Steve Serby huddled with surrent and former Yankees to talk about the retiring stars Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte.
Q: How would you describe what Mariano’s legacy will be here?
ANDY PETTITTE: Just a wonderful man and a wonderful teammate. Again, just the integrity that he carries himself around with, and then, to be again as dominant as he has been in this game, and could be as arrogant as anybody probably and no one really would have a problem with that, and he shows more humility almost than anyone.
Q: One single Mariano memory.
PETTITTE: There’s so many, but I think first him closing out the game in 2009 here, the last out, I was able to pitch in that game, and it was just kinda special the first year here [at the new Stadium]. And then just the three innings in relief against Boston, and then seeing the pictures of him running out on the mound and collapsing [in celebration] and stuff like that. He’s had so many great moments and dominated so many great times, it’s hard to pick one.
Q: And describe the feeling when the bullpen door swings open and he comes out.
PETTITTE: It’s just a great feeling, because you know even if someone happens to get base or whatever, you just feel like he is gonna get it done every time. You never have a doubt, even if he’s blown a couple or whatever, so it’s just an amazing feeling.
Q: Who do you think will be more emotional Sunday, you or Mo?
PETTITTE: Probably Mo, ’cause he’s gonna have a wonderful ceremony for him. … I don’t feel like I really ever get emotional unless I start talking about Mo or Derek [Jeter] or Georgie [Jorge Posada]. You know what I’m saying (laugh)?
Q: What will Mariano’s legacy be?
REGGIE JACKSON: He’s certainly the greatest reliever of all time, and that puts him ahead of Elroy Face, [Rollie] Fingers and [Dennis] Eckersley … Trevor Hoffman and [[Rich “Goose”] Gossage. … [Rivera] was as dominant as Michael Jordan. He was as dominant as [Jack] Nicklaus, he was as dominant as Tiger [Woods] in his heyday. He was as dominant as [Hank] Aaron and [Willie] Mays, [Bob] Gibson and [Sandy] Koufax in their best years. … Ted Williams, [Stan] Musial, [Mickey] Mantle, those names.
Q: He’s dominated his position, done his job …
JACKSON: As much as Reggie White, maybe the greatest defensive end of all time, or Deacon Jones.
Q: Lawrence Taylor?
JACKSON: Lawrence Taylor, recognized as the greatest linebacker ever. … [Dick] Butkus, that level of just so far above and beyond. … and Jerry Rice in reference to wide receivers … [Joe] Montana … [Tom] Brady, Peyton [Manning] … Johnny Unitas, Bart Starr … Sid Luckman … that crowd of just … dominance.
Q: How would you describe him off the diamond?
JACKSON: He carries himself as you would hope he would … recognizes the importance of himself, the team first and then a franchise and a city … importance of family … importance of how to project being humble. … You’re not gonna be humble with that kind of success, but he knows how to project it and to deal with it and manage his greatness.
Q: What is Mariano expecting from you next year?
DAVID ROBERTSON: He expects me to be better than I am right now, I know that. He’s seen a lot of the mistakes I’ve made this year, and I know a lot of the mistakes I’ve made, but I’ve gotta stop myself from doing it in games. That comes with mound time and appearances, and he’s got probably 900 more appearances than me on the big league level. I’ve tried to learn as much as I can from him this year. … Next year he won’t be around, I won’t be able to ask him questions. I’ll have to deal with it, I’ll have to figure some things out on my own.
Q: What do you suspect it will be like to follow a legend’s footsteps?
ROBERTSON: I’m gonna try to do as best I can. I’m not Mariano Rivera. I’m not gonna be that guy. I’m not gonna be The Sandman. But you know what? I’m gonna give it everything I’ve got. Gonna win some, gonna lose some, but I’m gonna have a good time with it, and I’m gonna compete as hard as I can. … You can’t replace Mariano Rivera. I don’t think anyone ever will do what he’s done.
Q: One lasting Mariano memory.
ROBERTSON: I think in the World Series, 2009, I can remember we were in Philly, and Mo was having some oblique trouble — he was in some pain. … I don’t know if a lot of people know about it, but it was bothering him pretty bad. Never complained about it, he just heated it up, tried to make it feel as best he could — he was lights out in the playoffs. A lot of people don’t realize it’s hard to pitch when you hurt your oblique. I’ve done it before and it’s a miserable feeling. The ball doesn’t come out the same way, every movement doesn’t feel right, it hurts, and Mo never complained about it. A lot of people didn’t know about it, and he just … went right through it.
Q: What will his lasting legacy be around here?
ROBERTSON: Greatest of all time. Greatest closer of all time, the most consistent human being to ever play the game of baseball. Off the field and on the field, he’s the same guy — he’s a genuine, true guy. He’s one of the greatest players to ever wear the Yankee uniform.
Q: What have you learned about Mariano as a teammate and person?
