View source for Mariano Rivera

{{Short description|Panamanian-American baseball player (born 1969)}}
{{distinguish|text=Filipino entertainer [[Marian Rivera]]}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}
{{featured article}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name        = Mariano Rivera
| width       = 275
| image       = Mariano Rivera allison 7 29 07.jpg
| alt         = Mariano Rivera in a gray baseball uniform and navy blue cap stands on a dirt mound. He is striding forward to the right as he clutches a baseball behind his head. His uniform reads "New York" in navy blue letters across the chest. His face is contorted in concentration.
| caption     = Rivera with the New York Yankees in 2007
| position    = [[Relief pitcher]]<!--Closer is a "role", not a position.-->
| bats        = Right
| throws      = Right
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1969|11|29}}
| birth_place = [[Panama City]], [[Panama]]
| debutleague = MLB
| debutdate   = May 23
| debutyear   = 1995
| debutteam   = New York Yankees
| finalleague = MLB
| finaldate   = September 26
| finalyear   = 2013
| finalteam   = New York Yankees
| statleague  = MLB
| stat1label  = [[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
| stat1value  = 82–60
| stat2label  = [[Earned run average]]
| stat2value  = 2.21
| stat3label  = [[Strikeout]]s
| stat3value  = 1,173
| stat4label  = [[Save (baseball)|Saves]]
| stat4value  = 652
| stat5label  = [[Walks plus hits per inning pitched|WHIP]]
| stat5value  = 1.00
| teams       = 
* [[New York Yankees]] ({{mlby|1995}}–{{mlby|2013}})
| awards = 
* 13× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1997 MLB All-Star Game|1997]], [[1999 MLB All-Star Game|1999]]–[[2002 MLB All-Star Game|2002]], [[2004 MLB All-Star Game|2004]]–[[2006 MLB All-Star Game|2006]], [[2008 MLB All-Star Game|2008]]–[[2011 MLB All-Star Game|2011]], [[2013 MLB All-Star Game|2013]])
* 5× [[World Series]] champion ({{wsy|1996}}, {{wsy|1998}}–{{wsy|2000}}, {{wsy|2009}})
* [[World Series Most Valuable Player Award|World Series MVP]] ({{wsy|1999}})
* [[League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award|ALCS MVP]] ([[2003 American League Championship Series|2003]])
* 5× [[Rolaids Relief Man Award|AL Rolaids Relief Man Award]] (1999, 2001, 2004–2005, 2009)
* 3× [[Delivery Man of the Year]] (2005–2006, 2009)
* [[Major League Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award|AL Comeback Player of the Year]] (2013)
* 3× [[List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders|MLB saves leader]] (1999, 2001, 2004)
* [[300 save club|MLB record 652 career saves]]
* [[New York Yankees#Retired numbers|New York Yankees No. 42]] retired
* [[Monument Park (Yankee Stadium)|Monument Park]] honoree
|hoflink = National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
|hoftype = National
|hofdate = [[2019 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2019]]
|hofvote = 100% (first ballot)
}}

'''Mariano Rivera''' (born November 29, 1969) is a [[Panamanian Americans|Panamanian-American]] former professional [[baseball]] [[pitcher]] who played 19 seasons in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for the [[New York Yankees]], from 1995 to 2013. Nicknamed "'''Mo'''"<ref name=mo/> and "'''Sandman'''",<ref name=sandman /> he spent most of his career as a [[relief pitcher]] and served as the Yankees' [[closer (baseball)|closer]] for 17 seasons. A thirteen-time [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] and five-time [[World Series]] champion, he is [[List of Major League Baseball career saves leaders|MLB's career leader in saves]] (652) and [[List of Major League Baseball career games finished leaders|games finished]] (952). Rivera won five [[American League]] (AL) [[Rolaids Relief Man Award]]s and three [[Delivery Man of the Year Award]]s, and he finished in the top three in voting for the AL [[Cy Young Award]] four times. He was inducted into the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]] as part of its [[2019 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|class of 2019]] in his first year of eligibility, and is to date the only player ever to be elected unanimously by the [[Baseball Writers' Association of America]] (BBWAA).<ref name="ESPN results"/>

Raised in the modest Panamanian fishing village of [[Puerto Caimito]], Rivera was an amateur player until he was signed by the Yankees organization in 1990. He debuted in the major leagues in 1995 as a [[starting pitcher]], before permanently converting to a relief pitcher late that year. After a breakthrough season in 1996 as a [[setup man]], he became the Yankees' closer in 1997. In the following seasons, he established himself as one of baseball's top relievers, [[List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders|leading the major leagues in saves]] in 1999, 2001, and 2004. Rivera primarily threw a sharp-moving, mid-90s mile-per-hour [[cut fastball]] that frequently broke hitters' bats and earned a reputation as one of the league's toughest [[pitch (baseball)|pitches]] to hit. With his presence at the end of games, signaled by his foreboding entrance song "[[Enter Sandman]]", Rivera was a key contributor to the Yankees' [[Dynasty (sports)|dynasty]] in the late 1990s and early 2000s that won four championships in five years. He was an accomplished [[Major League Baseball postseason|postseason]] performer, winning the 1999 [[World Series Most Valuable Player Award|World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award]] and the [[2003 American League Championship Series|2003]] [[League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award|AL Championship Series MVP Award]], while setting postseason records that included lowest [[earned run average]] (ERA) (0.70) and most [[Save (baseball)|saves]] (42).

Rivera is regarded as one of the most dominant relievers in major league history. Pitching with a longevity and consistency uncommon to the closer role, he saved at least 25&nbsp;games in 15&nbsp;consecutive seasons and posted an ERA under 2.00 in 11&nbsp;seasons, both of which are records. When he retired, his career 2.21&nbsp;ERA and 1.00&nbsp;[[Walks plus hits per inning pitched|WHIP]] were the lowest in the [[live-ball era]] among qualified pitchers. Fellow players credit him with popularizing the cut fastball across the major leagues. Along with his signature pitch, Rivera was known for his precise [[Control pitcher|control]], smooth pitching motion, and composure on the field. In 2013, the Yankees [[List of Major League Baseball retired numbers|retired]] his uniform number 42; he was the last major league player to wear the number full time, following its league-wide retirement in 1997 in honor of [[Jackie Robinson]]. In 2014, MLB named its AL [[Major League Baseball Reliever of the Year Award|Reliever of the Year Award]] in Rivera's honor. A devout [[Christianity|Christian]], he has been involved in charitable causes and the religious community through the Mariano Rivera Foundation. For his [[philanthropy]], Rivera received the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]], the highest civilian award in the United States, in September 2019.

==Early life==
[[File:Sand and beach in Puerto Caimito.jpg|thumb|upright=1.05|Rivera was raised in the Panamanian fishing village of [[Puerto Caimito]].]]
Mariano Rivera was born on November 29, 1969,<ref name="42things">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2013/09/20/mariano-rivera-42-things-to-know|title=42 things you need to know about Mariano Rivera|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|author=Corcoran, Cliff|date=September 20, 2013|access-date=March 17, 2021|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308160259/https://www.si.com/mlb/2013/09/20/mariano-rivera-42-things-to-know|url-status=live}}</ref> in [[Panama City]], Panama, to Mariano Rivera Palacios and Delia Jiron.<ref name="longride">{{Cite web|last=Zamorano|first=Juan|date=September 20, 2013|title=Rivera's long ride from a Pacific fishing village|url=https://omaha.com/sports/national/riveras-long-ride-from-a-pacific-fishing-village/article_ee3f6694-e96a-5924-a0d2-a2eaad4dd472.html|access-date=October 31, 2019|website=[[Omaha World-Herald]]|language=en|archive-date=July 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715072616/https://omaha.com/sports/national/riveras-long-ride-from-a-pacific-fishing-village/article_ee3f6694-e96a-5924-a0d2-a2eaad4dd472.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera has one older sister, Delia, and two younger brothers, Alvaro and Giraldo.<ref>Levin (2008), p. 12</ref> Supported by Mariano Sr.'s job as captain of a [[fishing boat]],<ref name=s4>Sherman (2006), pp. 4–5</ref> the family lived in [[Puerto Caimito]], a Panamanian [[fishing village]] that Rivera described as "poor".<ref>{{cite episode|title=Coming Home|series=E:60|series-link=E:60|network=[[ESPN]]|credits=Reported by [[Tom Rinaldi]]|airdate=May 11, 2010}}</ref> As a young man, Rivera played [[Association football|soccer]] and [[baseball]] with his friends on the beach during low [[tide]].<ref name=sandman>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/26/sports/baseball/the-boyhood-tides-that-formed-baseballs-sandman.html|title=First Steps Made on Beach|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|author=Waldstein, David|edition=New York|page=B12|date=September 26, 2013|access-date=September 27, 2013|archive-date=September 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926220953/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/26/sports/baseball/the-boyhood-tides-that-formed-baseballs-sandman.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Soccer was his favorite sport, and [[Pelé]] his favorite athlete.<ref name="red">{{cite web|last=Red|first=Christian|date=April 11, 2013|title=Yankees closer Mariano Rivera reveals his passions outside of baseball, his favorite player growing up and the toughest batter he's ever faced|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/rivera-reveals-toughest-batter-faced-article-1.1313441|access-date=November 2, 2019|website=[[New York Daily News]]|archive-date=June 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611025904/https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/rivera-reveals-toughest-batter-faced-article-1.1313441|url-status=live}}</ref> For baseball games, they substituted cardboard milk cartons for [[baseball glove|gloves]] and tree branches for [[baseball bat|bats]],<ref name=usa>{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/soac/2006-10-09-rivera_x.htm|title=Yanks' Rivera continues to learn|author=Antonen, Mel|website=[[USA Today]]|date=October 9, 2006|access-date=March 4, 2013|archive-date=November 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102153846/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/soac/2006-10-09-rivera_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and they fashioned balls by taping wads of shredded fishing nets.<ref name="early">{{cite magazine|last=Bamberger|first=Michael|date=March 24, 1997|title=Strikeouts by the Boatload|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1997/03/24/strikeouts-by-the-boatload-coolheaded-mariano-rivera-is-ready-to-bring-the-heat-as-the-new-closer-for-the-yankees|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|volume=86|issue=12|pages=50–53|access-date=March 17, 2021|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308121113/https://vault.si.com/vault/1997/03/24/strikeouts-by-the-boatload-coolheaded-mariano-rivera-is-ready-to-bring-the-heat-as-the-new-closer-for-the-yankees|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="humblegreatest">{{cite news|last=Red|first=Christian|date=March 14, 2010|title=Yankees' Humble Hero|at=Insert magazine, pp. 2–5, 12–15|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/modern-yankee-heroes-humble-beginnings-mariano-rivera-greatest-closer-mlb-history-article-1.163024|access-date=November 2, 2019|archive-date=June 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603120845/https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/modern-yankee-heroes-humble-beginnings-mariano-rivera-greatest-closer-mlb-history-article-1.163024|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera used this makeshift equipment until his father bought him his first leather glove when he was 12 years old.<ref name="glove">{{cite news|last=Hermoso|first=Rafael|date=August 31, 1998|title=Where Rivera goes for relief|page=64|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/rivera-relief-takes-hat-panama-article-1.821207|access-date=November 2, 2019|archive-date=June 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603122354/https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/rivera-relief-takes-hat-panama-article-1.821207|url-status=live}}</ref> Speaking about his youth, Rivera said that although he stayed out of trouble, he "was hanging with the wrong people".<ref name="inspire">{{cite web|last=O'Connor|first=Ian|author-link=Ian O'Connor|date=September 17, 2013|title=Mariano Rivera saves his best for last|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/9683717/new-york-yankees-how-mariano-rivera-inspired-team-strangers-need|access-date=November 2, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=October 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010060505/https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/9683717/new-york-yankees-how-mariano-rivera-inspired-team-strangers-need|url-status=live}}</ref>

Rivera attended Escuela Victoriano Chacón for elementary school and La Escuela Secundaria Pedro Pablo Sanchez for his secondary education,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2014/03/former_yankee_mariano_rivera_out_to_revive_thirst_for_baseball_in_panama.html|title=Rivera out to revive thirst for baseball in Panama|newspaper=[[The Star-Ledger]]|author=Castillo, Jorge|date=March 17, 2014|access-date=October 31, 2019|page=29|archive-date=June 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603120905/https://www.nj.com/yankees/2014/03/former_yankee_mariano_rivera_out_to_revive_thirst_for_baseball_in_panama.html|url-status=live}}</ref> but he dropped out in ninth grade.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.app.com/story/sports/mlb/yankees/2014/06/13/insights-rivera-enough-save-closer/10504557/|title='The Closer' lacks insight into Yankees|newspaper=[[Asbury Park Press]]|author=Frezza, Harry|date=June 14, 2014|access-date=April 6, 2018|page=C6|archive-date=January 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127110025/https://www.app.com/story/sports/mlb/yankees/2014/06/13/insights-rivera-enough-save-closer/10504557/|url-status=live}}</ref> At age 16, he began to learn the fishing trade by working on a commercial boat captained by his father, catching [[sardine]]s.<ref name=early/><ref name=humblegreatest/> Rivera, who worked six-day weeks, year round,<ref name="nydn-advance-hof">{{cite web|last=Red|first=Christian|date=January 19, 2019|title=Mariano Rivera, the humble son of a fisherman and the greatest closer in baseball history, set to join other Yankee legends in Cooperstown|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-sports-mariano-rivera-hall-advance-20190119-story.html|access-date=January 21, 2019|website=[[New York Daily News]]|archive-date=February 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204183255/https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-sports-mariano-rivera-hall-advance-20190119-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> called the job "extremely hard" and was more interested in becoming a [[mechanic]].<ref name=humblegreatest/> He spent three years learning the fishing trade,<ref name="nydn-advance-hof"/> saving the money he earned in hopes of opening an [[automobile repair shop]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/transcripts/310115780|title=With Faith And Focus, Mariano Rivera Became Baseball's 'Closer'|website=[[NPR]]|first=Melissa|last=Block|date=May 6, 2014|access-date=June 25, 2023|archive-date=June 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625202632/https://www.npr.org/transcripts/310115780|url-status=live}}</ref> Two incidents on his father's boat validated his doubts about fishing as a career. In 1988, Rivera's uncle Miguel was lashed by an unsecured rope that shot off a hydraulic mechanism, and a month later he died from his injuries.<ref name="wapo-boat">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/01/23/help-miguel-is-hurt-mariano-rivera-overcame-sardine-boat-tragedy-become-baseballs-first-unanimous-hall-famer/|title='Help! Miguel is hurt!': Baseball's first unanimous Hall of Famer overcame a sardine-boat tragedy|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|author=Bella, Timothy|date=January 23, 2019|access-date=February 5, 2019|archive-date=February 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190205043314/https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/01/23/help-miguel-is-hurt-mariano-rivera-overcame-sardine-boat-tragedy-become-baseballs-first-unanimous-hall-famer/|url-status=live}}</ref> About a year later, at age 19, Rivera was forced to abandon his father's ship after it began [[Shipwrecking|capsizing]] due to a malfunctioning water pump and an overweight load of fish.<ref name=usa/><ref name="wapo-boat"/>

