Posted on 03/09/2013 7:31:20 PM PST by SeekAndFind
New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera, 43, announced Saturday that this will be his last season playing professional baseball. While he was with the Yankees the team won five World Series titles. Rivera hopes to end his career with one more.
Saying he made the decision before arriving at spring training, Mariano Rivera announced Saturday that he will retire at the end of the season and hopes to cap his record-setting career by winning another World Series with the New York Yankees.
Rivera was surrounded by family and teammates when he made the announcement during a news conference at the team's spring training complex.
The 43-year-old has a clear vision of how he wants his career to end.
"The last game I hope will be throwing the last pitch in the World Series," he said. "''Winning the World Series, that would be my ambition."
Rivera holds the career saves record with 608 and has helped the Yankees win five World Series titles. He is regarded as the greatest closer of all time, whether he's throwing his cut fastball in the regular season or postseason.
With the entire Yankees' team looking on including longtime teammates Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte Rivera said he knew the time was right for his decision.
"I have just a few bullets left," he said.
Rivera missed most of last year after tearing his right knee while shagging flyballs during batting practice in early May. Rivera said he would have retired at the end of last season if he had not gotten hurt.
"I didn't want to leave like that, I felt like I wanted to give everything."
He also said he wanted to give Yankees fans around the leagues a chance to see him one more time, knowing this will be the end.
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
Career statistics
(through 2012 season)
Winloss record 7658
Saves 608
Earned run average 2.21
WHIP 1.00
Strikeouts 1,119
Teams
New York Yankees (1995present)
Career highlights and awards
12× All-Star (1997, 19992002, 20042006, 20082011)
5× World Series champion (1996, 19982000, 2009)
5× AL Rolaids Relief Man Award (1999, 2001, 20042005, 2009)
3× Delivery Man of the Year Award (20052006, 2009)
World Series MVP Award (1999)
AL Championship Series MVP Award (2003)
3× MLB saves leader (1999, 2001, 2004)
MLB record for career saves (608)
I hope he can get at least one inning in center field before he goes.
Well I am a Red Sox fan, and I really admire what he has accomplished, total class act, and nice guy.
No one from this era will deserve the HOF more than Mariano.
Great pitcher and a great guy too. Have a great last season Mariano—although the Yanks are not as loaded this year with talent. Rebuilding time is just around the corner for this aging team.
I'll second that -
One of the greatest finishers in baseball history and a truly class act.
Rivera is known as Mr. Sandman because when he took the mound with a lead in the 9th the crowd could go to sleep.
However, I’m a Diamondbacks fan. Just today I came across a paper copy of this link from “doug from upland”:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/563909/posts
This variant of the song was inspired by a bottom of the ninth inning, game winning hit by the D-Backs off Rivera in the 7th game of their World Series.
As a life-long Yankee fan, I would be quite surprised if Mariano and the Yankees get to the World Series.
We sure will miss him!! Pure class. I can’t think of anyone more dominating in a dedicated closing role with basically one pitch, ‘here it is, hit it fellas’, (they did not!), over the length of time Mo did. Joe Page, for only a couple of years, comes to mind as a one pitch, (pure gas), lights out pitcher. Goose for a time was a monster, (Apologies to Dick Radatz there!), and I’m sure I’m missing a few. The Bombers are in for a tough year I’m thinking. Reminds me of Summer, 1965 in the Bronx....things went to hell fast for the Yanks.
Best reliever in Yankees history - better than even Rich Gossage - and one of the best in MLB history.
Rivera is involved with philanthropic contributions in his native Panama, which include building an elementary school and a church, providing Christmas gifts to children, and developing a program that provides computer access and adult mentors to youths.The Mariano Rivera Foundation annually distributes more than $500,000 to underprivileged children in the US and Panama through church-based institutions. Rivera intends to dedicate himself to philanthropy after retiring from baseball. In 2012, The Giving Back Fund estimated that he donated $627,500 to charity in 2010, ranking him as the 25th-most generous celebrity on a list that the fund compiled.
Unfortunately, I have the same sickening feeling that we're about to see history repeat itself.
I heard an interview with Bruce Chen of the Kansas City Royals last summer. The interviewer asked him if he was a hero in his native Panama (I know, he doesn’t look Panamanian). He said that the Panamanians idolize Rivera and Roberto Duran and there wasn’t much love left for anyone else.
Good grief. I forgot all about that song. (Probably because I think I am up to almost 2000 by now. LOL) Thanks for finding it.
He has allowed only 2 home runs, has 42 saves, and has a 0.72 e.r.a. over 92 postseason games.
Although I loathe the Yankees, I recognize his greatness on the mound. More importantly, his greatness as a human being.
https://gggmedia.com/Mariano_Rivera.html
Not this year.
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