PHIL HUGHES: One of the stories that sticks with me is Game 7 of the World Series in Arizona, where after the game he’s at his locker for I think, somebody said like a half hour just answering questions, in a situation where a lot of guys would not want to do that. I’m sure he didn’t want to do it, but still just did everything the right way. There’s a lot to be said for that, I think. Anybody can do all the right things when they’re having success, but in those moments of failure, how do they handle themselves? And I think he’s done it the right way all those years.
Q: Any personal anecdote with him that you can share?
HUGHES: Being down in the bullpen with him in 2009 was really an eye-opener. As a starter, you rely on him to come in for the ninth inning and stuff like that, but you don’t really get a feel for what it’s all about until you’re down there. Those playoff situations where you’re leaning on him to not only get you four outs, but sometimes six or seven … his demeanor out there never changed. When he knew he was gonna have to throw two, maybe three innings at times, he always answered the bell.
Q: Could you see his mentality change as it got closer to the ninth?
HUGHES: If we’re in a situation where he’s gonna have to come in and save the game, you can see it click. That fire that you see in his eyes when he starts to do his routine and stretching and all that, you definitely notice when he kind of clicks, and he’s ready to go.
Q: One moment that stands out.
HUGHES: I think the last out of 2009. It’s sort of cliché, but just to see his reaction after already having four championships, the way he’s jumping around like a little kid. You can tell at his age, it never gets old, and I’m sure that’s the thing he’ll miss the most — competing on the field, and those moments of celebration. It’s something you don’t often get in the real world.
Q: And your next-door neighbor, Pettitte.
HUGHES: You can definitely tell the difference of guys that are willing to mentor young guys, and other guys that are on their way out and they don’t really care to do those type of things. But Andy was always the one to talk to young guys coming up and stuff, and he’s continued that on. We talk every day about what we got going on, whether it’s soreness, or how we’re pitching … especially this year just being a struggle. It’s nice to have someone there to sorta lean on when a lot of people want to turn their back on you, and that’s something that’s irreplaceable and something that I will definitely miss going forward.
Q: What have you learned about Mariano as a teammate and person?
AUSTIN ROMINE: It’s something special , to be able to sit there and watch a man of that caliber, how he interacts with people, how he treats every person the same — the guys that clean cleats, the players, and everybody in-between, he treats ’em exactly the same. He’s a staple in this game, and he’s someone that we can all model ourselves after … just the way he approaches the game, the respect he has for the game and the people and other teams. It’s unmatched by any. I’ve never seen that before. We all love baseball. … You can see how much he loves it by the way he approaches it, prepares for it, and he performs.
Q: Favorite Mariano story.
ROMINE: When he went through some trouble earlier, he was the first one out there fixing it, just so his team can win. My favorite Mo story will always be, my debut, it was in Anaheim, where I actually grew up 15 minutes from, so I was in my hometown, and I get to catch Mo in his 599th save. It’s just something I’ll always remember. There’s some pictures that I have him sign from that occasion. … I still have the glove. … It’s gonna be my first game in the big leagues, I got to catch Mariano Rivera.
Q: What was that like?
ROMINE: It was surreal. It was really over before you knew it. That’s usually how it goes down when he goes out there to pitch, you blink and the Yankees win. All I can remember is just the control he had is unbelievable. It’s unmatched. I have not met a guy that can throw that ball where he wants it 10 in 10 times. It’s almost like when he throws a ball it’s ’cause he wanted it to be a ball. But I remember just being in awe of the control. I remember watching it cut — believe it or not, it’s actually easy to catch. It’s not easy to hit, but it’s easy to catch ’cause you just put your glove out there and he’ll hit it.
Q: Ever shake him off?
ROMINE: No. He throws what he wants. Let’s be real (chuckle). He throws what he wants. I just put down suggestions (chuckle).
Q: What’s it’s been like catching Mariano?
CHRIS STEWART: Me being back there and having the experience with him, knowing that I’ll be able to tell my kids and my grandkids I caught one of the best, if not the best pitchers of all time, it’s a truly humbling moment for me and it’s a blessing that I’ve been cherishing for the entire season.
Q: Ever shake him off?
STEWART: I’ll go out there and second-guess him every now and then (smile), but he’s been doing this forever, so I don’t know if it’s me second-guessing myself or what. … He knows what he’s doing out there, and I let him do his thing, and obviously most of the time it works out pretty well.
Q: What have you learned about Andy?
STEWART: He’s probably one of the biggest competitors in this game. When he’s out there every fifth day, his job is to win the game, no matter what he has to do out there, he’s gonna try to do.
Q: What did you learn about Mariano as a teammate?
CURTIS GRANDERSON: You hear the age and all of a sudden you assume … it’s like an old car you gotta warm up to get going, and he’s not like that. He can go out there and outrun a lot of these guys, out-throw a lot of these guys, out-cardio a lot of these guys. … He’s not necessarily outspoken. At the same time, he’ll grab you individually, and say what he needs to say, and that one-on-one attention can be just as impactful as shouting in front of all 25 guys on the team at one point in time.
