mound with this song blaring through Yankee Stadium is about enough to win the game all by itself. Plus Enter Sandman and closing games have the same goal... to put you down to sleep.

Rivera Throwing His Cutter (graphicshunt.com)

3. Armando Benitez - Big Pimpin' (Jay Z): Great song... GREAT song. Armando was the man for the Mets for many years and I remember him coming out to Big Pimpin' more than once. Benitez certainly wasn't the most successful closer but this song tells you exactly the kind of guy he is. Plus I mean, how can you not love the random squeals in the chorus?!

How Does Benitez Not Look Like He is Big Pimpin'? (centerfieldmaz.com)

4. Eric Gagne- Welcome to the Jungle (Guns N' Roses): One of the best songs to play at a sporting event, especially the Boston Garden (well now the TD Banknorth Garden). Certainly a song that excites the fans and really gets everyone pumped, including Gagne who does have the record for the most consecutive saves, 84. But like many people before him, being welcomed to the jungle may not mean an easy exit as only 4 years after the amazing streak, he was no longer in baseball.

Gagne Celebrates One Of His 84 Consecutive Saves (buzzaboutsports.com)

5. J.J. Putz- Thunderstruck (AC/DC): Despite his name, Putz is anything but dorky when he trots into a game. How could anyone be with that cool guitar riff and pounding drum sequence of yet another of AC/DC’s riot-inducing  anthems blaring in the background?

Putz Is Anything But A Putz (mets.lohudblogs.com)

6. Heath Bell- Blow Me Away (Breaking Benjamin): A very under-rated song, one I had to look up to even remember it, but the song is only a small part of Bell's entrance. Bell exits the bullpen in a dead sprint and slides right before the mound before starting his relief appearance. The slide at the All-Star Game got a ton of attention, almost as much as the divot he left got after the game.

Bell Sliding At The All-Star Game (sports.yahoo.com)

7. Robb Nen - Smoke on the Water (Deep Purple): Robb Nen... oh how I almost forgot about you. Smoke on the Water is a very good entrance song... not quite top 5 good enough but it certainly deserves a mention as Nen was very good at what he did for a living for the Giants for years and years.

Nen Celebrating A Save (bleacherreport.com)

8. Mitch Williams- Wild Thing (The Troggs): Sure, sure Mitch Williams isn't known for much outside of his World Series losing pitch in 1993, but his theme song of Wild Thing can’t help but make you smile and laugh... unless you’re a Phillies’ fan.

Looks Wild To Me (insidesocal.com)

9. Kerry Wood- Hurt (Nine Inch Nails): Good song, and I mean it has to be if Johnny Cash covered it but the build-up is just a tad long for an entrance song. Yet on the other hand the name single-handedly describes Kerry Wood's career... hurt. 

Wood Before One Of His 1000 Injuries (chrisoleary.com)

10. Chad Cordero - Hail to the Chief  (?): I just love the fact that Cordero, the Washington Nationals closer, thought so highly of himself to use Hail to the Chief which is usually reserved for the President of the United States. Cordero was saves king in Washington for a while before he was impeached for good, never to be heard of again in the big leagues.

Not Much Of A President (wsjclassroom.com)

Once again these are MY top ten but I would love to hear if you have anyone else you would like to put up for nomination!