Last night, the baseball world celebrated the best of the best talent in America’s pastime with the MLB All-Star Game. The New York setting seemed somewhat perfect for baseball fans everywhere to bid a farewell to the outright greatest closer of all time, Mariano Rivera.
Rivera has spent 19 seasons in pinstripes with the New York Yankees. In a time where it is rare to see any player of any professional sport to play for one team their entire career, Mo is a flashback of vintage baseball. On top of that, Mo is still on the top of his game, recording 30 saves out of 32 opportunities with a 1.83 ERA.
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The 43-year-old is pitching his farewell season just how he wanted to and he seems to get better with age, something another five-time champion, Kobe Bryant, made Lakers fans well aware of last season. In fact, Kobe alluded to the #Vino characteristic in his recent tweet about Rivera’s final appearance in an All-Star Game.
Mariano Rivera = #vino #differentanimalsamebeast #killtime
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) July 17, 2013
Rivera’s cut fastball was on debut on Tuesday night as he had a three up, three down inning. With Enter Sandman echoing throughout the stands in Citi Field, his entrance (video below) from the bullpen in the 8th inning was something that baseball fans will remember forever.
After the American League sealed the deal on a 3-0 win, securing home-field advantage in the World Series, Mariano was named the All-Star Game MVP, a first by a reliever. The All-Star Game was Mariano’s night, and the admiration that his fellow players and the fans in attendance and at home was the right way to send Mariano off on his last ASG appearance.
