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.