The New York Yankees will be honoring Mariano Rivera with a plaque in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium before an Aug. 14 game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Yankees promo schedule is out! Don't miss Mo's Monument Park plaque dedication on 8/14. https://t.co/Yvlu1SHGFc pic.twitter.com/zOO0vvljxC
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) February 11, 2016
Rivera is unquestionably worthy of a plaque in Monument Park, where he will take his rightful place next to some of the greatest players in the illustrious history of the Yankees.
He is arguably the greatest closer in the history of Major League Baseball, and it’s not a long argument.
His career mark of 652 regular season saves is a record that will not be broken any time soon, nor will his record of 42 career postseason saves. Rivera also boasts the lowest career postseason ERA (0.70), and despite the fact that his outings generally were no more than 1-2 innings he’s tenth on the career playoff strikeouts list.
Rivera was primarily a set-up man for John Wetteland on New York’s 1996 World Series winning team but assumed the role of Yankees closer in 1997 when Wetteland went to the Texas Rangers.
He was then a part of World Series-winning teams from 1998-2000 and 2009, winning the World Series MVP in 1999. Rivera was also New York’s closer on the 2001 and 2003 American League Championship-winning teams, earning the ALCS MVP in 2003.
Rivera is also the last MLB player to wear No. 42, as it was retired league-wide in 1997 to honor Jackie Robinson.