BOSTON — To the untrained eye, the Red Sox pregame tribute to Mariano Rivera looked more like an homage to the 2004 World Series champions.
There were video highlights and speeches from Kevin Millar, Dave Roberts and Bill Mueller, all reminiscing about Rivera’s blown save in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS that helped spark the team’s postseason run.
Rivera didn’t mind the odd choice of celebration.
“They beat us that year and they deserve all the accolades,” Rivera said Sunday after the Yankees were swept out of Boston with a 9-2 thrashing. “It’s not strange. It was good. They have all the power to do that. They beat us that year, so why not? They had a great time, had fun and that’s what they did.”
Rivera’s last appearance at Fenway didn’t go as planned. Manager Joe Girardi wasn’t able to even get his closer up in the bullpen in the three-game series, and Rivera spent the last few innings signing autographs and writing on the wall of the bullpen.
“Last to wear #42,” Rivera wrote. “Thanks for everything.”
Prior to the game, Rivera said he hoped he’d be able to come back once more.
“We’re fighting for something,” Rivera said of the Yankees’ diminishing playoff chances. “We want to go to the playoffs. [I’m not] thinking about myself, so I won’t. Hopefully it’s not the last time.”
The chances of that happening took a hit the last three games.
Before the finale, Rivera was first honored with a string-quartet version of “Enter Sandman,” followed by a long video tribute, featuring Millar’s famous walk in the ALCS, followed by Roberts’ stolen base and Mueller’s game-tying single.
The Red Sox mentioned the reception Rivera received when the Yankees played in the Red Sox home-opener a year later, when he was cheered loudly upon being introduced.
When he trotted on the field Sunday following the long video, Rivera got a hug from David Ortiz and was presented with his portrait acknowledging the fans from that home opener in 2005.
He then received the “42” panel that has been used in the Green Monster scoreboard. With Rivera’s retirement, the number will no longer be worn regularly by any player.
The Red Sox pitching staff gave Rivera the pitching rubber from the mound, and team executives gave him a check for his foundation.
“It was a great ceremony,” Rivera said. “Humbling. I don’t deserve that, but I definitely appreciate what the Red Sox organization did.”