The initial reaction was speechless. Then the reality hit, and my thoughts and emotions went into overdrive. I am not in denial, I knew the moment would eventually arrive when the best closer of all time would take his last step off the mound at Yankee Stadium. Time would catch up with him. He would bid farewell to the game that made him a legend. He would do it when he felt the time was right. He would do it when he felt he had nothing left to give. One thing is for sure the end of Mariano Rivera’s career would not come on a torn ACL shagging fly balls during batting practice.
On March 3, 2012 Mariano Rivera was doing something he has done many times before, he chased a fly ball during batting practice….except this time something went terribly wrong. He lunged for a fly ball near the warning track when he lost his footing and landed on the field clutching his knee in agony. It didn’t take long for his teammates, manager, and members of the training staff to rush to his aid, but, the damage had been done. No one knew at the time, but Rivera suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and a partially torn meniscus. Rivera will miss the rest of the 2012 season.
In Rivera’s initial interview shortly after the injury, Rivera was emotional and somber. He didn’t give off much hope of a return to the mound that he has stood on countless times before. The baseball world held their breath. But, in an interview with Pedro Gomez just a day later, Rivera was strong and absolute. ” I am coming back. Put it down. Write it down in big letters. I’m not going down like this. God willing and given the strength, I am coming back.” His Yankee teammates offered encouraging words for an imminent return.
Rivera was said to have addressed his teammates before that Friday night game against the Royals. What would be spoken in that locker room remains a mystery. But, I’m sure you could hear a pin drop as he spoke. His Yankee teammates love and respect him, that much is obvious. One can rest assured, Rivera’s presence will still be felt around the clubhouse in his absence. He will be there to offer encouragement to his teammates, as well as advice to his young protege, David Robertson.
Mariano Rivera is the best closer of all time. It is hard to believe that in 1997, the late George Steinbrenner almost traded Rivera to the Mariners for Randy Johnson. A move that no doubt would have been a disaster. Yes, dominant starters are hard to come by, but a lights out closer, IMPOSSIBLE to come by. Fast forward fifteen years later, and here we are. As a lifelong Yankee fan, I am grateful to have seen in my lifetime, a legend. I am grateful to have a closer that in eighteen years as a New York Yankee had 608 saves with a 2.21 ERA. Derek Jeter once claimed ” He’s the most mentally tough person I have ever played with”. Ex-Yankee manager, Joe Torre once said, “He’s the best I’ve ever been around. Not only the ability to pitch and perform under pressure, but the calm he puts over the clubhouse. He’s very important for us because he’s a special person.” A special person is right, a special person that I am grateful to have seen in my lifetime. Thanks Mariano for the memories, I look forward to many more.
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