📌 Join the BPCrew Chapter in your city and meet up with more Yankees fans! 👉 CLICK HERE
NEW YORK - JUNE 28: Mariano Rivera #42 of the New York Yankees celebrates after earning his 500th career save against the New York Mets on June 28, 2009 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Mets 4-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

On this day in Yankees history – Mo gets save No. 500 and RBI No. 1

On June 28, 2009, Mariano Rivera became just the second pitcher in MLB history to record 500 career saves. He joined Trevor Hoffman in the exclusive club with the 4-2 win over the crosstown rival Mets. He also got the first, and only, RBI of his career by drawing a bases loaded walk against Francisco Rodriguez in the top of the ninth.

“It’s definitely special to be the second guy in the history of baseball to do it. But I’m a team player. Really, all these 500 saves belong to my teammates and the great New York Yankees.”

Mo had a rough start to 2009. In his first 12 appearances, he surrendered four home runs and had a 3.97 ERA. However, as the season progressed he became more Mo like. He had 23 saves in 24 opportunities with a 2.43 ERA in the first half of the season, and was selected to his 10th All Star Game.

He allowed runs in just two of his final 40 appearances of the year while he set a new personal best for consecutive save opportunities converted with 36. He finished the regular season with a 1.76 ERA, 44 saves in 46 opportunities, and a 0.90 WHIP. In the postseason, he pitched 16 innings, allowed one earned run, and saved five games on the way to his fifth World Series championship.