Rivera continued to play sports during his teenage years but eventually quit soccer around age 17 after a series of ankle and knee injuries. Consequently, he shifted his attention to baseball, though he considered it a hobby rather than a potential profession.<ref name=early/><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Gere|first=Richard|author-link=Richard Gere|date=April–May 2012|title=Here's the Pitch...|url=https://digital.greengale.com/i/61753-2012-issue-3-april-may/97|url-status=live|magazine=[[Gotham (magazine)|Gotham]]|issue=3|pages=96–101|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052120/http://gotham-magazine.com/richard-gere-interviews-yankees-star-mariano-rivera-on-retirement-rumors-and-life-off-the-field|archive-date=March 4, 2016|access-date=August 15, 2015}}</ref> At age 18, Rivera joined the [[Panamá Oeste Province|Panamá Oeste]] Vaqueros, a local amateur baseball team, as a [[utility player]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Randy|date=January 23, 2019|title=Yankees' Mariano Rivera's road to Hall of Fame: From commercial fisherman to Cooperstown|page=A1, A5|newspaper=[[The Star-Ledger]]|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2019/01/yankees-mariano-riveras-road-to-the-hall-of-fame-from-commercial-fisherman-to-cooperstown.html|access-date=February 4, 2019|archive-date=February 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207020541/https://www.nj.com/yankees/2019/01/yankees-mariano-riveras-road-to-the-hall-of-fame-from-commercial-fisherman-to-cooperstown.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Rivera|first1=Mariano|last2=Coffey|first2=Wayne|date=May 7, 2014|title=The Sandman Enters|pages=50–51|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/sandman-enters-rivera-recalls-humble-start-career-autobiography-article-1.1782329|access-date=February 4, 2019|archive-date=February 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207015644/https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/sandman-enters-rivera-recalls-humble-start-career-autobiography-article-1.1782329|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Scout (sport)|Scout]] Herb Raybourn watched him play [[shortstop]] in a 1988 baseball tournament but did not project him to be a major leaguer.<ref name="humblest">{{cite web|date=September 27, 2013|title=From humble start, Rivera closes as baseball great|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=9732253|access-date=May 14, 2017|website=[[ESPN.com]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|archive-date=November 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112021855/http://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=9732253|url-status=live}}</ref> A year later,<ref name=s4/> Panamá Oeste's [[pitcher]] performed so poorly in a playoff game that Rivera was asked to replace him, and despite no experience at the position, he pitched well.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/speed-read-highlights-from-mariano-riveras-memoir-the-closer|title=Speed Read: Highlights From Mariano Rivera's Memoir, 'The Closer'|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|author=Teitelbaum, Ben|date=May 15, 2014|access-date=April 6, 2018|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308133206/https://www.thedailybeast.com/speed-read-highlights-from-mariano-riveras-memoir-the-closer|url-status=live}}</ref> Teammates Claudino Hernández and Emilio Gáez consequently contacted Chico Heron, a scout for the [[New York Yankees]]. Two weeks after his pitching debut, Rivera was invited to a Yankees tryout camp run by Heron in Panama City.<ref name=s4/> Raybourn, who had returned to Panama to scout as the Yankees' director of Latin American operations, received a tip about Rivera. Raybourn was surprised to hear he had switched positions but decided to watch him throw.<ref name=humblest/> Although Rivera had no formal pitching training, weighed just {{convert|155|lb|0}}, and threw only {{convert|85|-|87|mph|0|abbr=off|sp=us}}, Raybourn was impressed by his athleticism and smooth, effortless pitching motion.<ref name=s4/> Viewing Rivera as a raw talent, Raybourn signed the [[Amateur sports|amateur]] [[free agent]] to a contract with the Yankees organization on February 17, 1990;<ref name=s4/> the contract included a [[signing bonus]] of US$2,500 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|2500|1990|r=0}}}} today), according to [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) records.<ref name=humblest/>

==Professional baseball career==

===Minor leagues (1990–1995)===
After signing his contract, Rivera—who spoke no English and had never left home before—flew to the United States and reported to the [[Gulf Coast League]] (GCL) [[Gulf Coast League Yankees|Yankees]], a [[Rookie League|Rookie]] level [[Minor League Baseball|minor-league]] affiliate of the New York Yankees.<ref name=early/> Feeling lonely and homesick, he wrote home to his parents often, as they did not have access to telephones in Puerto Caimito.<ref name=glove/> At that point in his career, scouts considered Rivera to be a "fringe [[Prospect (sports)|prospect]]" at best,<ref>Sherman (2006), p. 7</ref> but he made progress with a strong 1990 season for the GCL Yankees. Pitching mostly in [[relief pitcher|relief]], he allowed only 24&nbsp;[[Baserunning#Becoming a runner|baserunners]] and one [[earned run]] in 52&nbsp;[[innings pitched]]—a 0.17&nbsp;[[earned run average]] (ERA).<ref name=minors>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=rivera002mar|title=Mariano Rivera Minor League Statistics & History|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=March 10, 2017|archive-date=March 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312044852/http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=rivera002mar|url-status=live}}</ref> The team permitted Rivera to [[Starting pitcher|start]] the season's final game in order for him to accumulate enough innings pitched to qualify for the league's ERA title (which carried a $500 bonus); his subsequent seven-[[inning]] [[no-hitter]] "put him on the map with the organization", according to [[Manager (baseball)|manager]] [[Glenn Sherlock]].<ref>Sherman (2006), pp. 68–69</ref> In the offseason, Rivera returned to Panama and tipped Raybourn off about a promising local player, Rivera's 16-year-old cousin [[Rubén Rivera|Rubén]], whom the Yankees consequently signed.<ref name=s4/> 

In 1991, Mariano was promoted to the [[Class A (baseball)|Class A]] level [[Greensboro Grasshoppers|Greensboro Hornets]] of the [[South Atlantic League]], where he started 15 of the 29 games in which he pitched. Despite a 4–9&nbsp;[[Win–loss record (pitching)|win–loss record]], he recorded a 2.75&nbsp;ERA in {{frac|114|2|3}}&nbsp;innings pitched and [[strikeout|struck out]] 123&nbsp;[[batting (baseball)|batters]] while [[base on balls|walking]] 36&nbsp;batters.<ref name=minors/> New York Yankees manager [[Buck Showalter]] took notice of Rivera's strong [[strikeout-to-walk ratio]], calling it "impressive in any league" and saying, "This guy is going to make it."<ref>Sherman (2006), pp. 13–14</ref> A minor-league scout for the [[Cincinnati Reds]] filed a report that season about Rivera that said: "long arms w/ slender strong body, loose actions...will challenge in velocity...maturity is a question, consistency is a question...consistency will need to be maintained to improve and advance."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2019/3/4/18249155/cincinnati-reds-scouting-report-series-part-1-data-findings|title=We Got Our Hands on 73,000 Never-Before-Seen MLB Scouting Reports. Here's What We Learned.|website=[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]|author1=Lindbergh, Ben|author2=Arthur, Rob|date=March 4, 2019|access-date=August 18, 2019|archive-date=August 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190817164321/https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2019/3/4/18249155/cincinnati-reds-scouting-report-series-part-1-data-findings|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1992, Rivera was promoted to the [[Class A-Advanced]] level [[Fort Lauderdale Yankees]] of the [[Florida State League]] (FSL), but he missed the first third of the season with elbow stiffness.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mariano-rivera-hall-of-fame-retrospective/|title=Mariano Rivera: Before He Was A Hall Of Famer|website=[[Baseball America]]|author=BA Staff|date=January 21, 2019|access-date=April 6, 2019|archive-date=April 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406051910/https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mariano-rivera-hall-of-fame-retrospective/|url-status=live}}</ref> He started ten games for Fort Lauderdale,<ref name=minors/> compiling a 5–3&nbsp;win–loss record and a 2.28&nbsp;ERA, while walking only five batters in {{frac|59|1|3}}&nbsp;innings pitched.<ref name="armmuscle">{{cite news|last=O'Connell|first=Jack|date=September 6, 1992|title=Yankees develop some arm muscle|page=D7|newspaper=[[Hartford Courant]]|url=https://www.courant.com/1992/09/06/yankees-develop-some-arm-muscle/|access-date=June 7, 2023|archive-date=June 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620173152/https://www.courant.com/1992/09/06/yankees-develop-some-arm-muscle/|url-status=live}}</ref> Ultimately, Rivera was sidelined again after suffering [[Ulnar collateral ligament injury of the elbow|damage]] to the [[Ulnar collateral ligament of elbow joint|ulnar collateral ligament]] (UCL) in his right elbow.<ref name="si-ucl">{{cite magazine|last=Corcoran|first=Cliff|date=March 7, 2014|title=Thanks, Frank Jobe: The five best post-Tommy John surgery careers for pitchers|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2014/03/07/best-pitchers-after-tommy-john-surgery-frank-jobe|access-date=March 17, 2021|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308125823/https://www.si.com/mlb/2014/03/07/best-pitchers-after-tommy-john-surgery-frank-jobe|url-status=live}}</ref> The injury was attributed to him snapping his wrist during his throwing motion in an attempt to improve the movement of his [[Slider (baseball)|slider]].<ref name=s17>Sherman (2006), pp. 17–18</ref> Rivera underwent elbow surgery on August&nbsp;27, 1992,<ref name="si-ucl"/> leading to concerns that he would be out through the 1993 season.<ref name="armmuscle"/> Contrary to popular belief, the operation was not [[Tommy John surgery]]; Rivera's surgeon, [[Frank Jobe]], determined that ligament replacement was not necessary and instead repaired the frayed UCL.<ref>{{cite news|last=Harper|first=John|date=June 30, 2009|title=Rich History Behind Mo's 500|pages=42–43|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/start-mariano-rivera-yankee-career-gene-michael-traded-article-1.379086|access-date=November 2, 2019|archive-date=September 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930111958/https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/start-mariano-rivera-yankee-career-gene-michael-traded-article-1.379086|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera was left unprotected by the Yankees in [[1992 Major League Baseball expansion draft|MLB's 1992 expansion draft]], which filled the rosters for two [[expansion team]]s, the [[Florida Marlins]] and [[Colorado Rockies]].<ref name="42things"/> At one point in the draft, Marlins [[General manager (baseball)|general manager]] [[Dave Dombrowski]] was planning to select Rivera with his next pick, but after the Rockies chose Yankee [[Brad Ausmus]], the Yankees were shielded from losing any more players; Rivera went undrafted.<ref>{{cite web|last=Laurila|first=David|date=August 14, 2016|title=Sunday Notes: Saber Seminar, Yelich, Shipley, Hooton, Aardsma, more|url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/sunday-notes-saber-seminar-yelich-shipley-hooton-aardsma-more/|access-date=August 31, 2019|website=[[Fangraphs]]|archive-date=August 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831235306/https://blogs.fangraphs.com/sunday-notes-saber-seminar-yelich-shipley-hooton-aardsma-more/|url-status=live}}</ref>

During Rivera's rehabilitation, he played [[Catch (game)|catch]] with former Yankees pitchers [[Whitey Ford]] and [[Ron Guidry]], and faced [[batting practice]] from his first minor-league [[pitching coach]], former pitcher [[Hoyt Wilhelm]].<ref name=s17/> After recuperating, Rivera pitched an abbreviated 1993 season for the Rookie-level Yankees and Class A Greensboro, during which he was kept on a limited [[pitch count]].<ref name="1993journalnews">{{cite news|title=Showalter says Howe must pitch|newspaper=[[The Journal News]]|author=Corbett, Jim|date=February 22, 1994|page=D7}}</ref> Hornets shortstop [[Derek Jeter]], who would later be Rivera's teammate in the major leagues, tracked his pitch count during games.<ref name="post-journey">{{cite news|last=Sherman|first=Joel|date=April 1, 2012|title=From Nowhere to Immortality: Mariano Rivera's Unbelievable Journey|page=5|newspaper=[[New York Post]]|url=https://nypost.com/2012/04/02/yankees-closer-rivera-took-unbelievable-journey/|access-date=April 6, 2019|archive-date=April 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406230929/https://nypost.com/2012/04/02/yankees-closer-rivera-took-unbelievable-journey/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 12 starts, Rivera recorded a 2.08&nbsp;ERA,<ref name="1993journalnews"/> walking 16 batters in {{frac|43|1|3}}&nbsp;innings pitched.<ref name=minors/> Watching him recover, the Hornets' [[official scorer]] Ogi Overman was not optimistic about Rivera's future, saying, "I thought [he] was on a one-way trip to nowhere."<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Connor|first=Ian|date=September 14, 2011|title=From obscurity to history, only one Mo|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/story/_/id/6971651/new-york-yankees-mariano-rivera-poise-grace-pressure-unrivaled|access-date=November 2, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=November 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127022639/http://www.espn.com/new-york/story/_/id/6971651/new-york-yankees-mariano-rivera-poise-grace-pressure-unrivaled|url-status=live}}</ref>

Rivera began the 1994 season with the Class A-Advanced level [[Tampa Tarpons|Tampa Yankees]] of the FSL. In June, he was promoted to the [[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] level [[Richmond Flying Squirrels|Albany-Colonie Yankees]] of the [[Eastern League (1938–2020)|Eastern League]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Kaspriske|first=Ron|date=June 14, 1994|title=Yankees lead league in all-star picks|at=sec. Brandon/South Bay, p. 6|newspaper=[[The Tampa Tribune]]}}</ref> followed by a promotion to the [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] level [[Columbus Clippers]] of the [[International League]] in July.<ref name="levin23">Levin (2008), pp. 23–26</ref> Rivera finished his season with a 10–2&nbsp;record and a 3.09&nbsp;ERA overall,<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Connell|first=Jack|date=April 11, 1995|title=Making a pitch for Johnson|pages=C1–C2|newspaper=[[Hartford Courant]]|url=https://www.courant.com/1995/04/11/making-a-pitch-for-johnson-2/|access-date=June 7, 2023|archive-date=June 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620173152/https://www.courant.com/1995/04/11/making-a-pitch-for-johnson-2/|url-status=live}}</ref> but he struggled in Columbus, recording a 5.81&nbsp;ERA in six starts.<ref name="levin23"/> At the start of the 1995 season, he was ranked the ninth-best prospect in the Yankees organization by sports magazine ''[[Baseball America]]'';<ref name=s18>Sherman (2006), pp. 18–19</ref> by contrast, Rivera's highly touted cousin Rubén was ranked the second-best prospect in the entire sport.<ref>{{cite web|last=Heyman|first=Jon|author-link=Jon Heyman|date=March 7, 2013|title=Mariano: Great stats, greater story add up to the greatest ever|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mariano-great-stats-greater-story-add-up-to-the-greatest-ever/|access-date=April 6, 2018|website=[[CBS Sports]]|archive-date=April 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407120023/https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mariano-great-stats-greater-story-add-up-to-the-greatest-ever/|url-status=live}}</ref> Mariano's pitching repertoire primarily consisted of [[fastball]]s at the time, with a slider and [[changeup]] as secondary pitches.<ref name="s17"/> He began the 1995 season with Columbus, pitching to a 1–1&nbsp;record and a 1.50&nbsp;ERA in four starts.<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Connell|first=Jack|date=May 21, 1995|title=Key's shoulder needs a break|page=B5|newspaper=[[Hartford Courant]]|url=https://www.courant.com/1995/05/21/keys-shoulder-needs-a-break-2/|access-date=June 7, 2023|archive-date=June 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620173153/https://www.courant.com/1995/05/21/keys-shoulder-needs-a-break-2/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Major leagues (1995–2013)===

