Mariano Rivera

Quotes About Rivera
"Pretty much, you think the game is over when he comes in. You know you have to turn it up a notch if you want to have a chance. That, or you have to hope his cutter cuts so much that he walks us or hits us." � Johnny Damon

"The most amazing thing is Mo's demeanor; not too many people have what he has. He's never intimidated, he'll challenge anyone, and you can't tell from his expression whether he was successful the night before or if he failed the night before. You have to have that in the role he has and, more importantly, where he's playing." � Derek Jeter

Quotes From Rivera
Sometimes you try so hard to do things so right that you do them all wrong. It's like moving in quicksand. The more you move, the more you sink." — Mariano Rivera, on dealing with slumps

"It's my job. I think we have to accept that it's more than pitching. I've been here for [13] years and I have seen a lot. If I can help anybody, any of my teammates, to be better, I'm going to do that." — Mariano Rivera on helping younger teammates

Played For
New York Yankees (1995-2005)

All-Time Rankings
Mariano Rivera ranks #1 among the Top 50 all-time at RP. Rankings ⇒

Best Season: 1999
In the middle season of the Yankees' three-year title run, Rivera notched 45 saves, posted a 1.83 ERA, and allowed just two homers in 69 innings. In the post-season he was untouchable, pitching three innings of one-hit ball in two games in the LDS against the Rangers, hurling 5 2/3 innings of no-hit ball in four games against the Indians in the LCS, and 4 1/3 shutout innings against the Braves in the World Series. His stats for the post-season: 2-0 with six saves, a 0.00 ERA in 12 1/3 innings, nine strikeouts and one walk. He was named MVP of the Fall Classic.

Factoids
When Mariano Rivera enters games in Yankee Stadium, the sound system plays "Enter Sandman."

The only blown save of Mariano Rivera's post-season career came in Game Seven of the 2001 World Series against Arizona. Entering the game with a 2-1 lead, Rivera surrendered a walk, made an error, and allowed two singles to lose the game and the series.

As of 2007, Mariano Rivera was the only major leaguer still wearing uniform number 42. The number was retired by Major League Baseball in 1997, in honor of Jackie Robinson, but players already wearing it were allowed to keep it.

Devil Ray Killer
Rivera has been masterful against the Tamp Bay Devil Rays in his career. Through 2004, he had 32 saves in 41 games against the D-Rays, with a 1.02 ERA, and had not allowed a home run.

Description
Rivera is lithe and athletic, with dark Panamanian features, and considered quite handsome.

Where He Played
Rivera made 10 starts in his rookie season, going 3-3 with a 5.94 ERA. He was prone to the longball, surrendering eight in 50 innings. Those were the only 10 starts of his career.

Born
Mariano Rivera was born on November 29, 1969, in Panama City

Batted:  Right
Threw:  Right

Primary Position:  P

Primary Team:  NYA

Major League Debut
May 23, 1995 ... In his first game, Rivera was used as a starter, but he had difficulty. In 3 1/3 innings against the Angels in Anaheim, the right-hander gave up five earned runs on eight hits, three walks and a homer. Jim Edmonds blasted a three-run homer off Rivera, which signaled his exit from the game, which the Yankees lost 10-0.

Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1995
Ray Durham
Johnny Damon
Edgardo Alfonzo
Derek Jeter
Bobby Higginson
Jason Giambi
Billy Wagner
Mariano Rivera
Troy Percival

Nicknames
Mo

Uniform Numbers
#42 (1995-)

Family Tree
Is the cousin of Roberto Rivera, who pitched briefly fro the Cubs and Padres in the 1990s.

Similar Players
John Wetteland, Tom Henke

Related Players
Derek Jeter, John Wetteland, Tom Gordon... Lee Smith, Trevor Hoffman, and John Franco, the relievers Rivera joined in the 400-save club in 2006.

Post-Season Appearances
1995 American League Divisional Series
1996 World Series
1998 World Series
1998 American League Championship Series
1998 American League Divisional Series
2000 American League Divisional Series
2000 American League Championship Series
2000 World Series
2001 World Series
2005 American League Divisional Series

The Pitches He Threw
Rivera made the cut fastball popular in the mid-1990s. He also throws a straight fastball, a rising fastball, and he uses a slider. Opposing batters talk of how Rivera throws a "heavy ball," that is, a ball that bears in on them and is difficult to get good wood on. He invariably breaks a lot of bats.

Post-Season Notes
Rivera has posted the best stats for a reliever in post-season history, bar none. Through 2007, he owned a 0.38 ERA with 15 saves in 31 League Division Series games; was 4-0 with 10 saves and a 0.93 ERA in 25 League Championship Series Games; and had nine saves and a 1.16 ERA in 20 games in the Fall Classic. In 1998, 1999, and 2000, he saved six games in each post-season. He has not saved a game in the post-season since 2005.

Awards and Honors
1999 AL Rolaids Relief
1999 ML WS MVP
2001 AL Rolaids Relief
2003 AL ALCS MVP
2004 AL Rolaids Relief

Feats
Rivera went 23 consecutive games in the post-season without allowing a run, from the 1998 ALDS through Game Three of the 2000 ALCS.

Milestones
Notched his 400th save on July 16, 2006. he became the fourth pitcher to reach that plateau.

Notes
Through the 2004 season, Rivera had been a more effective pitcher early in the season. His career ERA in April was 1.92, 2.11 in May, 2.69 in June, 2.73 in July, 2.29 in August, and 2.99 in September... Rivera has a 2.76 ERA at Yankee Stadium and a 2.11 mark on the road.

Transactions
February 17, 1990: Signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent.

Matchup Data
Rivera has been a thorn in the side of almost every team the Yankees have battled over his career, but the Boston Red Sox have had the best success against the All-Star closer. Through 2004, these were the career stats of some Red Sox hitters against Rivera:

David Ortiz (5-for-10, .500)
Kevin Millar (4-for-10, .400, HR)
Bill Mueller (3-for-8, .375, HR)
Trot Nixon (3-for-9, .333)
Nomar Garciaparra (4-for-12, .333)
Manny Ramirez (6-for-20, .300, HR)
Jason Varitek (4-for-15, .267)
Johnny Damon (2-for-11, .182)

All-Star Selections
1997 AL
1999 AL
2000 AL
2001 AL
2002 AL
2004 AL
2005 AL

Replaced
In 1996, when Joe Torre put Rivera in the pen to be a setup man for John Wetteland, he replaced Bob Wickman in that role. When Wetteland left as a free agent in the off-season, Rivera became the closer.

Best Strength as a Player
Mastery of his pitches and his defensive ability on the mound.

Largest Weakness as a Player
No glaring weaknesses.

Learn More about Mariano Rivera
Search Amazon.com for Books about Mariano Rivera ⇒
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View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