When the bullpen gate at Yankee Stadium swings open and Mariano Rivera emerges, there are few moments in sports that compare. “Enter Sandman” begins blaring through the speakers, and after a few light steps on the warning track, Rivera begins to jog.
The fans stop what they’re doing. Cameras flash, applause rises. Anticipation that another Yankee win would be sealed relatively quickly builds.
For most of the last 16 seasons, Rivera’s jogged to the mound where Jorge Posada would be waiting. Posada would drop the ball in Rivera’s glove, they would say a few words, then Rivera would get to work.
This scene has been played out so many times in the fall. In October where the stage is bigger, the lights are brighter and everything is magnified, Rivera remains calm. He remains the same. It’s business as usual.
It is October that elevates Rivera to almost mythical status.
He’s thrown 141 innings in the postseason, the equivalent of about two seasons. The numbers are absolutely staggering. In those 141 innings, he’s allowed just 86 hits – ONLY two of which are home runs. He’s tallied 21 walks and recorded 110 strikeouts. Rivera has allowed less than one baserunner per inning – his WHIP (walks-hits/innings pitched) is an unbelievable .759.
Rivera has only allowed 11 earned runs in the postseason, making his ERA a minuscule .70, by far the greatest of all time. Coming into 2012, he has converted an all-time best 42 saves, matching his age and of course the number on his back. Out of all his postseason numbers and records, the one that might impress the most is his scoreless inning streak of 34.1 innings. Reason being is that in October, Rivera faced usually the best hitters in the league in the most pressure packed situations.
Rivera holds the record for most two inning saves in the playoffs with 14, and most career playoff appearances with 96. Both records are testaments to his durability and consistency.
Rivera first appeared in a postseason game in 1995, pitching five scoreless innings. He returned in 1996 as the setup man and really burst into the national spotlight with his 97 mph cutter, the pitch he would perfect and make a living on for the next 16 years. In 1997, his first full season as the closer, Rivera blew the save in game 4 of the ALDS Â against the Indians by giving up a game tying home run to Sandy Alomar Jr. The Yankees went on to lose the game and the series in five games. Always with a short memory, Rivera shook it off. After winning the World Series in 1998, the team repeated in ’99 – Rivera won the World Series MVP, where he totaled two saves and didn’t allow a run.
Of course, with success comes failure. Rivera’s lowest moment in the postseason came on a November night in the desert. He blew the save in Game 7 against Arizona which would have given the Yankees a four-peat. This was the first sign to anyone that Rivera was indeed human. But once again, where other closers might not have recovered, Rivera pushed through and persevered.
Another vintage Rivera postseason moment came in 2003. He pitched three scoreless innings in Game 7 of the ALCS, allowing the Yankees, and Aaron Boone, time to beat the rival Red Sox and advance to the World Series.
in 2009, at the age of 39, Rivera was, well, Rivera. He saved five games that postseason, on the way to his fifth World Series Championship.
You can make the argument that without Rivera, the Yankees would not have won as many titles – maybe none. There were other players that contributed and helped form the dynasty, but the one constant was Rivera. He was truly the backbone of all those World Series winning and playoff teams. There have been a lot of players throughout the years that have represented the Yankees greatly, with grace, class and dignity. But somehow, Rivera stands above the rest.
This year should the Yankees reach the playoffs, for the first time ever, they will be without Mo. Thankfully for baseball and for Yankees fans, Rivera announced he will be coming back next year, assuming everything goes well with his injured knee.
This means that for one more year, Yankees fans will be treated to seeing Rivera come in through those bullpen doors. Hopefully, he will be the last pitcher standing on the mound in 2013, which would mean a 28th championship for New York, and would most likely cap the career of the greatest reliever, regular or postseason, in the history of baseball.