====1995–1997====
[[File:Core Four on Bernie Williams Day 2015.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|alt=Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, and Derek Jeter dressed in suits and seated in chairs on a baseball field.|Rivera with his fellow [[Core Four]] teammates in 2015 (from left to right: [[Andy Pettitte]], [[Jorge Posada]], Rivera, and [[Derek Jeter]]). All four made their major league debuts for the Yankees in 1995.]]
After being called up to the major leagues on May 16, 1995,<ref>{{cite news|date=July 5, 1995|title=Rivera Comes Up Big As Yankees Drop Sox|page=D4|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1995/07/05/rivera-comes-up-big-as-yankees-drop-sox/d6f66eab-d7a7-498e-a165-8cde066e58f1/|access-date=July 15, 2021|archive-date=April 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419235250/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1995/07/05/rivera-comes-up-big-as-yankees-drop-sox/d6f66eab-d7a7-498e-a165-8cde066e58f1/|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera made his debut for the New York Yankees on May 23 against the [[California Angels]].<ref name="42things"/> Starting in place of injured pitcher [[Jimmy Key]],<ref name=eck/> Rivera allowed five earned runs in {{frac|3|1|3}}&nbsp;innings pitched in a 10–0 loss.<ref name="42things"/> He struggled through his first four major league starts, posting a 10.20&nbsp;ERA, and as a result, he was demoted to Columbus on June 11.<ref name="42things"/> As a 25-year-old rookie just three years removed from major arm surgery, Rivera did not have a guaranteed spot in the Yankee organization. Management considered [[Trade (sports)|trading]] him to the [[Detroit Tigers]] for starter [[David Wells]].<ref name="conf">{{cite magazine|last=Olney|first=Buster|author-link=Buster Olney|date=June 18, 2004|title=The Confidence Man: Inside the mind of baseball's greatest closer, Mariano Rivera.|url=http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/sports/features/9375/|magazine=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|volume=37|issue=23|pages=46–50+|access-date=May 18, 2008|archive-date=February 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225204017/http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/sports/features/9375/|url-status=live}}</ref> While recovering from a sore shoulder in the minor leagues, Rivera pitched a no-hit [[Shutouts in baseball|shutout]] in a [[Rainout (sports)#Baseball|rain-shortened]] five-inning start on June 26.<ref>{{cite news|title=Start of Something Big? A major boost|newspaper=[[The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]]|author=Hertzel, Bob|date=July 5, 1995|pages=S-1, S-5}}</ref> Reports from the game indicated that his pitches had reached {{convert|95|–|96|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, about {{convert|6|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} faster than his previous average velocity; Rivera attributes his inexplicable improvement to [[God in Christianity|God]]. Yankees general manager [[Gene Michael]] was skeptical of the reports until verifying that Columbus' [[radar gun]] was not faulty and that another team's scout had taken the same measurements. Afterwards, he ended any trade negotiations involving Rivera.<ref name=s18/> On July 4, in his first start back in the major leagues, Rivera pitched eight scoreless innings against the [[Chicago White Sox]], allowing just two [[Hit (baseball)|hits]] while striking out 11 batters.<ref name="8ip-cws">{{cite web|last=Vitale|first=Josh|date=August 21, 2013|title=With all of Mo's saves, one start stands out|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/c-57619864/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406230042/https://www.mlb.com/news/c-57619864/|archive-date=April 6, 2018|access-date=April 6, 2018|website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> In five subsequent starts, he was unable to match his success from that game.<ref name="8ip-cws"/> After a brief demotion to Columbus in August, Rivera made one last start in the major leagues in September before he was moved to the Yankees' [[bullpen]].<ref name=s18/> Overall, he finished his first major league season with a 5–3&nbsp;record and a 5.51&nbsp;ERA in ten starts and nine relief outings.<ref name="espn">{{cite web|title=Mariano Rivera Stats|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/_/id/3240/|access-date=May 14, 2017|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=November 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112074005/http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/_/id/3240/|url-status=live}}</ref> His performance in the [[1995 American League Division Series|American League Division Series]] against the [[Seattle Mariners]], in which he pitched {{frac|5|1|3}}&nbsp;scoreless innings of relief, convinced Yankees management to keep him and convert him to a relief pitcher the following season.<ref name="king">{{cite magazine|last=Traub|first=James|date=July 4, 2010|title=The Closer|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/04/magazine/04Rivera-t.html|magazine=[[The New York Times Magazine]]|pages=28+|access-date=February 4, 2020|archive-date=January 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122140455/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/04/magazine/04Rivera-t.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Quote box|quote="He needs to pitch in a higher league, if there is one. Ban him from baseball. He should be illegal."|source=—[[Tom Kelly (baseball)|Tom Kelly]], manager of the [[Minnesota Twins]], after his team faced Rivera in April 1996<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/04/29/sports/baseball-rivera-completes-no-hitter-in-victory.html|title=Rivera Completes 'No-Hitter' In Victory|newspaper=The New York Times|author=Smith, Claire|date=April 29, 1996|access-date=June 29, 2009|edition=National|at=sec. C, p. 1|archive-date=November 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113024239/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/04/29/sports/baseball-rivera-completes-no-hitter-in-victory.html|url-status=live}}</ref>|width=20em|align=left|style=padding:8px;}}

Rivera was nearly traded prior to the 1996 season to address the Yankees' depleted depth at the shortstop position. [[List of New York Yankees owners and executives|Owner]] [[George Steinbrenner]] considered an offer to send Rivera to the Mariners in exchange for shortstop [[Félix Fermín]], but Yankees management convinced Steinbrenner to instead entrust the position to rookie Derek Jeter.<ref>{{cite web|last=Boland|first=Erik|date=March 9, 2013|title=Derek Jeter's struggles in 1996 spring training almost cost the Yankees Mariano Rivera|url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/derek-jeter-s-struggles-in-1996-spring-training-almost-cost-the-yankees-mariano-rivera-1.4785362|access-date=September 5, 2019|website=[[Newsday]]|archive-date=September 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905221104/https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/derek-jeter-s-struggles-in-1996-spring-training-almost-cost-the-yankees-mariano-rivera-1.4785362|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1996, Rivera served primarily as a [[setup pitcher]], typically pitching in the seventh and eighth innings of games before [[closer (baseball)|closer]] [[John Wetteland]] pitched in the ninth.<ref name=usa/> Their effectiveness as a tandem helped the Yankees win 70 of 73&nbsp;games that season when leading after six innings.<ref>Zimniuch (2010), pp. 219, 221</ref> Over a stretch of games between April 19 and May 21, Rivera pitched 26&nbsp;consecutive scoreless innings,<ref>{{cite news|title=Yankee Dates to Remember|newspaper=The Record|author=Dottino, Paul|date=October 19, 1996|page=WS-16}}</ref> including 15&nbsp;consecutive hitless innings.<ref>{{cite news|title=Guillen's Presence Still Means a Lot to Bevington|newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|author=Goddard, Joe|date=May 6, 1996|page=85}}</ref> During the streak, he recorded his first career [[save (baseball)|save]] in a May 17 game against the Angels.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ehalt|first=Matt|date=September 17, 2011|title=Rivera's first save a mystery|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/23640/riveras-first-save-a-mystery|access-date=November 2, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=April 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417183601/http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/23640/riveras-first-save-a-mystery|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera finished the regular season with a 2.09&nbsp;ERA in {{frac|107|2|3}}&nbsp;innings pitched and set a Yankees single-season record for strikeouts by a reliever (130).<ref name=early/> [[Baseball-Reference.com]] calculated his value to the Yankees that year to be 5.0 [[wins above replacement]] (WAR), a figure no reliever has surpassed in a single season since.<ref name="fangraphs-jaffe">{{cite web|last=Jaffe|first=Jay|date=November 26, 2018|title=JAWS and the 2019 Hall of Fame Ballot: Mariano Rivera|url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/jaws-and-the-2019-hall-of-fame-ballot-mariano-rivera/|access-date=January 18, 2019|website=[[Fangraphs]]|archive-date=January 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121011/https://blogs.fangraphs.com/jaws-and-the-2019-hall-of-fame-ballot-mariano-rivera/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[Major League Baseball postseason|postseason]], he allowed just one earned run in {{frac|14|1|3}}&nbsp;innings pitched,<ref name=ps-stats/> helping the Yankees advance to and win the [[1996 World Series]] against the [[Atlanta Braves]].<ref name="96ws">{{cite news|last=Curry|first=Jack|date=October 27, 1996|title=A Return to Glory|edition=National|at=sec. 8, p. 1|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/27/sports/a-return-to-glory.html|access-date=June 26, 2013|archive-date=October 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005002752/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/27/sports/a-return-to-glory.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It was the franchise's first [[World Series]] championship since 1978.<ref name="96ws"/> In MLB's annual awards voting by the [[Baseball Writers' Association of America]] (BBWAA), Rivera finished in twelfth place for the [[American League]] (AL) [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award]] and third for the AL [[Cy Young Award]], which is given to the league's best pitcher.<ref name="96cy">{{cite web|title=1996 Awards Voting|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1996.shtml|access-date=March 28, 2011|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|archive-date=April 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424124122/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1996.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Commentator and former player [[Tim McCarver]] said that the Yankees "revolutionized baseball" that year with Rivera, calling him "a middle reliever who should have been on the All-Star team and who was a legitimate MVP candidate".<ref>Zimniuch (2010), p. 221</ref>

[[File:Mariano-Rivera-at-autograph-signing-in-1997.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Rivera in 1997]]
Yankees management decided not to re-sign Wetteland in the offseason, opting instead to replace him with Rivera as the team's closer.<ref name=usa/> In April 1997, MLB [[List of Major League Baseball retired numbers|retired]] the uniform number 42 league-wide to honor the 50th anniversary of [[Jackie Robinson]] breaking the [[baseball color line]], although Rivera was among 13 players allowed to keep the number per a [[grandfather clause]].<ref name="jr42">{{cite news|last=Belson|first=Ken|date=March 14, 2013|title=Rivera Is Taking Robinson's 42 To Its Last Stop|edition=New York|at=sec. B, p. 13|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/14/sports/baseball/mariano-rivera-carries-banner-for-final-42s-and-for-jackie-robinson.html|access-date=October 9, 2019|archive-date=October 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009183747/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/14/sports/baseball/mariano-rivera-carries-banner-for-final-42s-and-for-jackie-robinson.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera's transition from setup man to closer in 1997 was not seamless; he [[Glossary of baseball terms#blown save|blew]] three of his first six [[Save (baseball)#Usage|save opportunities]] and indicated that he was initially uncomfortable in the role.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Wette 'n' Wild|magazine=[[The Sporting News]]|author=Marantz, Steve|date=May 19, 1997|volume=221|issue=20|pages=24+}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Michaux|first=Scott|date=October 10, 2008|title=Waynesboro native steps into spotlight|url=http://www.augustachronicle.com/stories/2008/10/10/mic_478975.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006001758/http://www.augustachronicle.com/stories/2008/10/10/mic_478975.shtml|archive-date=October 6, 2018|access-date=April 6, 2018|website=[[Augusta Chronicle]]}}</ref> With reassurance from manager [[Joe Torre]], Rivera settled into the ninth-inning role,<ref name=usa/> and he earned his first [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] selection with 27&nbsp;saves and a 1.96&nbsp;ERA at the midseason break.<ref name="97asg">{{cite web|last=Kruth|first=Cash|date=August 28, 2013|title=First All-Star save was easy as 1–2–3 for Mariano|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/42-days-of-mo-first-all-star-outing-easy-as-1-2-3-for-mariano-rivera/c-58682172|access-date=April 6, 2018|website=[[MLB.com]]|archive-date=April 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407182604/https://www.mlb.com/news/42-days-of-mo-first-all-star-outing-easy-as-1-2-3-for-mariano-rivera/c-58682172|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[1997 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1997 All-Star Game]], he pitched a perfect ninth inning to collect his first save in an All-Star Game.<ref name=97asg/> That summer, he added a [[cut fastball]] to his pitching repertoire after accidentally discovering how to throw the pitch.<ref name="mosv">{{cite magazine|last=Verducci|first=Tom|author-link=Tom Verducci|date=October 5, 2009|title=Mariano Saves|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/2009/10/05/mariano-saves|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|volume=111|issue=13|pages=44–50|access-date=March 17, 2021|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308143252/https://vault.si.com/vault/2009/10/05/mariano-saves|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera finished the regular season with 43&nbsp;saves in 52&nbsp;opportunities and a 1.88&nbsp;ERA.<ref name=brpro/> His first year as closer ended with a blown save in Game 4 of the [[1997 American League Division Series|AL Division Series]] against the [[Cleveland Indians]]; with the Yankees four [[out (baseball)|outs]] from advancing to the next round of the postseason, Rivera allowed a game-tying home run to [[Sandy Alomar Jr.]] The Yankees eventually lost the game as well as the next one, eliminating them from the postseason.<ref name=conf/>

====1998–2001====
Rivera spent two weeks on the disabled list with a groin [[strain (injury)|strain]] during the opening month of the 1998 season,<ref>{{cite news|last=Olney|first=Buster|date=April 24, 1998|title=All Seems Normal, For Now, In Bronx|edition=National|page=C1|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/24/sports/baseball-all-seems-normal-for-now-in-bronx.html|access-date=July 11, 2013|archive-date=October 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002232705/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/24/sports/baseball-all-seems-normal-for-now-in-bronx.html|url-status=live}}</ref> but following his return, he continued to establish himself as one of the major leagues' best closers. Moreover, he became the central figure of a Yankees bullpen that, supported by [[Middle relief pitcher|middle relievers]] [[Jeff Nelson (pitcher)|Jeff Nelson]] and [[Mike Stanton (left-handed pitcher)|Mike Stanton]], contributed to the team's late-1990s [[dynasty (sports)|dynasty]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Sherman|first=Joel|date=October 23, 2000|title=Bullpens Hold Key to Series Success&nbsp;– Solid Relief Corps Make Bombers Tough to Beat|url=https://nypost.com/2000/10/23/bullpens-hold-key-to-series-success-solid-relief-corps-make-bombers-tough-to-beat/|access-date=October 23, 2013|website=[[New York Post]]|archive-date=December 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202221825/http://nypost.com/2000/10/23/bullpens-hold-key-to-series-success-solid-relief-corps-make-bombers-tough-to-beat/|url-status=live}}</ref> That year, Rivera made the cutter one of his primary pitches, and it quickly became his signature, earning a reputation for breaking hitters' bats with its sharp lateral movement.<ref name="formality">{{cite news|last=Olney|first=Buster|date=October 20, 2001|title=Rivera Makes Finishing A Formality|edition=National|pages=S1, S4|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/20/sports/on-baseball-rivera-makes-finishing-a-formality.html|access-date=April 12, 2012|archive-date=October 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002220613/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/20/sports/on-baseball-rivera-makes-finishing-a-formality.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="cutter98"/> He saved 36&nbsp;games in 41&nbsp;opportunities and had a 1.91&nbsp;ERA in the regular season.<ref name=espn/> In the 1998 postseason, he pitched {{frac|13|1|3}}&nbsp;scoreless innings and saved six games,<ref name=ps-stats/> three of which came in the [[1998 World Series]] against the [[San Diego Padres]]. Rivera's save in Game 4 of the series clinched the Yankees' championship, capping off a season in which they won an MLB-record 125&nbsp;games combined in the regular season and the postseason.<ref name="98ws">{{cite news|title=A Bronx cheer: Yanks sweep Padres, win record 24th World Series|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Van Dyck, Dave|date=October 22, 1998|page=128}}</ref> By season's end, Rivera had allowed only two earned runs in 35 career postseason innings pitched—a 0.51&nbsp;ERA—and by surpassing 30&nbsp;innings pitched, he qualified for the major league record for lowest postseason career ERA;<ref>{{cite news|last=Botte|first=Peter|date=March 21, 1999|title=Spring in Mariano's step|page=88|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/spring-mariano-step-article-1.833999|access-date=November 2, 2019|archive-date=November 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112021447/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/spring-mariano-step-article-1.833999|url-status=live}}</ref> it is a record he still holds after 141&nbsp;innings pitched.<ref name="ps-stats">{{cite web|title=Mariano Rivera Stats, Fantasy, and News: Stats&nbsp;– MLB Postseason Cumulative|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/mariano-rivera-121250?stats=career-p-pitching-mlb&year=2019|access-date=October 31, 2019|website=[[MLB.com]]|archive-date=October 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029115725/https://www.mlb.com/player/mariano-rivera-121250?stats=career-p-pitching-mlb&year=2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=ps-rec/>

[[File:Mariano Rivera in Yankee dugout on Sep 25 1999.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.7|alt=A headshot of Mariano Rivera smiling while wearing a midnight blue baseball cap and baseball jersey in front of a concrete backdrop.|Rivera in September 1999]]
In his [[salary arbitration]] case during the offseason, Rivera was [[arbitration award|awarded]] a $4.25&nbsp;million salary,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=American League|magazine=The Sporting News|author=Heyman, Jon|date=March 1, 1999|volume=223|issue=9|pages=52+}}</ref> a raise from the $750,000 he was previously earning.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Schmuck|first=Peter|author-link=Peter Schmuck|date=March 16, 1998|title=Indians' G.M. has to make one of his trademark trades|magazine=[[The Sporting News]]|volume=222|issue=11|pages=20+}}</ref> In 1999, Rivera was selected for the All-Star team for a second time with 23&nbsp;saves and a 2.29&nbsp;ERA in the first half of the season.<ref name=brpro/><ref name="99splits">{{cite web|title=Mariano Rivera 1999 Pitching Splits|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=riverma01&year=1999&t=p|access-date=March 10, 2017|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|archive-date=March 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312053813/http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=riverma01&year=1999&t=p|url-status=live}}</ref> That summer, the [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]] scoreboard production staff began playing the song "[[Enter Sandman]]" by [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Metallica]] as Rivera's [[entrance music]]. Staff members selected the song after witnessing in the previous year's World Series how enthusiastically San Diego fans reacted to closer [[Trevor Hoffman]] entering games accompanied by [[AC/DC]]'s "[[Hells Bells (song)|Hells Bells]]". Although Rivera was indifferent to his entrance song and personally listened to [[Christian music]], "Enter Sandman" soon became as much a part of his closer identity as his cutter.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=September 15, 2011|title=Cue the 'Sandman': Mariano, song synonymous|url=https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mariano-rivera-synonymous-with-enter-sandman-c303010648|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112175614/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/24568646/|archive-date=November 12, 2014|access-date=September 21, 2019|website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> After recording three blown saves and a 7.84&nbsp;ERA in July, he allowed just one earned run over his last 30&nbsp;[[games pitched|appearances]].<ref name=99splits/><ref>{{cite web|title=Mariano Rivera 1999 Pitching Gamelogs|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=riverma01&t=p&year=1999|access-date=March 10, 2017|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|archive-date=March 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312055325/http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=riverma01&t=p&year=1999|url-status=live}}</ref> He ended the season with a 1.83&nbsp;ERA and 45&nbsp;saves in 49&nbsp;opportunities, his first time [[List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders|leading the major leagues in saves]]. He received his first AL [[Rolaids Relief Man Award]], which was given annually to the league's best closer based on their statistics.<ref name=brpro/> In the [[1999 World Series]] against the Atlanta Braves, Rivera recorded a win and two saves, the second of which clinched the Yankees' championship title, his third overall. For his performance against Atlanta, he received the [[World Series Most Valuable Player Award|World Series MVP Award]].<ref name="toughbats">{{cite news|last=Olney|first=Buster|date=October 29, 1999|title=Movement on Rivera's Pitches Is Tough on Bats|edition=National|at=sec. D, p. 4|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/29/sports/baseball-world-champs-movement-on-rivera-s-pitches-is-tough-on-bats.html|access-date=April 12, 2010|archive-date=December 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219185525/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/29/sports/baseball-world-champs-movement-on-rivera-s-pitches-is-tough-on-bats.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera finished 1999 by pitching 43&nbsp;consecutive scoreless innings in the regular season and postseason combined,<ref name=toughbats/> and he placed third in voting for the AL Cy Young Award.<ref name="99cy">{{cite web|title=1999 Awards Voting|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1999.shtml#AL_CYA_voting::none|access-date=March 10, 2017|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|archive-date=April 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424130657/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1999.shtml#AL_CYA_voting::none|url-status=live}}</ref> After the season, he said that he intended to play four more seasons before retiring to become a [[Minister (Christianity)|minister]], though he backed off those plans the following year.<ref name="infallible">{{cite news|last=Curry|first=Jack|date=October 29, 2000|title=Closing Thoughts: Rivera Remains the Infallible One|edition=National|at=sec. A, p. 8|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/29/sports/baseball-subway-series-closing-thoughts-rivera-remains-the-infallible-one.html|access-date=September 6, 2011|archive-date=December 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219190756/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/29/sports/baseball-subway-series-closing-thoughts-rivera-remains-the-infallible-one.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:President George W Bush with the 2000 World Series Champion New York Yankees.jpg|thumb|Rivera ''(front, second from right)'' and Yankee teammates from the 2000 World Series champion team pose with US President [[George W. Bush]] during a [[White House]] visit]]
In the offseason, Rivera was denied a $9.25&nbsp;million salary in arbitration but was awarded $7.25&nbsp;million per year instead, which was at the time the highest arbitration award in baseball history.<ref>{{cite news|last=Olney|first=Buster|date=February 20, 2000|title=Rivera Loses Ruling on Salary, but Takes It in Stride|edition=National|at=sec. 8, p. 1|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/20/sports/baseball-rivera-loses-ruling-on-salary-but-takes-it-in-stride.html|access-date=May 12, 2009|archive-date=October 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005013144/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/20/sports/baseball-rivera-loses-ruling-on-salary-but-takes-it-in-stride.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the 2000 season, Rivera was selected as an All-Star with 21&nbsp;saves and a 2.95&nbsp;ERA in the first half.<ref>{{cite news|title=Around the Majors|newspaper=[[Herald and Review]]|agency=Associated Press|date=July 10, 2000|page=B2}}</ref> On July 8, he saved both games of a day-night [[doubleheader (baseball)|doubleheader]] against the [[New York Mets]], one at [[Shea Stadium]] and the other at Yankee Stadium.<ref>{{cite news|date=July 9, 2000|title=Long Day Benefits Yankees|at=sec. Sports, p. 7|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jul-09-sp-50238-story.html|access-date=November 2, 2019|archive-date=October 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023005523/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jul-09-sp-50238-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He ended the season with 36&nbsp;saves in 41&nbsp;opportunities and a 2.85&nbsp;ERA.<ref name=brpro/> In the postseason, Rivera saved six games, allowed three earned runs in {{frac|15|2|3}}&nbsp;innings pitched,<ref name=ps-stats/> and broke two major league records: he eclipsed [[Dennis Eckersley]]'s record for most postseason saves with the 16th of his career;<ref>{{cite news|last=Gloster|first=Rob|date=October 9, 2000|title=Not over the hill yet|page=C4|newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kBBZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=028DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4964%2C8953786|access-date=August 1, 2013|archive-date=February 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225222723/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kBBZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=028DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4964%2C8953786|url-status=live}}</ref> he also broke [[Whitey Ford]]'s record for most [[Scoreless innings streak#Postseason|consecutive scoreless innings pitched]] in postseason play, a streak that ended shortly thereafter at {{frac|33|1|3}}&nbsp;innings.<ref name=33ip/> In the [[2000 World Series]] against the Mets, Rivera clinched a championship for the Yankees for the third consecutive year, his fourth championship overall.<ref name=infallible/> His save in the decisive Game 6 was the seventh World Series save of his career, setting a new record.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/13-historic-moments-in-mariano-rivera-s-career-c302978786|title=13 moments that made Mo a legend in NYC|website=[[MLB.com]]|first=Mark|last=Feinsand|date=October 15, 2023|access-date=October 15, 2023|archive-date=December 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201170958/https://www.mlb.com/news/13-historic-moments-in-mariano-rivera-s-career-c302978786|url-status=live}}</ref> By that point in his career, Rivera had established a reputation as an exceptional postseason performer<ref name=conf/>—journalist [[Jack Curry]] called him the "infallible weapon" and "the greatest reason the Yankees [were] three-time champions".<ref name=infallible/>

<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Denbo Rivera 2001.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Rivera shakes Gary Denbo's hand wearing a white pinstriped baseball uniform with navy cap and undershirt.|Rivera ''(right)'' in 2001 after finishing a game]] -->
With Rivera's contract set to expire after 2001, the Yankees signed him to a four-year, $39.99&nbsp;million deal prior to the season, marking the first long-term contract of his career.<ref>{{cite web|last=Edes|first=Gordon|author-link=Gordon Edes|date=February 16, 2010|title=Jonathan Papelbon learns from best|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=edes_gordon&id=4919488|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729005208/http://www.espn.com/boston/mlb/columns/story?columnist=edes_gordon&id=4919488|archive-date=July 29, 2017|access-date=October 20, 2017|website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref> In 2001, he was selected for the All-Star team for a third consecutive year. His final numbers included a 2.34&nbsp;ERA, a closer career-high {{frac|80|2|3}}&nbsp;innings pitched, and an MLB-leading 50&nbsp;saves in 57&nbsp;opportunities—his second time leading the league.<ref name=brpro/> His saves total that year broke the Yankees' single-season record (46) set by [[Dave Righetti]] in 1986,<ref>{{cite news|last=Klapisch|first=Bob|author-link=Bob Klapisch|date=September 27, 2001|title=Yankees' Achilles' Heel|pages=S-1, S-5|newspaper=[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]}}</ref> and it made him just the sixth MLB pitcher to reach 50&nbsp;saves in a single season.<ref name="edes-nov01">{{cite news|last=Edes|first=Gordon|date=November 11, 2001|title=Rudy: A hero for this game's little guys? Closing remarks|page=D13|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]}}</ref> For his performance, Rivera earned his second AL Rolaids Relief Man Award and finished eleventh in voting for the AL MVP Award.<ref name="edes-nov01"/><ref>{{cite web|title=2001 Awards Voting|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2001.shtml|access-date=February 5, 2020|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|archive-date=February 10, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210032913/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2001.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite having what sportswriters deemed an "aura of invincibility" in the postseason,<ref>{{cite news|last=Schmuck|first=Peter|date=October 27, 2001|title=Carried By Their Arms|page=C1|newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2001-10-27-0110270385-story.html|access-date=November 2, 2019|archive-date=April 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419161314/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2001-10-27-0110270385-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera failed to close out the decisive Game 7 of the [[2001 World Series]] against the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]]. In one of his most infamous moments, he blew the save in the ninth inning, in part due to his own throwing [[error (baseball)|error]], and later lost the series for the Yankees by allowing a [[Glossary of baseball terms#blooper|bloop single]] to [[Luis Gonzalez (outfielder, born 1967)|Luis Gonzalez]] with the [[bases loaded]] to score the winning run.<ref name=usa/> It was the first and only loss of Rivera's postseason career,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mariano Rivera Postseason Pitching Gamelogs|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=riverma01&t=p&post=1|access-date=March 10, 2017|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|archive-date=March 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312045120/http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=riverma01&t=p&post=1|url-status=live}}</ref> and it snapped his record streak of 23&nbsp;consecutive postseason saves converted.<ref name=23sv/>

====2002–2005====
On May 9, 2002, Rivera recorded his 225th career save, surpassing Dave Righetti as the Yankees' franchise leader in saves.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kepner|first=Tyler|date=May 10, 2002|title=Rivera Sets a Yankee Record With His 225th Save, but Not Without a Scare|edition=National|at=sec. D, p. 8|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/10/sports/baseball-rivera-sets-a-yankee-record-with-his-225th-save-but-not-without-a-scare.html|access-date=October 2, 2013|archive-date=October 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004233030/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/10/sports/baseball-rivera-sets-a-yankee-record-with-his-225th-save-but-not-without-a-scare.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Over the next few months of the season, injuries limited his playing time. He was first placed on the disabled list in June due to a groin strain,<ref>{{cite news|last=Kepner|first=Tyler|date=August 20, 2002|title=Rivera Is Out With Injury For 3rd Time|edition=National|at=sec. D, p. 3|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/20/sports/baseball-rivera-is-out-with-injury-for-3rd-time.html|access-date=May 25, 2008|archive-date=October 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004220930/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/20/sports/baseball-rivera-is-out-with-injury-for-3rd-time.html|url-status=live}}</ref> though his first-half numbers, which included a 1.47&nbsp;ERA and 21&nbsp;saves,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mariano Rivera 2002 Pitching Splits|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=riverma01&year=2002&t=p|access-date=March 10, 2017|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|archive-date=March 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312055320/http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=riverma01&year=2002&t=p|url-status=live}}</ref> earned him an All-Star selection.<ref name=brpro/> In a game on July 14, Rivera endured one of his worst outings, allowing six earned runs, including a [[walk-off home run|walk-off]] [[Grand slam (baseball)|grand slam]]. One week later, he was placed on the disabled list with a shoulder strain. Rivera was activated on August 8 after receiving a [[cortisone]] shot but returned to the disabled list after a recurrence of shoulder tightness.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bryant|first=Howard|date=August 20, 2002|title=Sore shoulder shelves Rivera again|pages=S-1, S-4|website=[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]}}</ref> For the season, Rivera recorded a 2.74&nbsp;ERA and 28&nbsp;saves in 32&nbsp;opportunities in just 46&nbsp;innings pitched.<ref name=espn/>

