Earlier during an undeniably special day — when was the last time an active player’s number was retired? — Mariano Rivera took perhaps his slowest walk ever from the Yankee bullpen. With a frenzied, sellout crowd showering him with the love and adoration due a man who was better at what he did than anyone else ever, Rivera soaked in the Yankee Stadium ceremony.
A few hours later, Rivera again made the trek from the bullpen. This time, there was urgency. Eight-inning urgency. Late-game, late-season urgency. Rivera did his part, but it wasn’t a save situation. He got five outs. But it didn’t matter as the Yankees suffered another defeat, 2-1, to the Giants, as their fading playoff hopes took another broadside.
“I was hoping Andy [Pettitte] would … leave the game with a lead and I’d come in to save him,” said Rivera, whose No. 42 officially was retired before the game.
“Not a happy feeling. It was not what I was looking for. But it was a great day. I didn’t know what to feel, especially out at the monument. … It was emotional.”
And unusual. A scenario for career save No. 653 never materialized. With the Yankees down a run, Rivera sidestepped additional damage. He worked the ninth — something he would not have done had the Yankees tied the game in the eighth, Joe Girardi said. But the Yankees lost. Not the Hollywood script way.
Sunday began with the Yankees staging an impressively elaborate ceremony for a remarkably simple man. Simple, yet nearly invincible. Former teammate Jorge Posada spoke of Rivera’s mystique.
“People using smaller bats. They’ve been using white bats the whole game and all of a sudden a black bat comes out,” Posada said. “A lot of things [opponents] did, adjustments that told me they were beaten.”
After the Monument Park unveiling, and with former teammates and Yankee executives gathered at home plate, Rivera entered. Metallica — not the recorded version, but the real live rock band — played Rivera’s “Enter Sandman” theme from a stage on the center-field warning track.
“There’s nobody — I don’t care what era you’re talking about — there’s nobody that’s ever going to do what he’s done as a closer,” said Joe Torre, who managed Rivera’s magnificence for 12 seasons.
Rivera said the live performance by Metallica was a surprise.
“The whole thing was special. I wasn’t expecting something like that,” said Rivera, moved by the presence of hundreds of fellow Panamanians, including Panama president Ricardo Martinelli.
Around home plate were Rivera’s family: wife Clara, sons Mariano Jr. , Jafet and Jaziel. Jackie Robinson’s widow, Rachel, and daughter Sharon, who both embraced Rivera in Monument Park at the unveiling of a bronze plaque honoring the Dodger great, also were there.
On the mound, Rivera tipped his cap to the crowd. He thanked his Lord, his family, his teammates, his parents for having him.
“I guarantee you it was a great day or great night,” Rivera said.
The No. 42 previously was retired by Major League Baseball in honor of Jackie Robinson, but players who already wore it were permitted to continue wearing it. Rivera is the last.
“I would have loved to have met Jackie Robinson,” Rivera said. “He has been a hero and an inspiration.”
Along with the fans, Rivera said.
“To you fans, thank you for 19 years of support. You have been amazing. You have always been here. You have always been a part of my heart,” he said.
“This sets a precedent. I don’t think I’ve seen a guy having a retirement ceremony and the year is not even over. He’s still pitching today,” Williams said.
The Yankees brought out former general manager Gene Michael, Jeff Nelson, David Cone, John Wetteland, Hideki Matsui, Tino Martinez, Paul O’Neill, ex-trainer Gene Monahan, Torre, Williams and Posada. And Derek Jeter accompanied Rivera’s family to the field. The gifts were many, including a $100,000 check to the Mariano Rivera Foundation from the Yankees.
“I love you guys. You are special to me,” Rivera told his teammates, acknowledging the late George Steinbrenner. “I do love him so much and miss him.”
Almost as much as the Yankees will miss Rivera.