Mariano Rivera’s major league career has four games remaining, but his jersey likely will be seen at ballparks for the years to come.
Rivera’s No. 42 was the top-selling jersey over the second half of the season, according to sales on MLB’s online shop that was released Thursday. After Rivera’s retirement, the No. 42 — retired across baseball in honor of Jackie Robinson — will go out of circulation.
Mets ace Matt Harvey, a potential heir to New York’s pitching throne, was No. 2 in sales behind Rivera, followed by hot-shot Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado and Giants catcher Buster Posey.
The list of the 20 most popular jerseys included 16 players who are 30 years of age or younger. Orioles slugger Chris Davis and Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt made the list for the first time, finishing 17th and 20th, respectively.
Thirteen teams are represented on the list with three apiece from the Yankees (Rivera, shortstop Derek Jeter and second baseman Robinson Cano) and Dodgers (Puig, ace southpaw Clayton Kershaw and Korean left-hander Hyun-Jim Ryu). Mets third baseman David Wright was 13th.
Rivera leading the list despite his impending retirement shoudn’t come as a surprise. Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis’ jersey was the third-most popular in the NFL last year before he hung up his spikes.