To placate the Yankees' concerns about his durability, Rivera followed a strength and conditioning program in the offseason, instead of throwing.<ref>{{cite news|last=Haudricourt|first=Tom|date=February 9, 2003|title=Yankees Spring Training Preview|page=S-7|newspaper=[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]}}</ref> Torre said that he intended to reduce Rivera's workload during the 2003 season to minimize injury risks,<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Habib|first=Daniel G.|date=March 31, 2003|title=2003 Baseball&nbsp;– Scouting Reports: New York Yankees|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/2003/03/31/1-new-york-yankees-godzilla-might-be-a-monster-but-the-key-addition-is-a-soft-tossing-middle-reliever|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|volume=98|issue=13|pages=84–85|access-date=March 17, 2021|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308224224/https://vault.si.com/vault/2003/03/31/1-new-york-yankees-godzilla-might-be-a-monster-but-the-key-addition-is-a-soft-tossing-middle-reliever|url-status=live}}</ref> but Rivera suffered a groin injury before the season began, causing him to miss the first month.<ref name="03dl">{{cite news|last=Kepner|first=Tyler|date=May 1, 2003|title=Mondesi's Slam and Rivera's Debut Frame Victory|edition=National|at=sec. D, p. 1|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/01/sports/baseball-mondesi-s-slam-and-rivera-s-debut-frame-victory.html|access-date=May 31, 2008|archive-date=December 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219175330/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/01/sports/baseball-mondesi-s-slam-and-rivera-s-debut-frame-victory.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After returning on April 30,<ref name=03dl/> he pitched well in the season's first half, saving 16&nbsp;games in 17&nbsp;opportunities.<ref>{{cite news|last=Blum|first=Ronald|date=July 16, 2003|title=Yanks may acquire Benitez from Mets|page=4B|website=[[Star-Gazette]]}}</ref> His save on June 13 against the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] secured the 300th career win for starter [[Roger Clemens]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Nowak|first=Joey|date=September 9, 2013|title=Mo puts finishing touch on Rocket's 300th|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/42-days-of-mo-mariano-rivera-gets-the-save-in-roger-clemens-300th-career-win/c-60044360|access-date=August 18, 2020|website=[[MLB.com]]|archive-date=June 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623135620/https://www.mlb.com/news/42-days-of-mo-mariano-rivera-gets-the-save-in-roger-clemens-300th-career-win/c-60044360|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera slumped early in the second half; over one stretch, he blew five of eleven save opportunities,<ref>{{cite news|last=Sheinin|first=Dave|date=August 17, 2003|title=Giambi's Homer in 12th Sinks O's; With Mixed-Up Lineup, Baltimore Misses Chance to Tie in Bottom of Inning|page=E7|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> but he rebounded to convert his final 15 opportunities of the season.<ref name="03rb">{{cite news|last=Kepner|first=Tyler|date=September 30, 2003|title=Rivera on the Mound, Money in the Bank|edition=National|page=D3|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/30/sports/baseball-rivera-on-the-mound-money-in-the-bank.html|access-date=June 15, 2014|archive-date=August 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821234750/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/30/sports/baseball-rivera-on-the-mound-money-in-the-bank.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He finished the 2003 regular season with a new career best in ERA (1.66), along with 40&nbsp;saves in 46&nbsp;opportunities.<ref name="03rb"/> In the [[2003 American League Championship Series|AL Championship Series]] against the [[Yankees–Red Sox rivalry|arch-rival]] [[Boston Red Sox]], Rivera had one of the most memorable postseason performances of his career; in the decisive Game 7, he entered in the ninth inning with the score tied 5–5 and pitched three scoreless innings, his longest outing since 1996. He became the winning pitcher after [[Aaron Boone]] hit an eleventh-inning walk-off home run that clinched the Yankees' series victory and advanced them to the [[2003 World Series]].<ref name=03alcs/> Rivera celebrated by running to the pitcher's mound and collapsing in joy to thank God, as Boone rounded the bases and was met by his teammates at home plate.<ref>{{cite news|last=Silverman|first=Michael|date=October 17, 2003|title=Rivera goes extra mile; Series MVP pitches three clutch frames|page=130|newspaper=[[Boston Herald]]}}</ref> Rivera was named the [[League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award|AL Championship Series MVP]] for recording two saves and a win in the series.<ref name="03alcs">{{cite web|date=October 17, 2003|title=Yankees reliever named MVP after 3 innings|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/playoffs2003/news/story?id=1639855|access-date=November 2, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|archive-date=September 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911081724/http://www.espn.com/mlb/playoffs2003/news/story?id=1639855|url-status=live}}</ref> The Yankees lost the World Series to the [[Florida Marlins]];<ref>{{cite news|last=Klapisch|first=Bob|date=October 26, 2003|title=October magic runs out on Yanks|pages=S-1–S-2|newspaper=[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]}}</ref> Rivera saved five games and allowed only one earned run in 16&nbsp;innings pitched that postseason.<ref name=ps-stats/>

With a year remaining on his contract, Rivera signed a two-year extension in March 2004 worth $21&nbsp;million, with an [[Option contract|option]] for a third year.<ref name="04ext">{{cite news|date=March 24, 2004|title=Yanks, Rivera agree to deal|page=3D|newspaper=[[Democrat and Chronicle]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> On May 28, he reached [[300 save club|300&nbsp;career saves]], making him the 18th player to do so.<ref>{{cite news|last=Goodall|first=Fred|date=May 29, 2004|title=Rivera's 300th save lifts Yanks|pages=C1–C2|newspaper=Daily Record}}</ref> He was selected to his sixth All-Star team with a 0.99&nbsp;ERA and an AL record-setting 32&nbsp;saves at the midseason break.<ref>{{cite news|title=Closers may determine home field|newspaper=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|date=July 13, 2004|author=Kelly, Kevin|pages=B1, B4}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Yankees Media Relations Department|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/59438538/2011-New-York-Yankees-Media-Guide?doc_id=59438538|title=2011 New York Yankees Media Guide and Record Book|date=February 15, 2011|publisher=[[New York Yankees]]|page=173|access-date=October 10, 2019|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308152900/https://www.scribd.com/doc/59438538/2011-New-York-Yankees-Media-Guide?doc_id=59438538|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera's final numbers for the year included a 1.94&nbsp;ERA and a career-high 53&nbsp;saves in 57&nbsp;opportunities; it was his third time leading the major leagues in saves. Along with winning a third AL Rolaids Relief Man Award, he placed third in the AL Cy Young Award voting.<ref name=brpro/><ref name="04cy">{{cite web|title=2004 Awards Voting|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2004.shtml#AL_CYA_voting::none|access-date=March 10, 2017|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|archive-date=January 9, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109123651/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2004.shtml#AL_CYA_voting::none|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the Yankees' victory in the [[2004 American League Division Series|AL Division Series]] against the [[Minnesota Twins]], Rivera returned home to Panama to mourn two relatives who had died in an accident in his swimming pool. Despite his status being in doubt for the [[2004 American League Championship Series|AL Championship Series]] against the Red Sox, he returned to New York for Game 1 after attending the funeral in Panama earlier in the day. He recorded a save that night, as well as in Game 2.<ref>{{cite news|last=Klapisch|first=Bob|date=October 17, 2004|title=Mariano is why the Yanks can dream of another title|pages=S-1, S-5|newspaper=[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]}}</ref> Although the Yankees led three-games-to-none in the series, Rivera blew saves in Games 4 and 5, and the Red Sox won both games in [[extra innings]] to avoid elimination. In Game 4, Boston's [[Dave Roberts (outfielder)|Dave Roberts]] [[pinch runner|pinch ran]] and [[stolen base|stole]] second base against Rivera, eventually scoring on a single to tie the game. In Game 5, Rivera entered with a one-run lead with runners on base and allowed a [[sacrifice fly]] to tie the score. Boston's comeback victories helped them become the first (and, as of 2022, the only) team in MLB history to win a best-of-seven series in which they trailed three-games-to-none.<ref name="04alcs">{{cite news|last=Blum|first=Ronald|date=October 21, 2004|title=Red Sox reverse curse, rout Yankees in Game 7|pages=E-1–E-2|newspaper=[[Courier News]]}}</ref> Although he allowed just one earned run in the 2004 postseason, he blew three of five save opportunities in the two series.<ref name=ps-stats/>

[[File:Rivera2.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|left|Rivera pitching in September 2005]]
Following a career high in appearances in 2004,<ref>{{cite news|last=Gee|first=Michael|date=March 30, 2005|title=Sox have Rivera's number|page=96|newspaper=[[Boston Herald]]}}</ref> Rivera did not throw during the offseason, unlike previous years.<ref name="soxpain">{{cite news|last=Kepner|first=Tyler|date=April 8, 2005|title=Fellow Pitchers Feel Rivera's Red Sox Pain|edition=National|at=sec. D, p. 3|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/08/sports/baseball/fellow-pitchers-feel-riveras-red-sox-pain.html|access-date=April 6, 2018|archive-date=February 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226191318/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/08/sports/baseball/fellow-pitchers-feel-riveras-red-sox-pain.html|url-status=live}}</ref> His 2005 season began on a low note. After missing time in [[spring training]] with elbow [[bursitis]], he blew his first two save opportunities of the season against the Red Sox, marking four consecutive blown opportunities against Boston dating back to the previous postseason.<ref name=soxpain/> Fans at Yankee Stadium [[Booing|booed]] Rivera,<ref>{{cite news|last=Cristodero|first=Damian|date=April 10, 2005|title=Boo birds lose perspective with closer Rivera|page=C4|newspaper=[[St. Petersburg Times]]|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2005/04/10/Sports/Boo_birds_lose_perspe.shtml|access-date=June 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182821/http://www.sptimes.com/2005/04/10/Sports/Boo_birds_lose_perspe.shtml|archive-date=March 3, 2016}}</ref> and baseball journalists speculated if his days as a dominant pitcher were over.<ref name=soxpain/><ref name="klapisch">{{cite web|last=Klapisch|first=Bob|author-link=Bob Klapisch|date=April 7, 2005|title=Red Sox show Rivera who's boss|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=klapisch_bob&id=2031728|access-date=June 7, 2023|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=June 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620173158/https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=klapisch_bob&id=2031728|url-status=live}}</ref> He was subsequently cheered by Red Sox fans during pre-game introductions at [[Fenway Park]] the following week, in recognition of his struggles against the Red Sox. He responded to the ovation with a sense of humor by [[Hat tip|tipping his cap]] to the crowd.<ref>{{cite news|last=Borden|first=Sam|date=April 12, 2005|title=Sox Run Rings Around Yanks: Boss tells 'em to stand, champs make 'em sit|pages=58–59|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]}}</ref>

Rivera rebounded in dominating fashion.<ref name="cy">{{cite web|author=O'Connor|first=Ian|date=November 8, 2005|title=Rivera's season stellar despite Cy Young results|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/oconnor/2005-11-08-oconnor-cyyoung_x.htm|access-date=February 26, 2013|website=[[USA Today]]|archive-date=November 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102153854/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/oconnor/2005-11-08-oconnor-cyyoung_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> He pitched 23 consecutive scoreless innings,<ref>{{cite news|last=Deicos|first=John|date=July 10, 2005|title=Yankees Week Ahead|page=3C|newspaper=[[The Journal News]]}}</ref> set a new career high by converting 31&nbsp;consecutive save opportunities,<ref>{{cite news|title=Bernie's blast in 11th inning powers Yankees|newspaper=Courier News|agency=Associated Press|date=August 14, 2005|page=C-3}}</ref> and was selected to the All-Star team.<ref name=brpro/> Over the course of the season, he passed [[Rollie Fingers]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Amore|first=Don|date=May 16, 2005|title=Homers Have Become Rou-Tino|pages=C1, C5|newspaper=[[Hartford Courant]]|url=https://www.courant.com/2005/05/16/homers-have-become-rou-tino/|access-date=June 7, 2023|archive-date=June 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620173152/https://www.courant.com/2005/05/16/homers-have-become-rou-tino/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Randy Myers]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Everson|first=Darren|date=May 28, 2005|title=Joe catches Mo off guard|page=58|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]}}</ref> and [[Jeff Reardon]] on [[List of Major League Baseball career saves leaders|MLB's all-time saves list]], moving into fifth place.<ref>{{cite news|last=Amore|first=Dom|date=August 16, 2005|title=Pavano Feeling It|page=C5|newspaper=[[Hartford Courant]]|url=https://www.courant.com/2005/08/16/pavano-feeling-it/|access-date=June 7, 2023|archive-date=June 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620173156/https://www.courant.com/2005/08/16/pavano-feeling-it/|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera finished 2005 with 43&nbsp;saves in 47&nbsp;opportunities, and set new career bests in many statistical categories, including ERA (1.38) and [[walks plus hits per inning pitched]], or WHIP (0.87). Rivera limited opposing hitters to a [[batting average against]] of .177, then the best mark of his closer career. In addition to winning a fourth AL Rolaids Relief Man Award,<ref name=brpro/> he was voted by fans as the inaugural winner of the [[Delivery Man of the Year Award]].<ref name="dhl05">{{cite news|date=October 14, 2005|title=Yankees' Rivera wins relief pitcher award|page=4F|newspaper=[[Poughkeepsie Journal]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> In the BBWAA's awards voting, Rivera placed second for the AL Cy Young Award behind starter [[Bartolo Colón]], and ninth for the AL MVP Award—his best finishes for both awards.<ref name=brpro/><ref name="05cy">{{cite web|title=2005 Awards Voting|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2005.shtml|access-date=August 10, 2006|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|archive-date=January 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100104080234/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2005.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> During the postseason, MLB announced the [[Latino Legends Team]], an all-time roster of [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]] players voted the greatest by fans; Rivera was named the team's relief pitcher.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 26, 2005|title=Chevrolet Presents the Major League Baseball Latino Legends Team Unveiled Today; Twelve Players Selected by Fans Honored Prior to Game Four of the 2005 World Series|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20051026006255/en/Chevrolet-Presents-Major-League-Baseball-Latino-Legends|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219090352/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20051026006255/en/Chevrolet-Presents-Major-League-Baseball-Latino-Legends|archive-date=February 19, 2018|access-date=February 18, 2018|website=[[Business Wire]]|publisher=[[Major League Baseball]]}}</ref>
{{clear}}

====2006–2008====
[[File:Mariano Rivera vs Red Sox in 2006.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|left|Rivera pitching on May 23, 2006]]
Rivera began 2006 with a 3.72&nbsp;ERA and two losses in April, but his numbers improved in subsequent months.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mariano Rivera Splits&nbsp;– 2006|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/splits/_/id/3240/year/2006/mariano-rivera|access-date=April 6, 2018|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=November 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112131732/http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/splits/_/id/3240/year/2006/mariano-rivera|url-status=live}}</ref> On June 6, he saved his 391st career game, passing Dennis Eckersley for the fourth-most saves in major league history.<ref>{{cite news|title=Yanks keep down Red Sox|newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|agency=Associated Press|date=June 7, 2006|page=C4}}</ref> Rivera was selected to his third consecutive All-Star team with a 1.76&nbsp;ERA and 19&nbsp;saves entering the midseason break.<ref name="oz">{{cite web|last=Feinsand|first=Mark|date=July 10, 2006|title=Guillen tabs Rivera as AL stopper|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/1551268/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112175449/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/1551268/|archive-date=November 12, 2014|access-date=September 21, 2019|website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> He saved the AL's comeback victory in the [[2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] for his third career All-Star save, tying Eckersley's record.<ref>{{cite news|title=Another Big Blown Save; Like '98 World Series, Hoffman Can't Finish|newspaper=[[Hartford Courant]]|first=Dom|last=Amore|date=July 12, 2006|page=C4}}</ref> On July 16, Rivera achieved another milestone by becoming the fourth MLB pitcher to reach 400&nbsp;saves.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fitzpatrick|first=Mike|date=July 17, 2006|title=Rivera's 400th save closes out champs|pages=B-1, B-3|newspaper=[[Courier News]]}}</ref> In August, he guaranteed his $10.5&nbsp;million contract option for 2007 by reaching 114 [[List of Major League Baseball career games finished leaders|games finished]] over two years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Posada homer pushes Yankee streak to 5|newspaper=Courier News|author=Ginsburg, David|date=August 5, 2006|page=B-3}}</ref> Although a throwing elbow strain sidelined Rivera for most of September,<ref>{{cite web|date=September 8, 2006|title=Yankees' Rivera to rest one more day, throw Friday|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2576798|access-date=November 2, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308153733/https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2576798|url-status=live}}</ref> he finished the 2006 season with 34&nbsp;saves in 37&nbsp;opportunities and an ERA of 1.80—his fourth consecutive season with a sub-2.00&nbsp;ERA.<ref name=espn/> For a second consecutive year, fans voted him the Delivery Man of the Year.<ref name="dhl06">{{cite news|last=Borden|first=Sam|date=October 25, 2006|title=A-Rod, Yanks Stand United|pages=62–63|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]}}</ref>

