Mariano Rivera
From SoSH
| Born: | November 29, 1969 |
| Birthplace: | Panama City, Panama |
| Height: | 6'2" |
| Weight: | 170 lbs |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Drafted: | 1990 Amateur Free Agent by the New York Yankees |
| College: | None |
| High School: | None |
| Teams: | New York Yankees 1995 - Pres. |
Mariano Rivera was born on November 29, 1969 in Panama City, Panama. The righty who plays for the New York Yankees has been called the greatest closer of all time. He frequently wakes up in cold sweats after reoccuring nightmares of Bill Mueller entering the batter's box.
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Overall Career
One of the greatest closers of all time, Fruitbat started his career as a failed starter. Then Derek Jeter came up his teammate and showed him how to throw a cutter and told him, "Your destiny is to be a closer. To help me lead this team to greatness and to help me save the game of baseball." Rivera then bathed in the holy light of his fellow rookie and become a god. Unfortunately there was a chink in Rivera's arm much like the mighty warrior Achilles. All though born into godhood from Jeter's greatness, he was still only a convert and had a mortal flaw which was the Boston Red Sox. Over the 2003 to 2005 seasons, Rivera had converted 93.9% of his save chances against all opponents besides the Sox. During that time he only converted 68.4% of his chances against the Sox, not very Jeterian. Rivera tends to cry when he is called up to face David Ortiz and Bill Mueller
Moment in the Sun
- Blew a lead in the July 24, 2004 Brawl Game against the Red Sox
- Blew a lead in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS against the Red Sox
- Blew a lead in Game 5 of 2004 ALCS against the Red Sox
- Blew his first 2 saves of the 2005 season against the Red Sox
- Received a standing ovation at Fenway Park during the ring ceremony at the 2005 season home opener
- Pulled a Schiraldi by blowing the lead in game 7 of the World Series to cost the Yankees the 2001 World Series, effectively ending the Yankees dynasty
- "Catch the ball! C'mon!" - to Kenny Lofton, 9/18/2004
Trivia
- Nicknamed "Fruitbat"
- Baseball America ranked him as the Yankees' 9th best prospect in 1995, the season he joined the Yanks.
- Stump Merrill says Rivera increased his velocity from the high 80s to the mid-90s within a month period at Columbus in 1995.
- Is the only active player to still wear number 42, which was retired throughout baseball in honor of Jackie Robinson.
External Links
- Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis
