"Enter Rivera": the Yankees reliever is waiting for admission to the Temple

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COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. - Nothing has ever changed in Mariano Rivera's life, whether it was his childhood in the fishing village of Puerto Caimito, Panama, or the mound of Yankee Stadium.

"I always wanted to be the last guy to kick a shot or kick the ball. Give me the ball, Rivera recalled. I wanted to contribute to the victory. I wanted to help my team by doing everything I needed to win. It has often worked. "

It is from this mentality that excellence is born.

A poorly regarded pitcher when he signed a contract as a free agent with the New York Yankees in 1990, Rivera struggled as a starter before finding a niche as a reliever using his fast cut.

The Yankees won seven American titles and five World Series victories with Rivera as a No. 1 scorer. Her 652-save Major League record opened the Hall of Fame. It was not for nothing that he was nicknamed The Sandman ("The Sandman"), inspired by Metallica's song "Enter Sandman", which sounded in the Yankee Stadium's audio system every time it happened. brought to the mound, ready to lull the enemy's attack.

His mounding exploits and his humility in both victory and defeat helped Rivera achieve another feat: becoming the first player to be unanimously elected to the Hall of Fame, seeing his name on the 425 ballot papers. last January.

"It will not change my life, admitted the 49-year-old pitcher, but it's interesting to be the first. "

Rivera will join Rod Carew, the only other Panamanian elected to Cooperstown. He will be joined on Sunday by pitchers Mike Mussina, Lee Smith and the late Roy Halladay, as well as hitters named Edgar Martinez and Harold Baines.

Baines and Smith were selected in December by the Veterans Committee. Rivera, Mussina, Martinez and Halladay were elected in January by America's Baseball Chroniclers (BBWAA).

Rivera looked even better in the playoff games, where he allowed only 86 hits and got 110 strikeouts, against 21 walks and 11 earned runs in 141 innings. He has 11 World Series saves and a 2-1 record. His only loss came in the seventh game of the 2001 Classic, when Arizona Gonzalez's Arizona Gonzalez came in at the end of the day, with the goals filled at the end of the ninth.

"In the playoffs you play the best in critical moments," said Rivera, who will deliver part of his Spanish induction speech. I wanted to find myself in these situations. I wanted to be the last guy, throw the last throw. It was my passion.

"I think it was in these situations that my skills reached a higher level. I thank God for being able to function in such tense moments. "

Mussina also thanks him: Rivera has protected 49 of his 270 victories.

Drafted by the Orioles after helping Stanford win two World University series in a row in the late 1980s, Mussina compiled a record of 270-158 in 18 seasons in the Majors. He became the first thrower of the American to win at least 10 wins in 17 consecutive seasons. he spent the first 10 seasons of his career in Baltimore, before moving to the Yankees as a free agent in December 2000. However, he could not get his hands on the World Series: the Yankees lost twice the ultimate series when he spent eight years in the Bronx.

"I feel privileged," said Mussina. I am happy to be able to join Cooperstown with these players. "

Martinez, born in New York before growing up in Puerto Rico, had to overcome a condition that makes sure that his eyes do not see in tandem. He experienced all sorts of trouble in his first five campaigns with the Seattle Mariners. He initially feared making the transition from the third goal to the designated hitter, but his passion, preparation and training served him well. He has been named five times the best-known batcher of the American and this honor is now named after him.

When he retired in 2004, Martinez was one of six MLB players to hit for, 300, maintaining a trail average of .400, as well as an average power of .500 , in addition to having hit 500 doubles and 300 homers.

Three members of the 2019 cohort were first-round picks, a first. Baines was the first choice in 1977; Mussina the 20th in 1990; and Halladay the 17th in 1995.

Baines played 22 seasons for five teams, including 14 with the Chicago White Sox, taking part in six all-star games. He retired in 2001 with 2866