Mariano Rivera
From BR Bullpen
Mariano Rivera (Mo, Sandman, Mr. Automatic, or Ultraman)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 170 lb.
- Debut May 23, 1995
- Born November 29, 1969 in Panama City, Panama
[edit] Biographical Information
Mariano Rivera has a lifetime ERA of 2.29 giving him an ERA+ of 199 (through 2008). No pitcher with 1,000 innings pitched and 100 decisions had ever achieved an ERA+ that high. Rivera passed the 1,000 inning mark in 2008, his 14th season in the major leagues.
Rivera has appeared in 76 postseason games, with an ERA of 0.77. He has 34 postseason saves. Although he has never won the Cy Young Award, he has been in the top three four different times. The most similar pitchers are Trevor Hoffman (ERA+ of 150) and John Franco (ERA+ of 137). Both of them were also short relievers who spent a very long time as their team's closer. Of course, Rivera did begin his career as a starter, in 1995.
Rivera has spent his whole career with the New York Yankees and been named to the All-Star team nine times. He has four times won the American League Rolaids Relief Award. He has twice won the Delivery Man of the Year Award. He struck out 130 batters in 107 2/3 innings of relief in 1996 - the most by any Yankee reliever. He yielded only one home run that year - to Rafael Palmeiro of Baltimore. In 2005, he went 22 consecutive appearances without allowing a run. Fittingly, he was the last pitcher ever used in Yankee Stadium on September 21, 2008, closing out a 7-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles; he retired the side in order, getting Brian Roberts to ground out to first base in the last at-batin the famed ballpark's history.
He is a cousin of Ruben Rivera. Through 2007, he is one of 19 major league pitchers born in Panama. Although a reliever, Rivera is the all-time winningest pitcher born in Panama, having surpassed Juan Berenguer in 2008.
Rivera is the only player in the major leagues to wear uniform number 42. He wears it in tribute to Jackie Robinson and was allowed to keep on doing so when Commissioner Bud Selig retired the number across the league in 1997, on the 50th anniversary of Robinson's debut. Other players were also granted such a dispensation, such as Butch Huskey, but Rivera's career has outlasted them all. It is expected that when he retires, the Yankees will declare that number 42 is retired in honor of both Robinson and Rivera.
In 2009, Rivera saved an Andy Pettitte win for the 58th time, setting a new MLB mark; the old high had been held by Bob Welch and Dennis Eckersley.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 10-time AL All-Star (1997, 1999-2002, 2004-2006, 2008 & 2009)
- 4-time AL Reliever of the Year Award Winner (1997, 1999, 2001 & 2004)
- 5-time AL Rolaids Relief Award Winner: (1999, 2001, 2004, 2005 & 2009)
- 1999 World Series MVP
- 2003 ALCS MVP
- 3-time AL Saves Leader (1999, 2001 & 2004)
- 30 Saves Seasons: 11 (1997-2001 & 2003-2008)
- 40 Saves Seasons: 6 (1997, 1999, 2001 & 2003-2005)
- 50 Saves Seasons: 2 (2001 & 2004)
- Won four World Series with the New York Yankees (1996, 1998, 1999 & 2000)
