Mariano Rivera
| Birthdate | 11/29/1969 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1995 |
| Year of Induction | 2019 |
| Teams | Yankees |
| Position | Pitcher |
The 1st unanimous selection to Cooperstown, 13-time All Star & 5-time WS champ Mariano Rivera holds the MLB record for saves & games finished.
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Mariano Rivera is the first unanimous selection to the Baseball Hall of Fame
Mariano Rivera is the first unanimous selection to the Baseball Hall of Fame
Cy Young, Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, legends all. Yet none of them were unanimous selections to Cooperstown.
The first man to earn that distinction was Yankee closer Mariano Rivera. The 13-time All Star and 5-time World Series champion, Rivera retired as the game’s all time leader in saves.
Rivera had 8 seasons of 40 or more saves including two 50-save campaigns. Good until the end, Rivera was 6-2 with 44 saves and a 2.11 ERA as a 43 year old in his final season. Quite simply, he was the best ever at his position.
Imagine opening a pack and finding this autographed Mariano Rivera card inside. That’s what some what lucky collectors did in 1998. The season was kind to the Yankee closer as he went 3-0 — his only undefeated season — with 35 saves and a 1.91 ERA.
Rivera was at his best in the postseason
Rivera was at his best in the postseason
Mariano Rivera is the greatest regular-season closer of all time. In the postseason he was even better.
The right-hander helped the Yankees advance to the playoff in 16 of his 19 big league seasons. It was in October that Mo was at his best.
In 96 games spanning 141 innings, his ERA was a miniscule 0.70. He went 8-1 with 42 saves. The ERA and save totals are the best in MLB history.
Along the way he was named 1999 World Series MVP and 2003 ALCS MVP. Rivera is a five-time World Series champion.
Here Mariano Rivera signs a letter of authenticity for a ball used in one of his saves in 2004. The ball itself is not in the collection. The Panamanian hurler finished in the top three in Cy Young Award voting four times. Rivera retired as the game’s all-time leader in saves (652), and games finished (952).
Fittingly, Mariano closed out the final game at old Yankee Stadium
Fittingly, Mariano closed out the final game at old Yankee Stadium
Mariano Rivera played all of his 19 years for the New York Yankees. When his team won, Rivera could be found on the hill slamming the door.
Rivera’s out pitch was his cutter. The pitch had great movement, breaking away from right-handed hitters and into lefties. Rivera had outstanding command of the pitch throughout his career.
A fan favorite in New York, Rivera’s presence in a game usually meant a Yankee victory. As the great Yankee Stadium entered its final season of use, fans became nostalgic.
It is only fitting that the game’s greatest closer and a lifetime Yankee threw the final pitch in the stadium’s illustrious history.
In the collection is a photo taken of the last Major League pitch in old Yankee Stadium. Fittingly Mariano Rivera is on the hill and has signed, this image adding the inscription, “Final Out 9.21.08”. Rivera was magnificent that season, posting a 1.40 ERA with 36 saves.
