Mariano Rivera to Retire
Exit Sandman by Joe Brackets:
If you’re a baseball fan, today’s news was not a surprise. Most everybody expected Mariano Rivera to retire at the end of last season, but his knee injury forced a change of plans. As soon as he tore his ACL during batting practice in Kansas City in May, we all knew he was coming back for one final go-round. Mariano was going to go out on his terms. And if there’s anybody who deserves to, it’s Mariano Rivera.
I’m not going to pontificate about Mariano Rivera’s greatness. He’s the greatest closer of all-time. Without question. It’s not even close. Everyone agrees. If you want to see his Hall of Fame induction, you’d better book a hotel in Cooperstown for July 2018 now while you still can. And seeing as nobody in Major League Baseball is ever allowed to wear his number again, the Yankees might as well schedule his jersey-retirement ceremony for Opening Day 2014.
Rather, I’m going to reflect on what a pleasure it’s been to watch him over the past 19 years, and how I’m going to cherish this season. If you’ve never had the privilege of being in the crowd at Yankee Stadium when the bullpen door swung open and “Enter Sandman” started blaring over the PA, I can’t even describe what it’s like. I don’t even know how many times I’ve been there for it, and it’s cool every time. A different energy comes into the Stadium after that final out of the bottom of the eighth. Last year simply wasn’t the same. Just like every year after this year won’t be the same.
Announcing it early was the right decision. It takes the “Will he or won’t he?” element out of it. He can be at peace without wrestling with that burden. More importantly, everyone gets a chance to say goodbye. Not just Yankees fans, either. If nothing else, this season will be Mariano Rivera’s Farewell Tour. And who knows? Maybe it’ll be the motivation the Yankees use to make sure his final Major League pitch is the last pitch of the World Series.
It’s fitting that by making his announcement during Spring Training, Rivera has made it so that every Yankees road trip this season will be his final visit to each American League city (although, that does make the fact that the Yankees end the season in Houston even more awkward). And as much as fans of other teams may hate the Yankees, none of that derision is ever directed towards Mariano Rivera. He exudes class, and as a result, has earned the respect of everyone around baseball. That respect is directed right back towards him by opposing fans, who, even if they don’t necessarily “like” him, never jeer him.
Even the fans who have a reason to hate him the most, Boston Red Sox fans, show Mariano Rivera nothing but respect. He allowed a big stolen base to Dave Roberts in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS which started that Boston comeback from 3-games-to-none down in the series. The Yankees opened the 2005 season against the World Champion Red Sox at Fenway Park. During the pregame intros, when Mariano’s name was called, the Boston fans gave him a sarcastic cheer, “thanking” him for his part in the comeback. Rivera took it all in good humor, tipping his cap to the Boston fans. As heated as the rivalry was in the early part of this century, Mariano forever endeared himself to the Boston faithful that day.
Likewise, it’s fitting that he’s the last person in Major League history that will ever wear the No. 42. The number that will forever be associated with Jackie Robinson will also forever be associated with Mariano Rivera. Rachel Robinson, Jackie’s widow, wouldn’t have it any other way. Maybe it’s because Jackie Robinson and Mariano Rivera are similar in so many ways. Mariano Rivera understands the significance of who his number represents. He follows Robinson’s example on the field every day, and his teammates follow suit. They respect the game the same way he does.
As a Yankee fan, I’ve been spoiled to get to enjoy Mariano Rivera’s greatness first-hand for years. Wins should never be taken for granted. Yet with Mariano they are. He blows a save every once in a while just to remind us all that he’s human, but it’s so infrequent and he’s meant so much to the franchise that we never take our frustrations out on him. Without Mariano Rivera, the Yankees don’t win five World Series titles since 1996. Everybody knows that.
More importantly, his demeanor never changes. Win or lose, it’s business as usual. He’s had some epic failures (2001 World Series, Game 7), yet simply walked off the mound. He didn’t hang his head or show any sort of emotion. I’ve only seen him celebrate on the mound twice. One was after Aaron Boone’s homer in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. The other was when he broke the all-time saves record. But that’s the exception. And it’s an important message for younger players to take away: Act like you’ve been there before.
However this season turns out almost doesn’t matter. This season is for Mariano Rivera. If the injuries catch up to them and the Yankees fall out of the race, September will be about saying goodbye to an all-time great Yankee in much the same way the 2008 season became about saying goodbye to the Old Stadium. Or maybe it’ll turn into “Let’s win it for Mo and send him out on top.” Either way, I’m going to enjoy the ride.
