As soon as Mariano Rivera makes his way from the outfield into the mound, WCBS 880 Yankees radio announcer John Sterling might as well clear his throat and prepare to say his signature saying “Yankees win!!”. This is the secure feeling that Yankee fans have had the privilege of feeling for over 15 years. As managers, Joe Torre and Joe Girardi can rest assured that one-run and two-run leads were safe over the years, especially in the postseason. Jorge Posada and Russell Martin could rest assured that Rivera would bring the heat once they flashed that familiar one-finger signal.
The security and the assurance that Mariano Rivera has given the Yankees sharply contrasts with the insecurity and intimidation that opposing hitters feel as they step up to bat. It is truly remarkable that Mariano Rivera has been been able to baffle hitters with his world-famous inside cut fastball for so long. Many great pitchers thrive by their unpredictability based on the number of different pitches they can throw. On the other hand, Mariano Rivera continues to thrive with a pitch that everyone knows is coming, yet can do little to nothing about it. Therefore, Mariano Rivera has managed to become the greatest closer in the history of baseball with one nasty pitch. The statistics and accolades speak for themselves.
According to Baseball Reference.com, Mariano Rivera has a career regular season ERA of 2.22 and a post-season ERA of 0.71 with 42 career post-season saves. His post-season career certified his legacy. Members of the 1998 San Diego Padres and/or the 1999 Atlanta Braves probably still have nightmares of Rivera’s cut fastball. However, the 2001 World Series and the 2004 ALCS were painful reminders that even the unstoppable Rivera is indeed human.
It is simply not enough to admire Mariano Rivera simply for his greatness on the field. One can look at Mariano Rivera and see that there is something different about him compared to everyone else. It can be seen in the way he simply walked to the mound after his record-setting save on Monday afternoon like it was just another ordinary save. It can be seen in how sheepish he was in his special moment as he stood in the mound receiving his well-deserved applause. Although he deserves the spotlight, he does not want it. He simply wants to be one of the guys in the clubhouse. As a devout Christian, he is a true representative of Christianity in its purest form.
Andy Pettitte is one of my favorite pitchers of all time. Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada have established their legacy as Yankees and in baseball. However, Mariano Rivera is the best overall player represented in the “Core Four”. There are no signs that he is slowing down either. According to Baseball Reference.com, Rivera has a 1.95 ERA with 44 saves.
There is no question that Mariano Rivera is on a proverbial high-speed rail to Cooperstown. In my humble opinion, we will not see another closer like Mariano Rivera in our lifetime. He is in a league of his own.