With 652 saves throughout his stellar 19-year career in the Bronx, New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera became one of the most beloved players of his time. As someone who will go down as the greatest closer in the history of professional baseball and one of the top overall pitchers to ever play in the MLB, the soon-to-be-retired closer helped the Yankees achieved tremendous success and achievements the organization is able to add to its already stunning reputation. With 3 games remaining as an official member of the New York Yankees, you can be sure No. 42 will enjoy his final road trip when the Bronx Bombers -- eliminated from 2013 postseason contention -- travel to Houston to wrap up an injury plagued season.
Rivera joined the Yankees in 1995 as a starting pitcher. Struggling to make his mark as a rotational figure, Rivera was sent down to the minors before coming back because the organization saw a tremendous spike in his velocity. Becoming the team's set up man to closer John Wetteland in 1996, Rivera was a key member of the Yankees first World Series championship team since 1978. The Panama native took over the official closing duties the following season and from that moment on, Rivera -- and his famed cut fastball -- became two of the most feared forces in Major League Baseball. Helping New York win five World Series titles in his career, Rivera also earned his way onto 13 MLB All-Star teams while also winning five Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Awards.
Pitching in his final game at Yankee Stadium this past Thursday evening against the Tampa Bay Rays, Rivera was called into the game in the eighth inning. Getting the final 2 outs of the frame, the 43-year-old came out to start the ninth inning and in typical fashion, Rivera put down the first two batters with ease. Expecting to stay on the mound to close out his final inning, Rivera looked with a smile as long-time teammates and friends Andy Pettitte and Derek Jeter came out to pull him from the game with 2 outs in the ninth. The roar of the crowd coupled with the presence of two of his closest friends sent the normally cool closer into a state of raw emotion as he broke down with a long, tearful hug with Pettitte -- who will retire at the end of this season -- and Jeter.
"I don't know how I got those last few guys out. I don't know what I was doing," Rivera said after the game before going back to the mound to scoop up a handful of dirt from the Yankee Stadium ballfield. "Everything started hitting, all the flashbacks, everything that led to this moment. I was just bombarded with emotions. I knew this was the last time. Period."
Rivera and the Yankees now head to Houston to wrap up the season and although it certainly is an emotion-filled time, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is proud of the career his friend had.
"I've said it before, we've all grown up together," Jeter said regarding the fact that he, Rivera and Pettitte came up through the minor leagues together. "It's too bad that good things have to come to an end."
Though the memories will certainly remain, Mariano Rivera will never pitch again in Major League Baseball once the series against the Houston Astros comes to a close, bringing an end to one of the greatest careers of all-time.
I think we can all agree that the game may never see a presence quite like Mariano Rivera and we'll be hard-pressed to ever see another pitcher as dominant for that long of a stretch.
Thanks for the memories, Mo.
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