[[File:Mariano Rivera warming up in bullpen in San Francisco 6-23-07.jpeg|thumb|right|alt=Mariano Rivera in a gray baseball uniform, navy blue cap, and baseball glove bearing his name. He is finishing his throwing motion to the left, and is squinting in the daytime sunny conditions.|Rivera warming up in June 2007]]
With his contract set to expire after the 2007 season, Rivera sought an extension with the Yankees during spring training. Team management declined to negotiate near the start of the season, prompting him to respond that he would consider free agency at the end of the year.<ref>{{cite web|date=February 14, 2007|title=Rivera says he'll consider offers from other teams|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2766006|access-date=November 2, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|archive-date=November 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126210724/https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2766006|url-status=live}}</ref> In April, Rivera blew his first two save opportunities, compiled two losses, and surrendered nine earned runs in {{frac|7|2|3}}&nbsp;innings pitched.<ref name="07sp">{{cite web|title=Mariano Rivera Splits&nbsp;– 2007|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/splits/_/id/3240/year/2007/mariano-rivera|access-date=May 14, 2017|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=November 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112031252/http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/splits/_/id/3240/year/2007/mariano-rivera|url-status=live}}</ref> Concerned sportswriters attributed his struggles to infrequent use, as the Yankees presented him with few situations to enter a game.<ref name=volatile/> Rivera saved 30 of his next 32&nbsp;opportunities and posted a 2.26&nbsp;ERA over the final five months of the season.<ref name=07sp/> On July 14, he passed [[John Franco]] for third place on the all-time saves list with his 425th career save.<ref>{{cite news|date=July 15, 2007|title=Abreu powers Yanks back to .500|page=H3|newspaper=[[Asbury Park Press]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> Still, Rivera finished 2007 with closer career worsts in earned runs (25), hits (68), and ERA (3.15), and his 30&nbsp;saves in 34&nbsp;opportunities were his second-lowest total since 1997.<ref name=espn/> After the Yankees were eliminated from the playoffs in the opening round, Rivera stated his intentions to test the free agent market. He initially indicated that his decision of where to sign would be influenced by whether long-time manager Joe Torre was re-signed.<ref>{{cite web|date=October 10, 2007|title=Rivera: Torre's return a factor in whether he stays in N.Y.|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3057292|access-date=November 2, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|archive-date=October 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026105143/https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3057292|url-status=live}}</ref> Although Torre did not return,<ref>{{cite web|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=October 18, 2007|title=Torre declines Yankees' contract offer|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/mlb/y2007/m10/d18/c2271234.jsp|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112181910/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/2271234/|archive-date=November 12, 2014|access-date=September 21, 2019|website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> Rivera remained with the Yankees by agreeing to a three-year, $45&nbsp;million contract, making him the highest-paid reliever in baseball history.<ref>{{cite web|date=November 20, 2007|title=Rivera becomes highest paid closer with Yankees' deal|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3118286|access-date=November 2, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=September 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190910045100/https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3118286|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Mariano Rivera pitching in Baltimore on 8-22-08.jpeg|thumb|left|Rivera pitching in August 2008]]
Rivera rebounded in 2008 and began the year with 16&nbsp;consecutive scoreless innings pitched and 28&nbsp;consecutive save opportunities converted, both personal bests to start a season.<ref>{{cite web|date=August 13, 2008|title=A-Rod, Nady blast off in 12th, lift Yanks over Twins|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-08-13-yanks-twins_N.htm|access-date=June 19, 2014|website=[[USA Today]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|archive-date=October 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030173148/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-08-13-yanks-twins_N.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="mlb08">"Bio – 2008 Highlights", ''[[MLB.com]]''</ref> His first-half performance, highlighted by a 1.06&nbsp;ERA and 23&nbsp;saves in as many opportunities,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mariano Rivera Splits&nbsp;– 2008|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/splits/_/id/3240/year/2008/mariano-rivera|access-date=May 14, 2017|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=November 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112081108/http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/splits/_/id/3240/year/2008/mariano-rivera|url-status=live}}</ref> garnered him his ninth All-Star selection. Leading up to the [[2008 MLB All-Star Game]], which was held at Yankee Stadium in the venue's final year of existence, a few sportswriters proposed making Rivera the AL's starting pitcher as a tribute to him and his home ballpark.<ref>{{cite web|last=Klapisch|first=Bob|date=July 8, 2008|title=Starting Rivera in Midsummer Classic would be ultimate tribute|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/allstar08/columns/story?columnist=klapisch_bob&id=3471345|access-date=November 2, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=August 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811134601/https://www.espn.com/mlb/allstar08/columns/story?columnist=klapisch_bob&id=3471345|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Benjamin|first=Amalie|date=July 11, 2008|title=For starters, Rivera?|url=http://archive.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2008/07/11/for_starters_rivera/|access-date=May 4, 2016|website=[[Boston.com]]|archive-date=June 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603003051/http://archive.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2008/07/11/for_starters_rivera/|url-status=live}}</ref> He instead was used as a reliever in the AL's extra-inning win.<ref name=mlb08/> In the final month of the season, he recorded two milestones: on September 15, he recorded his 479th save to pass [[Lee Smith (baseball)|Lee Smith]] for second all-time in regular season saves;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/16/sports/baseball/16yankees.html|title=Feel of October, but for Different Reasons|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|first=Tyler|last=Kepner|author-link=Tyler Kepner|date=September 16, 2008|access-date=July 26, 2024|pages=D1, D4}}</ref> on September 21, in the final game at Yankee Stadium, Rivera threw the final pitch in the venue's history, retiring [[Brian Roberts (baseball)|Brian Roberts]] of the [[Baltimore Orioles]] on a ground-out.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2008/09/22/mariano-rivera-honored-to-close-out-era-at-yankee-stadium/|title=
Mo honored to close out era|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|first=Roger|last=Rubin|date=September 22, 2008|access-date=July 26, 2024|at=sec. Wrap, p. 8}}</ref> After the Yankees missed the postseason for the first time in his career, Rivera disclosed that he had suffered from shoulder pain throughout the year. Tests revealed [[calcification]] of the [[acromioclavicular joint]] in his throwing shoulder, for which he underwent minor [[arthroscopic surgery]] in the offseason.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 29, 2008|title=Yanks' Rivera to undergo offseason surgery, should be ready for spring|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3616587|access-date=November 2, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308125303/https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3616587|url-status=live}}</ref>

Rivera's 2008 season was one of his best individual years. Along with a 1.40&nbsp;ERA and 39&nbsp;saves in 40&nbsp;opportunities, he set career bests in multiple statistical categories, including WHIP (0.67), [[on-base plus slugging]] (OPS)-against (.422), batting average against (.165), [[save percentage]] (97.5%), walks (6), earned runs (11), and blown saves (1). He averaged 9.81&nbsp;[[strikeouts per 9 innings pitched]], his best mark as a closer.<ref name="brpro">{{cite web|title=Mariano Rivera Pitching Statistics and History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/riverma01-pitch.shtml|access-date=September 7, 2011|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|archive-date=September 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903180235/http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/riverma01-pitch.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> He pitched with such [[Control pitcher|control]] that his 12.83&nbsp;strikeout-to-walk ratio made him the second MLB pitcher ever to record a figure that high in a season (minimum 50&nbsp;innings pitched).<ref>{{cite news|last=Kepner|first=Tyler|date=February 15, 2009|title=Rivera Takes His Time Recovering From Surgery|edition=New York|page=SP3|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/sports/baseball/15yankees.html|access-date=June 19, 2014|archive-date=February 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203225439/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/sports/baseball/15yankees.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He placed fifth in the AL Cy Young Award voting.<ref name="08cy">{{cite web|title=2008 Awards Voting|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2008.shtml#AL_CYA_voting::none|access-date=March 10, 2017|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|archive-date=January 5, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105061329/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2008.shtml#AL_CYA_voting::none|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2009–2012====
[[File:Mariano Rivera World Series parade 2009 (cropped, retouched).jpg|thumb|alt=Mariano Rivera wearing a dark pea coat and gray scarf smiles while holding a red, white, and blue flag. He stands in front of a red, white, and blue logo that reads "Yankees".|Rivera during the [[2009 World Series]] victory parade, celebrating his fifth championship]]
In his first 12&nbsp;appearances of 2009, Rivera surrendered four home runs and had a 3.97&nbsp;ERA,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mariano Rivera Pitching Gamelogs for Career Games 852 to 863|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=riverma01&t=p&year=2009&share=1.17#852-863-sum:pitching_gamelogs|access-date=March 10, 2017|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|archive-date=March 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312055351/http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=riverma01&t=p&year=2009&share=1.17#852-863-sum:pitching_gamelogs|url-status=live}}</ref> leading to speculation about his cutter's effectiveness and his shoulder's health at age 39.<ref name="hr">{{cite web|last=DiComo|first=Anthony|date=May 8, 2009|title=Limited Rivera allows historic homers|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/4619746/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112190805/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/4619746/|archive-date=November 12, 2014|access-date=November 12, 2014|website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> As the season progressed, his numbers improved, and on June 28 he became the second pitcher to reach 500&nbsp;regular season saves. In the same game, while batting against fellow closer [[Francisco Rodríguez (Venezuelan pitcher)|Francisco Rodríguez]], he collected his first career [[run batted in]] by walking with the bases loaded.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mo makes history: 500th save caps Yankees' sweep|newspaper=[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]|first=Tara|last=Sullivan|date=June 29, 2009|page=S1}}</ref> With 23&nbsp;saves in 24&nbsp;opportunities and a 2.43&nbsp;ERA in the season's first half, Rivera was named an All-Star for the tenth time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mariano Rivera Splits&nbsp;– 2009|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/splits/_/id/3240/year/2009/mariano-rivera|access-date=May 14, 2017|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=July 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729005709/http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/splits/_/id/3240/year/2009/mariano-rivera|url-status=live}}</ref> His save in the [[2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] was his fourth career All-Star save, setting a new record.<ref name="asgsv">{{cite news|last=Blum|first=Ronald|date=July 15, 2009|title=Crawford's catch lets AL's streak survive|page=S4|newspaper=[[National Post]]}}</ref> In the season's second half, Rivera allowed earned runs in only two of his final 40&nbsp;appearances,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mariano Rivera Stats – 2009 Game Log|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/3240/year/2009/mariano-rivera|access-date=May 14, 2017|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=July 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729010859/http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/3240/year/2009/mariano-rivera|url-status=live}}</ref> while he set a new personal best for consecutive save opportunities converted with 36.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kepner|first=Tyler|date=September 19, 2009|title=Suzuki Beats Rivera With 2 Outs In the Ninth|edition=New York|page=D1|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/19/sports/baseball/19game.html|access-date=October 3, 2019|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308224657/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/19/sports/baseball/19game.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He finished the regular season with a 1.76&nbsp;ERA, 44&nbsp;saves in 46&nbsp;opportunities, and a 0.90&nbsp;WHIP.<ref name=espn/> In the postseason, he pitched 16&nbsp;innings, allowing one earned run and saving five games,<ref name=ps-stats/> and he clinched the Yankees' victory in the [[2009 World Series]] against the [[Philadelphia Phillies]]—his fifth championship. He was the only closer who did not record a loss or blown save that postseason.<ref>{{cite news|last=Curry|first=Jack|date=November 6, 2009|title=Nearing 40, Hoping to Pitch Five More Years|edition=National|page=B14|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/sports/baseball/06yankees.html?scp=1|access-date=November 5, 2009|archive-date=October 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012092149/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/sports/baseball/06yankees.html?scp=1|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera collected several awards at season's end, including his third Delivery Man of the Year Award,<ref name="dhl09">{{cite news|last=Gagne|first=Matt|date=October 25, 2009|title=Game Six Is Washed Out|pages=50–51|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]}}</ref> his fifth AL Rolaids Relief Man Award, and the 2009 ''[[Sporting News]]'' Pro Athlete of the Year Award.<ref name="09sn">{{cite news|last1=Boland|first1=Erik|last2=Davidoff|first2=Ken|date=December 19, 2009|title=YANKEES: Attention turns to starting pitcher|page=A48|newspaper=[[Newsday]]|url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/cashman-turns-attention-to-starting-pitchers-1.1661584|access-date=October 3, 2019|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308120357/https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/cashman-turns-attention-to-starting-pitchers-1.1661584|url-status=dead}}</ref> Reflecting on the decade's end, [[ESPN.com]]'s [[Jerry Crasnick]] called Rivera the most valuable major league pitcher of the previous 10 years.<ref>{{cite web|last=Crasnick|first=Jerry|author-link=Jerry Crasnick|date=December 16, 2009|title=Most valuable pitcher of the 2000s|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=4747688|access-date=November 2, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=March 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305140708/https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=4747688|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2010, Rivera and two of his "[[Core Four]]" teammates, Derek Jeter and [[Jorge Posada]], became the first trio in any of the [[Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada|four major sports leagues in North America]] (MLB, [[National Football League|NFL]], [[National Basketball Association|NBA]], or [[National Hockey League|NHL]]) to play together on the same team for 16 consecutive seasons.<ref>{{cite news|title=Red Sox error helps Yanks, 6–4|newspaper=[[Detroit Free Press]]|agency=Free Press News Services|date=April 7, 2010|page=4B}}</ref> In May, Rivera blew a save to snap a personal streak of 51 consecutive save opportunities converted at home, tying him with [[Éric Gagné]] for the MLB record at the time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/hp/sports/20100517_Twins_slam_Mariano__Yankees.html|title=Twins slam Mariano, Yankees|newspaper=[[Philadelphia Daily News]]|agency=Daily News Wire Services|date=May 17, 2010|access-date=October 18, 2019|page=83|archive-date=October 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018171842/https://www.inquirer.com/philly/hp/sports/20100517_Twins_slam_Mariano__Yankees.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera had one of his best first halves, compiling a 1.05&nbsp;ERA, 20&nbsp;saves in 22&nbsp;opportunities, and 0.64&nbsp;WHIP before the All-Star break,<ref name="10splits">{{cite web|title=Mariano Rivera Splits&nbsp;– 2010|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/splits/_/id/3240/year/2010/mariano-rivera|access-date=May 14, 2017|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=October 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021060405/http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/splits/_/id/3240/year/2010/mariano-rivera|url-status=live}}</ref> and in June, he set a personal best streak with 24 consecutive batters retired.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shpigel|first=Ben|date=June 24, 2010|title=Yankees Win, but It Isn't Pretty|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/25/sports/baseball/25yankeesweb.html|access-date=June 25, 2010|website=[[The New York Times]]|archive-date=June 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628062523/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/25/sports/baseball/25yankeesweb.html?|url-status=live}}</ref> He earned an 11th All-Star selection but withdrew from the game due to lingering oblique and knee injuries.<ref>{{cite news|last=Feinsand|first=Mark|date=July 7, 2010|title=Injuries mean Mo no longer in Stars|page=58|website=[[New York Daily News]]|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yankees-closer-mariano-rivera-reveals-won-participate-all-star-game-due-pair-injuries-article-1.463858|access-date=October 18, 2019|archive-date=October 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018144932/https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yankees-closer-mariano-rivera-reveals-won-participate-all-star-game-due-pair-injuries-article-1.463858|url-status=live}}</ref> In the second half, he was less effective—he struck out batters half as often, and in September, he compiled three blown saves and a 4.76&nbsp;ERA.<ref name=10splits /> Rivera ended 2010 with a 1.80&nbsp;ERA and 0.83&nbsp;WHIP, numbers that were among his career bests, though his 33&nbsp;saves in 38&nbsp;opportunities and 6.75&nbsp;strikeouts per 9 innings ratio were below his career averages.<ref name=espn/> In the postseason, he pitched {{frac|6|1|3}}&nbsp;scoreless innings while saving three games.<ref name=ps-stats/> After becoming a free agent in the offseason, he agreed to a two-year, $30&nbsp;million contract to remain with the Yankees.<ref>{{bulleted list|{{cite news|title=Rivera close to $30M deal|newspaper=[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]|agency=News services|date=December 4, 2010|page=C2}}|{{cite news|title=Yanks, Rivera Finalize Deal|newspaper=[[Daily Record (Morristown)|Daily Record]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=December 15, 2010|page=B2}}}}</ref>

