It was inevitable, I suppose. Either through a sudden, jarring injury or the unavoidable decline that comes with the years, Mariano Rivera was going to toss his last pro pitch. Perhaps the ACL tear that will undoubtedly end his 2012 campaign will not prove to be the end of his career, but the collective feeling in the wake of this unfortunate situation is that it has. Either way, it's got me thinking.
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The first of five World Series wins
for the greatest closer of all time.
Photo courtesy of ibtimes.com |
What makes Mariano Rivera so special? Of course, he holds claim to the most all-time saves in both the regular season and postseason. He's also compiled some astounding statistics: a 2.21 career ERA, including an unthinkable .70 runs against in the playoffs. He has five World Series rings. There's a World Series and ALCS MVP to boot (remember that he plays just one or two innings a game, if at all). That's just the tip of the iceberg. These reasons are enough for Rivera to land unanimously in Cooperstown, and to be widely recognized as the greatest closer to ever play the game of baseball. But to me, there's something else about Mo that sets him apart.
It's the most recognizable thing about him. Even my own mother can appreciate it. So can yours. It's something engrained in the American psyche, something that transcends sports and hearkens us back to olden days.
He's a Yankee.