Q: One lasting Mariano memory.
GRANDERSON: For me it’ll be 2009, playing in my first All-Star Game and getting a chance to close out the game with him on the mound and win it for the American League. I’m in center field playing behind the best closer ever (smile).
Q: One lasting Mariano memory.
LYLE OVERBAY: For personal reasons, being able to give him a high-five after he finishes saving a game … that’s kinda the first time that you get caught up in it where it’s like you’re giving a high-five to a Hall of Famer, and he could be the first 100 percent vote. And to be able to be on the same field as him is one thing I’ll never forget.
Q: What have you learned about him as a teammate?
OVERBAY: He understands the importance of giving back. He’s made it about all the other people that are around him, making it a point to say thank you to them. That’s just the way he is when you start getting to understand him a little bit, that he does it for everyone else, and it’s not for him.
Q: How much of an emotional void will Mariano be leaving?
OVERBAY: I don’t know, it’ll be interesting to see. You don’t replace those kinda things. The game obviously is gonna move on. That’s hard to say, to what extent.
Q: What did you learn about Mariano as a teammate you didn’t know?
VERNON WELLS: I haven’t learned anything, to be honest with you. I always held him in the highest regard playing against him.
Q: One lasting Mariano memory.
WELLS: Just him coming in in Yankee Stadium, and his music playing, and watching him jog in, and how the fans know that as soon as that song starts playing, they know their close’s coming in, and far more than not, the game is over. There’s that, and then there’s my personal memory is just being one of a handful of guys to ever hit a walk-off home run against him [in 2006]. That’s a moment that I’ll never forget.
Q: And Andy?
WELLS: You can look at his face and see how much he wants to compete on the mound. He’s focused in on each and every pitch, and would pretty much stare a hole right through you when he’s on the mound. Always enjoyed facing him, just ’cause how much he wants to win, you know how much he competes, and he’s still doing that to this day.
Q: Describe Mariano Rivera.
TRAINER STEVE DONOHUE: That’s hard to describe that man in one word — fantastic. I mean, the guy’s been unbelievable, dedicated, all about the right way to play baseball. That’s what he stands for, he stands for the game, and his family. A great teammate, that’s probably the highest compliment you give anybody. But for Mo, it’s just about how you play the game, and playing it the right way, and that’s what he does.
Q: What do you hope your legacy is here?
PETTITTE: They know how hard this game has been for me, and I feel like they’ve seen a man go out there and grind (chuckle), and just battle. … I never struck out a lot of guys, I never dominated the games, I had to get double plays, I had to make big pitches, I had to get a strikeout here or there. And I feel like that I’ve kinda been like a hard-working man out there, where I feel like a lot of guys that are able to dominate the game — it’s a little bit easier for ’em, you know? That’s why I feel like they’ve treated me so well, I don’t know, that’s what I think.
Q: Talk about Mo’s involvement in Hope Week.
MEDIA DIRECTOR JASON ZILLO: He dove into the water. Once Mo knows something is worthwhile and it involves helping others, very seldom do you see him hem and haw. It’s usually like, “What do you need done, and how quickly can I do it?”
Q: Was there one story that touched him?
ZILLO: Jorge Grajales, a kid who was born in Panama who had a disease and didn’t have any arms or legs, and he was adopted by a family here and we had a surprise swim birthday party in the kid’s backyard, and Mo’s the one that carried the cake back towards the pool, and gave him this big embrace. That’s the one I think that he would say he remembers most vividly. When you have guys like Mo and Pettitte, the lead by example in everything they do — preparation for a game, the way they approach hitters, how they act around the media and our fans. Same thing goes with Hope Week — when you see guys like Mo and Andy so invested in it, it’s pretty easy to get everybody else to kinda get in line behind ’em.
Q: Talk about Andy’s involvement in Hope Week.
ZILLO: Yeah, Kirk Smalley. … Andy’s a pretty stoic guy, and he gets through a lot of stuff, but after he sat in on Kirk’s [Stand for the Silent anti-bullying] presentation here at Yankee Stadium to all those students and parents and teachers, the media was asking him questions, and he started reflecting about how he wants his children to treat others and how he wants others to treat children, and he got choked up. I think the only time I’ve ever seen Andy not be able to get through an interview. It had nothing to do with baseball per se, it was about life, and it really touched him at his core.
Q: What will Sunday mean to Yankees fans?
ZILLO: I think it’ll be more of a celebration than anything else. Both these guys went out on their own terms, and they were a huge reason why so many of these fans got to celebrate championships and celebrate successful seasons, and celebrate important postseasons for practically the last 20 years, and it’s unheard of. It’s not unheard of around here, but it’s unheard of practically everywhere else.
Q: How emotional do you expect Yankee Stadium to be Sunday?
HUGHES: Very, very emotional, I think. … We saw how it was when Posada retired, and now this year it’s gonna be Mo and Andy. So next year, the Core 4’s down to one. … It’ll be fun to be part of that.