[[File:Mariano Rivera July 2011.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Mariano Rivera in a white pinstriped baseball uniform and navy blue cap stands on a dirt mound. He is striding forward to the right as he clutches a baseball.|Rivera pitching against the Baltimore Orioles on July 31, 2011]]
That same offseason, [[Trevor Hoffman]] retired as the all-time regular season saves leader with a final tally of 601, leaving Rivera as the active leader in saves and 42 behind Hoffman's record to start 2011.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kepner|first=Tyler|date=January 13, 2011|title=Hoffman's Talent Was Not Limited To Pitching|edition=New York|page=B13|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/13/sports/baseball/13kepner.html|access-date=October 9, 2019|archive-date=October 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009183746/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/13/sports/baseball/13kepner.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera's season was marked by several milestones. He broke the all-time record for games finished,<ref>{{cite web|title=Progressive Leaders & Records for Games Finished|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/GF_progress.shtml|access-date=September 14, 2011|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|archive-date=August 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817112434/http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/GF_progress.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> and in May, he became the 15th pitcher to make 1,000&nbsp;appearances and the first to do so with a single team.<ref name="1000gp">{{cite web|last=Begley|first=Ian|date=May 25, 2011|title=Mariano Rivera in 1,000th game|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=6589000|access-date=November 2, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=April 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419162327/http://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=6589000|url-status=live}}</ref> He was named an All-Star for the 12th time with a 1.85&nbsp;ERA and 22&nbsp;saves in 26&nbsp;opportunities at the midseason break,<ref name="11splits">{{cite web|title=Mariano Rivera Splits&nbsp;– 2011|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/splits/_/id/3240/year/2011/mariano-rivera|access-date=May 14, 2017|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=October 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027074538/http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/splits/_/id/3240/year/2011/mariano-rivera|url-status=live}}</ref> but for the second consecutive year, he skipped the game to rest injuries.<ref>{{cite news|last=Borden|first=Sam|date=July 7, 2011|title=Rivera Withdraws From All-Star Game|edition=New York|page=B13|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/08/sports/baseball/rivera-available-to-yankees-not-to-all-star-team.html|access-date=July 11, 2011|archive-date=July 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711152559/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/08/sports/baseball/rivera-available-to-yankees-not-to-all-star-team.html|url-status=live}}</ref> His pursuit of the saves record reached a climax in the final month of the season. On September 13, he collected his 600th save, making him just the second pitcher to accomplish the feat.<ref name="sv600">{{cite web|last=Waldstein|first=David|date=September 14, 2011|title=Rivera Notches Save No. 600 in Seattle as Yankees Win|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/14/sports/baseball/rivera-notches-save-no-600-in-seattle.html|access-date=September 26, 2011|website=[[The New York Times]]|archive-date=September 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915201253/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/14/sports/baseball/rivera-notches-save-no-600-in-seattle.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Four days later, he saved his 601st game, tying him with Hoffman for the most in MLB history.<ref>{{cite news|date=September 18, 2011|title=Rivera puts share of career record in savings account|page=C4|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> Rivera broke the record on September 19 at [[Yankee Stadium]] by closing out a 6–4 win against the Twins, the final out a strikeout of [[Chris Parmelee]].<ref name="sv602">{{cite web|last=Begley|first=Ian|date=September 19, 2011|title=Mariano Rivera sets new saves record|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/6993396/new-york-yankees-mariano-rivera-sets-mlb-mark-602nd-save|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=April 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419161619/http://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/6993396/new-york-yankees-mariano-rivera-sets-mlb-mark-602nd-save|url-status=live}}</ref> After the game, Panamanian President [[Ricardo Martinelli]] called him to offer his congratulations.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fitzpatrick|first=Mike|date=September 20, 2011|title=Rivera congratulated by President of Panama|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/2011-09-20-1982405144_x.htm|access-date=August 21, 2014|website=[[USA Today]]|archive-date=August 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821184646/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/2011-09-20-1982405144_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera finished the season with a 1.91&nbsp;ERA, a 0.90&nbsp;WHIP, and 44&nbsp;saves in 49&nbsp;opportunities,<ref name=brpro/> making him the first pitcher over the age of 40 to save at least 40&nbsp;games in a season.<ref name=alpotw/> In the offseason, he underwent throat surgery to remove [[Polyp (medicine)|polyps]] from his [[vocal cords]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Marchand|first=Andrew|date=December 1, 2011|title=Mariano Rivera to have throat surgery|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/7302801/new-york-yankees-closer-mariano-rivera-throat-surgery|access-date=November 2, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=November 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103020513/https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/7302801/new-york-yankees-closer-mariano-rivera-throat-surgery|url-status=live}}</ref>

Rivera began the 2012 season by blowing a save on [[Opening Day]] but followed it with eight scoreless innings and five saves for the remainder of April.<ref name="dn-acl">{{cite news|last=Feinsand|first=Mark|date=May 4, 2012|title=Mo Is Down and Out|pages=70–71|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/mariano-rivera-carted-field-kauffman-stadium-batting-practice-yankees-kansas-city-royals-game-article-1.1072234|access-date=November 3, 2019|archive-date=April 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419065600/https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/mariano-rivera-carted-field-kauffman-stadium-batting-practice-yankees-kansas-city-royals-game-article-1.1072234|url-status=live}}</ref> After just nine appearances, his season was prematurely ended by a freak injury; prior to a May 3 game against the [[Kansas City Royals]], Rivera was [[shagging (baseball)|shagging]] balls during [[Glossary of baseball terms#batting practice|batting practice]] but his right knee buckled on the field's [[warning track]], causing him to [[Anterior cruciate ligament injury|tear]] his right [[anterior cruciate ligament]] (ACL).<ref name="dn-acl"/><ref name="ap-retire-anmt">{{cite web|last=Didtler|first=Mark|date=March 9, 2013|title=Yankees Closer Rivera Says This Is Final Season|url=https://apnews.com/0426d14691414750a3b84440d644589c|access-date=November 3, 2019|work=[[Associated Press]]|archive-date=January 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123010138/https://apnews.com/0426d14691414750a3b84440d644589c|url-status=live}}</ref> Speculation grew that the injury would end his career, as he had hinted at retirement during spring training.<ref name="si-acl">{{cite magazine|last=Verducci|first=Tom|date=May 4, 2012|title=Rivera's storied career may be over after suffering torn ACL in BP|url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2012/05/04/mariano-riverainjury|access-date=August 21, 2014|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|archive-date=August 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822014329/http://www.si.com/more-sports/2012/05/04/mariano-riverainjury|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=February 21, 2012|title=Mariano Rivera hints 2012 could be final season|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mariano-rivera-hints-2012-could-be-final-season/|access-date=October 9, 2019|website=[[CBS News]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|archive-date=October 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009183748/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mariano-rivera-hints-2012-could-be-final-season/|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera put those concerns to rest the following day when he announced his intentions to return, saying: "Write it down in big letters. I'm not going down like this."<ref>{{cite web|last=Matthews|first=Wallace|date=May 4, 2012|title=Mariano Rivera says he'll be back|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/7891534/closer-mariano-rivera-new-york-yankees-say-return-knee-injury|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=January 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122095029/http://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/7891534/closer-mariano-rivera-new-york-yankees-say-return-knee-injury|url-status=live}}</ref> He successfully underwent [[Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction|ACL reconstructive surgery]] on June 12, while his [[meniscus (anatomy)|meniscus]], previously thought to have been damaged, did not need to be repaired.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bloom|first=Barry M.|date=June 12, 2012|title=Mo pleased after undergoing surgery|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/c-33179872/print|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406225952/https://www.mlb.com/news/c-33179872/print|archive-date=April 6, 2018|access-date=April 6, 2018|website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> [[Rafael Soriano]] filled in as closer in Rivera's absence and saved 42&nbsp;games in 46&nbsp;opportunities.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bradley|first=Jeff|date=November 3, 2012|title=Mariano Rivera tells Yankees he will return for 2013 season|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2012/11/mariano_rivera_to_return_to_ya.html|access-date=October 31, 2019|website=[[NJ.com]]|archive-date=October 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031185816/https://www.nj.com/yankees/2012/11/mariano_rivera_to_return_to_ya.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera signed a one-year, $10&nbsp;million contract in the offseason to remain with the team.<ref>{{cite news|last=Arangure|first=Jorge Jr.|date=December 1, 2012|title=Rivera Deal Is Finalized; Now Catcher Is Priority|edition=New York|page=D4|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/01/sports/baseball/yankees-and-mariano-rivera-finalize-deal.html|access-date=February 26, 2013|archive-date=December 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121205022519/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/01/sports/baseball/yankees-and-mariano-rivera-finalize-deal.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2013====
[[File:Mariano Rivera ovation at 2013 MLB All-Star Game.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Rivera acknowledges an ovation from fans and players at the [[2013 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2013 All-Star Game]] in his final All-Star appearance. His former manager Joe Torre is visible in the crowd ''(second from right)''.]]
After successfully rehabilitating his knee in the offseason, the 43-year-old Rivera announced on March 9, 2013, that he would retire after the 2013 season, his 19th in the major leagues.<ref name="ap-retire-anmt"/> Throughout his final year, Rivera spent time during visits to each ballpark meeting privately with fans and unsung team employees to hear their stories and thank them for supporting baseball.<ref>{{cite news|last=Barbarisi|first=Daniel|date=April 11, 2013|title=No, Really: Tell Me About You|edition=Eastern|page=A25|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323741004578414814126864482|url-access=subscription|access-date=December 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203224807/http://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887323741004578414814126864482|archive-date=February 3, 2015}}</ref> He explained: "It was important for me to meet the people who make baseball what it is, the people who work in the game every day. They have given me far more than I have given them."<ref>{{cite web|last=Souhan|first=Jim|date=July 2, 2013|title=Rivera, one of baseball's greats, shows common touch|url=http://www.startribune.com/souhan-rivera-one-of-baseball-s-greats-shows-common-touch/214092011/|access-date=August 15, 2015|website=[[Star Tribune]]|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924150324/http://www.startribune.com/souhan-rivera-one-of-baseball-s-greats-shows-common-touch/214092011/|url-status=live}}</ref> Each opposing team returned the favor by honoring Rivera with a gift during his final visit to their city. In Cleveland, the Indians teamed up with the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] to present Rivera with a gold record of his entrance song "Enter Sandman".<ref>{{cite web|last=Sargent|first=Scott|date=May 13, 2013|title=Mo gets the gold|url=https://proxy.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post?id=54742|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=February 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228150558/http://proxy.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post?id=54742|url-status=live}}</ref> The Minnesota Twins commissioned a rocking chair made of broken bats, many broken personally by Rivera's cutter, called the "Chair of Broken Dreams".<ref>{{cite news|last=Feinsand|first=Mark|date=July 3, 2013|title=Wells lowers the boom|page=55|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yankees-insider-mariano-unique-retirement-gift-article-1.1388949|access-date=September 19, 2019|archive-date=October 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031024657/https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yankees-insider-mariano-unique-retirement-gift-article-1.1388949|url-status=live}}</ref> The rival Boston Red Sox gave him a painting and several artifacts from Fenway Park.<ref name="gifts">{{cite news|last1=Gilbert|first1=Erika|last2=Spurrier|first2=Guy|date=September 20, 2013|title=Summer of love|page=B10|newspaper=[[National Post]]|url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/baseball/mlb/yankees-closer-mariano-rivera-has-picked-up-plenty-of-treasures-along-his-farewell-tour|access-date=April 6, 2018|archive-date=January 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127110023/https://nationalpost.com/sports/baseball/mlb/yankees-closer-mariano-rivera-has-picked-up-plenty-of-treasures-along-his-farewell-tour|url-status=live}}</ref> Many teams made donations to the Mariano Rivera Foundation, the pitcher's charitable organization.<ref name=gifts/> Corporate sponsors of the Yankees paid tribute as well. [[Delta Air Lines]] dedicated a [[Boeing 757]] airplane with Rivera's signature and uniform number 42 on the exterior,<ref>{{cite web|last=Musarra|first=Casey|date=July 12, 2013|title=Mariano Rivera throws 'last pitch' to Joe Girardi at Delta plane dedication|url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/mariano-rivera-throws-last-pitch-to-joe-girardi-at-delta-plane-dedication-1.5675457|access-date=September 30, 2013|website=[[Newsday]]|archive-date=October 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002225633/http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/mariano-rivera-throws-last-pitch-to-joe-girardi-at-delta-plane-dedication-1.5675457|url-status=live}}</ref> while [[Hard Rock Cafe]] retired "Enter Sandman" from its song system at all locations except for its Yankee Stadium restaurant.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rovell|first=Darren|author-link=Darren Rovell|date=September 26, 2013|title=Hard Rock boots Metallica for Mo|url=https://www.espn.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/9723932/in-honor-mariano-rivera-hard-rock-cafes-remove-enter-sandman-song|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=December 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226133801/http://www.espn.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/9723932/in-honor-mariano-rivera-hard-rock-cafes-remove-enter-sandman-song|url-status=live}}</ref>

