Major League Baseball will now award the Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year Award and the Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year Award each season.

Both closers spent their entire careers in just one league.

Rivera pitched 19 seasons with the New York Yankees, and Hoffman saved games for the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers over an 18-year career.

"Both Mariano and Trevor represented our sport magnificently on and off the mound and earned the universal respect of our fans in their legendary careers," MLB commissioner Bud Selig said.

"I believe it is appropriate to redefine an existing award in honor of their contributions to baseball, and I am delighted that many of the most decorated relievers in history will select the winners."