These days when a professional athlete calls a press conference not related to a new contract, fans have come to expect something involving steroids — or worse.
But Yankee reliever Mariano Rivera is in a class by himself. So when he steps before the microphones this morning in Tampa, he’s expected to announce it’s closing time for baseball’s greatest closer — that 2013 will be his last season after nearly two decades in Yankee pinstripes.
What a career it’s been. Teammates, opponents and fans alike knew that when Rivera came in, the man with the killer cutter would seal another Yankee win. His record all but guarantees that his next stop will be baseball’s Hall of Fame. It includes:
* Five World Series rings.
* 608 career saves, tops for any pitcher ever.
* 42 post-season saves (more than the next two people on the list combined).
* A 0.70 post-season ERA.
On top of the stats, Rivera also meets a Hall of Fame requirement that causes many other stars to whiff. That’s Rule 5, which says that a player’s eligibility must take into account his “integrity, sportsmanship, character and contributions to the team.”
The 12-time All Star scores high here, too. A devout family man, he has a foundation that helps underprivileged kids in his native Panama as well as his adoptive United States, and he’s helped raise millions to restore a church in New Rochelle.
In an uncertain world, Rivera was a sure thing — on and off the field.
Thanks for a great ride, Mo.