13-time all star, five-time World Series champion, 652 saves, and 952 games finished; all of these accomplishments belong to one man: Mariano Rivera. After a 19-year career, one of the greatest relief pitchers of all time pitched for the final time in the Yankee’s home pinstripes.
Nicknamed “Mo” and “Sandman”, Mariano Rivera is a Panamanian baseball pitcher who played 19 strong seasons for the New York Yankees. Rivera is a shortstop gone closing pitcher, who signed to the New York Yankees in 1990. Rivera overcame a number of obstacles, including jumping between the minor leagues and major leagues, overcoming a damaged elbow ligament, and more recently recovering from a knee injury. In the end, Rivera still remained the Yankee’s most cherished relief pitcher.
The Yankees, in their last home game of the year, were trailing the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-0. Although the Yankees were eliminated from the possibility of continuing on into the postseason, the Yanks played for a sellout crowd. Rivera’s triumphs and accomplishments- his unmatched records and probable Hall of Fame-er- were some of the obvious reasons for the sellout crowd. Rivera was pulled into the game from the bullpen in the eighth inning, and pitched 1 1/3 innings. Although he didn’t get the win, the moment Rivera was taken out of the game was a moment that will forever be remembered in Yankee Stadium. Mariano Rivera was greeted at the mound by veterans Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte, and sobbed as he buried his head on the shoulder of Pettitte while the crowd gave the emotional retiree a thunderous ovation for the final time. Rivera left the field with a wave of his hat and tears streaming down his face. Rivera made a huge impact on baseball as a whole, and baseball may never again see a player such as Rivera.
Nicknamed “Mo” and “Sandman”, Mariano Rivera is a Panamanian baseball pitcher who played 19 strong seasons for the New York Yankees. Rivera is a shortstop gone closing pitcher, who signed to the New York Yankees in 1990. Rivera overcame a number of obstacles, including jumping between the minor leagues and major leagues, overcoming a damaged elbow ligament, and more recently recovering from a knee injury. In the end, Rivera still remained the Yankee’s most cherished relief pitcher.
The Yankees, in their last home game of the year, were trailing the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-0. Although the Yankees were eliminated from the possibility of continuing on into the postseason, the Yanks played for a sellout crowd. Rivera’s triumphs and accomplishments- his unmatched records and probable Hall of Fame-er- were some of the obvious reasons for the sellout crowd. Rivera was pulled into the game from the bullpen in the eighth inning, and pitched 1 1/3 innings. Although he didn’t get the win, the moment Rivera was taken out of the game was a moment that will forever be remembered in Yankee Stadium. Mariano Rivera was greeted at the mound by veterans Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte, and sobbed as he buried his head on the shoulder of Pettitte while the crowd gave the emotional retiree a thunderous ovation for the final time. Rivera left the field with a wave of his hat and tears streaming down his face. Rivera made a huge impact on baseball as a whole, and baseball may never again see a player such as Rivera.