Even politicians who are die-hard Mets fans went to bat Wednesday for the idea of honoring beloved Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera with a street-name change.
Mayor Bloomberg was quickly on board as well, describing Rivera as someone who “deserves our admiration.”
But since street-name changes are on the City Council’s turf, the mayor said he would leave the task up to local legislators.
City Councilman James Oddo (R-S.I.), a lifelong devotee of the Queens-based Mets, said he would vote to rename a stretch of River Avenue outside Yankee Stadium “Rivera Avenue” as proposed by The Post.
“I bleed orange and blue, but if you’re a true baseball fan, you have nothing but respect for Mariano Rivera,” he said. “So renaming a block near the stadium is appropriate for me, and I would just tip my hat to him and vote yes.
“From a technical standpoint he’s been a one-pitch pitcher. That’s unheard of, to be successful with one pitch. He’s so good that batters know what pitch he’s throwing and they still can’t hit it.”
Oddo’s colleague, Lew Fidler (D-Brooklyn), another Mets aficionado, concurred, and even proposed the retiring Rivera for Baseball’s Hall of Fame.
“Mariano Rivera is one of the few Yankees that even Mets fan have respect for, and he truly is a standout,” Fidler said. “He should be honored in a Hall of Fame.”
Republican mayoral candidate Joe Lhota, a Bronx native and longtime Yankees fan, quickly endorsed the idea of changing the River Avenue street signs.
“Mariano is an unmatched combination of kindness, humility and supreme talent. It’s a great idea,” Lhota said. “But an even better way to honor him and celebrate everything he’s done for our city would be to name a park after him.”
Bloomberg also sang Rivera’s praises.
“I am a big Mariano Rivera fan for the record,” he said. “He’s had a phenomenal career, it’s really amazing if you take a look at his record. I’ll leave that up to the City Council — I do not want to step on their prerogative.
“But this guy certainly deserves our admiration.”
Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who has to approve street renamings, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
The Council can only legally co-name streets after someone who has died.
But it is allowed to rename a single block for someone who is still alive, as it did for baseball legend Willie Mays.
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz was lukewarm to the idea, saying it required “at the very least a robust debate.”
His predecessor didn’t want to wait.
“Bravo! We should do it before Mariano is inducted into the Hall of Fame, so we can win that race for a great American baseball hero,” said former BP Adolfo Carrion, who is running for mayor on the Independence Party line.
Additional reporting by Beth DeFalco
Sign the petition: https://www.change.org/petitions/new-york-city-change-river-avenue-to-rivera-avenue-2