As the Yankees’ final weekend homestand began, fans jumped on the bandwagon for The Post’s campaign to honor Mariano Rivera by renaming River Avenue, The Bronx street next to Yankee Stadium.
“If they don’t change it I’m going to put an ‘A’ on all the River Avenue signs around the stadium,” Lydia Santiago, 42, said as she waited with her son, P.J., to snag autographs before Friday night’s game against the Giants.
“He earned it,” said Santiago, a correction officer who lives in the Morris Park section. “He’s the greatest closer of all time. They need to change it,”
On West 33rd Street, Foley’s Pub & Restaurant was renamed “Mariano’s” for the weekend and staffers wore “T
hank you Mo” T-shirts.
Owner Shaun Clancy, 43, said renaming the avenue is the least the city can do.
“They should rename the stadium after him.” he said.
Even tourists were jumping on the “Rivera Avenue” bandwagon.
“I’m all for it. It’s a nice tribute to a class guy,” said Michael Beaman, 48, of Las Vegas, who was visiting the Stadium with his wife, Lee. “He’s not only a great ballplayer, but a class guy.
“What’s wrong with changing the name? I don’t known who’d be against it.”
At the Yankees Clubhouse Shop on E. 59th Street, Matt Steensma, 38, said he was shopping for gear for his son Jackson, 9, who’s “a huge Rivera fan.”
“There should be a street named after him,” said Steensma, a former New Yorker who now lives in Michigan. “He’s part of the legacy here, part of city history.
“[He’s] one of the last really important role models in baseball. There’s not a lot left like him.”