Rivera's 10&nbsp;saves in 10&nbsp;opportunities in April were his highest total for the opening month of a season.<ref>{{cite web|last=Marchand|first=Andrew|date=April 30, 2013|title=Postgame Notes: No April Fools|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/53913/postgame-notes-no-april-fools|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308132106/https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/53913/postgame-notes-no-april-fools|url-status=live}}</ref> He converted his first 18 save attempts of the season until blowing a save against the Mets on May 28; it was the first time that he blew a save and lost a game without recording an out.<ref>{{cite web|last=Knobler|first=Danny|date=May 28, 2013|title=In his last regular-season game at Citi Field, a first for Mariano Rivera|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/in-his-last-regular-season-game-at-citi-field-a-first-for-mariano-rivera/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922004637/http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/danny-knobler/22315266/in-his-last-game-at-citi-field-a-first-for-mariano-rivera|archive-date=September 22, 2013|access-date=September 21, 2019|website=[[CBS Sports]]}}</ref> Rivera entered the midseason break with 30&nbsp;saves in 32&nbsp;opportunities and a 1.83&nbsp;ERA,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mariano Rivera 2013 Pitching Splits|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=riverma01&year=2013&t=p|access-date=June 7, 2023|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|archive-date=June 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620173152/https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=riverma01&year=2013&t=p|url-status=live}}</ref> and he was named an All-Star for the 13th time in his career, the second-most All-Star selections for a pitcher behind [[Warren Spahn]]'s 17.<ref>{{cite web|last=Simon|first=Mark|date=July 16, 2013|title=W2W4: Yankees in the All-Star Game|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/59693/w2w4-yankees-in-all-star-game|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308185052/https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/59693/w2w4-yankees-in-all-star-game|url-status=live}}</ref> During the [[2013 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]], held at [[Citi Field]] in New York, Rivera was called upon to pitch in the eighth inning for his final All-Star appearance. As he trotted onto the field, players from both teams remained near their [[Dugout (baseball)|dugouts]] and joined fans in giving Rivera a standing ovation as he stood alone on the field.<ref name="13asg">{{cite web|last=Berry|first=Adam|date=September 29, 2013|title=Final ASG appearance fit for Mo's legend|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/42-days-of-mo-mariano-riveras-final-all-star-appearance-fit-for-legend/c-61937998|access-date=April 6, 2018|website=[[MLB.com]]|archive-date=April 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407120028/https://www.mlb.com/news/42-days-of-mo-mariano-riveras-final-all-star-appearance-fit-for-legend/c-61937998|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera retired all three batters he faced, preserving his 0.00&nbsp;career ERA in All-Star Games.<ref name="13asg"/> He was named the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award|All-Star Game MVP]],<ref name="asgmvp">{{cite web|date=July 17, 2013|title=Pitching riches overwhelm in All-Star Game|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/68651/pitching-riches-overwhelm-in-all-star-game|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=September 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906201359/https://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/68651/pitching-riches-overwhelm-in-all-star-game|url-status=live}}</ref> making him the first reliever selected to an All-Star team to ever receive the award, as well as the first pitcher since [[Pedro Martínez]] in 1999 and the second Yankee ever after Derek Jeter in 2000.<ref name=asgmvp/> He became the first MLB player to be named the MVP of a World Series, [[League Championship Series]], and All-Star Game.<ref name="42things"/> Rivera's performance dipped in the second half of the season, as he blew five save opportunities in the last two months, including three consecutive chances for the first time in his career. In a [[Fox Sports]] documentary chronicling his final year entitled ''Being: Mariano'', Rivera said that the season-long process of bidding farewell to baseball had mentally and physically drained him and that by September, he had "no desire" left for the sport.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Being: Mariano|series=Being|network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]|airdate=October 20, 2013|author=Spaulding, Jeff}}</ref>
 
[[File:Mariano Rivera Exit Sandman hugging Jeter.jpg|thumb|left|Rivera hugs teammates before leaving his final MLB game on September 26, 2013]]
On September 22, 2013, a day that [[Mayor of New York City]] [[Michael Bloomberg]] declared "Mariano Rivera Day", the Yankees held a 50-minute pre-game tribute to Rivera at Yankee Stadium. In a ceremony attended by former teammates, Yankees staff, and members of Jackie Robinson's family, Rivera's uniform number 42 was retired by the team, making him the first active Yankee to receive that honor. Metallica performed "Enter Sandman" live as he walked onto the field during the festivities. The team presented a video montage and several gifts to Rivera before he addressed the crowd to offer his thanks.<ref>{{cite web|last=Begley|first=Ian|date=September 22, 2013|title=Yankees honor Mariano Rivera|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/9708691/new-york-yankees-laud-mariano-rivera-50-minute-ceremony|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=October 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019162606/https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/9708691/new-york-yankees-laud-mariano-rivera-50-minute-ceremony|url-status=live}}</ref> Four days later against the [[Tampa Bay Rays]], he pitched in the final game of his career before a home crowd at Yankee Stadium. Entering in the eighth inning to a pre-recorded introduction by late Yankees public address announcer [[Bob Sheppard]], Rivera pitched {{frac|1|1|3}}&nbsp;innings without allowing a baserunner. In the ninth inning, after retiring [[Yunel Escobar]] on a pop fly for the second out, Rivera was removed from the game; with permission from the umpires, Yankees manager [[Joe Girardi]] ceremonially delegated the substitution duty to Rivera's long-time teammates [[Andy Pettitte]] and Derek Jeter. After they reached the mound to make the pitching change, the normally reserved Rivera tearfully embraced his teammates for nearly a minute. Walking off the field to a standing ovation from fans and players, he saluted the crowd and then took a [[curtain call]]. After the game, he visited the mound for a final time and grabbed a handful of dirt as a memento.<ref>{{cite news|last=Waldstein|first=David|date=September 27, 2013|title=Closing Scene: Hugs and Tears in Rivera's Last Home Game|edition=New York|page=B11|website=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/27/sports/baseball/closing-scene-hugs-and-tears-in-riveras-last-home-game.html|access-date=September 27, 2013|archive-date=September 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928023809/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/27/sports/baseball/closing-scene-hugs-and-tears-in-riveras-last-home-game.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera finished his final season with a 2.11&nbsp;ERA, 1.05&nbsp;WHIP, and 44&nbsp;saves in 51&nbsp;opportunities,<ref name=espn/> earning him the AL [[Major League Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award|Comeback Player of the Year Award]], among several awards.<ref name="13awards">{{cite web|last=Casella|first=Paul|date=November 4, 2013|title=Mo' haul: Man of Year, two Comeback honors|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/c-63682808/print|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407053337/https://www.mlb.com/news/c-63682808/print|archive-date=April 7, 2018|access-date=April 6, 2018|website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> During the World Series, he was honored as the 13th recipient of the [[Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award]] for his accomplished career and for being "a great ambassador of the game".<ref name="chaa">{{Cite web|date=October 24, 2013|title=Mariano Rivera Receives Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/63316480/mariano-rivera-receives-commissioners-historic-achievement-award/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031104854/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/63316480/mariano-rivera-receives-commissioners-historic-achievement-award/|archive-date=October 31, 2017|access-date=September 21, 2019|website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref>
{{clear}}

==Player profile==
===Pitching style===
[[File:Brett Lawrie bat broken by Mariano Rivera cutter at Baseball Hall of Fame.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.75|A bat broken by Rivera's cutter during his record-tying 601st career save, on display in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]]
Rivera's signature pitch was a [[cut fastball]] or "cutter", which exhibited lateral movement towards left-handed hitters similar to that of a [[Slider (baseball)|slider]] but with the velocity of a [[fastball]].<ref name="cuthell">{{cite news|last=Harper|first=John|date=September 21, 2011|title=Mariano's Gift 'From God'|at=Commemorative section, pp. 16–17|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/mo-gift-god-pure-hell-hitters-article-1.956109|access-date=November 3, 2019|archive-date=August 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818202956/https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/mo-gift-god-pure-hell-hitters-article-1.956109|url-status=live}}</ref> The sharp, late movement of Rivera's cutter prevented hitters from making contact with the ball on the [[Sweet spot (sports)#Baseball bat|sweet spot]] of their bats, leading to them not only making weak contact on [[batted ball]]s but also frequently breaking their bats.<ref name="broken">{{cite news|last=Olney|first=Buster|date=April 2, 2000|title=Rivera Tops in Broken Bats and Broken Hearts|edition=National|page=SP1|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/02/sports/baseball-2000-preview-rivera-tops-in-broken-bats-and-broken-hearts.html|access-date=October 18, 2013|archive-date=December 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229151657/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/02/sports/baseball-2000-preview-rivera-tops-in-broken-bats-and-broken-hearts.html|url-status=live}}</ref> According to a tally by columnist [[Buster Olney]], Rivera broke 44&nbsp;bats during the 2001 regular season.<ref name=formality/> [[Chipper Jones]], who once witnessed teammate [[Ryan Klesko]] break three bats in a [[plate appearance]] against Rivera in the 1999 World Series,<ref name=toughbats/> called the pitch a "buzz saw".<ref name=klapisch/> Rivera's long fingers and loose wrist allowed him to impart more spin on the ball, contributing to the pitch's movement.<ref name=mosv/><ref>{{cite news|last=Klapisch|first=Bob|date=September 13, 2011|title=Mo than amazing|pages=S-1, S-4|newspaper=[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]|url=http://www.northjersey.com/sports/Klapisch_Yankee_great_Mariano_Rivera_is_in_a_class_by_himself.html|access-date=September 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012004727/http://www.northjersey.com/sports/Klapisch_Yankee_great_Mariano_Rivera_is_in_a_class_by_himself.html|archive-date=October 12, 2013}}</ref> Describing his grip of the cutter, he said, "it's really a [[four-seam fastball]] with pressure on the middle finger". By adjusting the pressure that he applied to the ball with his fingertips, he could vary the pitch's movement.<ref name=mosv/> One of the keys to his cutter grip was bending his thumb at the knuckle and tucking it under the ball so the nail aligned with his middle finger; this position prevented his thumb pad from impeding the spin of the ball as it left his hand.<ref name="halladay-mo">{{cite news|last=Kepner|first=Tyler|date=January 21, 2019|title=How Rivera Helped Steer Halladay Toward the Hall|edition=New York|page=D6|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/20/sports/hall-of-fame-roy-halladay.html|access-date=February 2, 2019|archive-date=February 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202211956/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/20/sports/hall-of-fame-roy-halladay.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera threw four-seam and [[two-seam fastball]]s as complementary pitches but primarily used his cutter;<ref name=conf/><ref name="onepitch">{{cite news|last=Carig|first=Marc|date=September 20, 2011|title=One Man. One Pitch.|pages=40–41|newspaper=[[The Star-Ledger]]|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2011/09/yankees_mariano_rivera_is_more.html|access-date=October 19, 2019|archive-date=October 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031185816/https://www.nj.com/yankees/2011/09/yankees_mariano_rivera_is_more.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="newsd-tuneup">{{cite news|last=Lennon|first=David|date=August 13, 2013|title=After Stalling, Mo Goes Over His Mechanics|page=A55|newspaper=[[Newsday]]|url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/mariano-rivera/mariano-rivera-gets-night-off-after-getting-mental-tuneup-1.5880387|access-date=March 17, 2021|archive-date=October 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024044405/http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/mariano-rivera/mariano-rivera-gets-night-off-after-getting-mental-tuneup-1.5880387|url-status=live}}</ref> according to baseball statistics website [[Fangraphs]], Rivera threw at least 82% cutters each season from 2008 to 2013.<ref name="fangraphs">{{cite web|title=Mariano Rivera – Stats – Pitching|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/mariano-rivera/844/stats#pitch-type|access-date=March 17, 2021|website=[[Fangraphs]]|archive-date=January 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127110014/https://www.fangraphs.com/players/mariano-rivera/844/stats?position=P#pitch-type|url-status=live}}</ref> All three pitches typically reached a velocity in the low-to-mid 90s&nbsp;mph.<ref name=conf/><ref name=onepitch/><ref name="newsd-tuneup"/>

{{multiple image|total_width=280px|image1=0G1G4040 Mariano Rivera.jpg|image2=Mariano Rivera throwing ball 2007.jpg|alt1=Mariano Rivera in a gray baseball uniform and navy blue cap stands on a dirt mound. His right arm is behind him, bent at the elbow and clutching a baseball. The back of his uniform shows the number 42.|alt2=Mariano Rivera in a gray baseball uniform and navy blue cap stands on a dirt mound. He is striding forward to the left as he holds a baseball in his forward-extended right arm. His face is contorted in concentration.|footer=Rivera throws a cut fastball in 2007}}
Early in his major league career, Rivera was a "[[power pitcher]]" who relied on an overpowering four-seam fastball that topped out at {{convert|96|mph|abbr=on}} to retire hitters.<ref>{{cite news|last=Klapisch|first=Bob|date=June 26, 1996|title=Rivera uncorks the heat|pages=S-1, S-5|newspaper=[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]}}</ref><ref name="subtle">{{cite news|last=Olney|first=Buster|date=February 28, 1999|title=Rivera Now Delivers A More Subtle Sting|edition=National|at=sec. 8, p. 3|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/28/sports/baseball-rivera-now-delivers-a-more-subtle-sting.html|access-date=October 18, 2013|archive-date=February 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204002442/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/28/sports/baseball-rivera-now-delivers-a-more-subtle-sting.html|url-status=live}}</ref> By enticing them to swing and miss at pitches high in the [[strike zone]], he accumulated strikeouts at a high rate.<ref name=subtle/> Rivera altered his pitching style after accidentally discovering the cutter. One day in June 1997 during one of his daily warm-up tosses with teammate [[Ramiro Mendoza]], Rivera noticed that his fastballs were moving sharply and unpredictably, a problem that began to occur in games as well.<ref name=subtle/><ref name=mosv/> After unsuccessfully spending a month trying to eliminate the movement, Rivera relented and incorporated the cutter into his pitching repertoire,<ref name=mosv/> making it one of his primary pitches in 1998.<ref name="cutter98">{{cite news|last=Olney|first=Buster|date=February 18, 2001|title=Rivera Aiming to Be Unpredictable|edition=National|at=sec. 8, p. 7|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/18/sports/baseball-rivera-aiming-to-be-unpredictable.html|access-date=July 2, 2013|archive-date=October 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002220624/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/18/sports/baseball-rivera-aiming-to-be-unpredictable.html|url-status=live}}</ref> When asked about the pitch's origin, he explained: "It was just from God. I didn't do anything. It was natural."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Verducci|first=Tom|date=October 25, 1999|title=Out at Home|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1999/10/25/out-at-home-the-yankees-allowed-the-red-sox-their-day-of-fenway-glory-then-dispatched-boston-to-resume-ttheir-inexorable-march-back-to-the-world-series|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|volume=91|issue=16|pages=42–47|access-date=March 17, 2021|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308155710/https://vault.si.com/vault/1999/10/25/out-at-home-the-yankees-allowed-the-red-sox-their-day-of-fenway-glory-then-dispatched-boston-to-resume-ttheir-inexorable-march-back-to-the-world-series|url-status=live}}</ref> As he came to rely on the cutter, Rivera began to record more outs on batted balls.<ref name=subtle/> This change resulted in his strikeouts per 9 innings rate decreasing from 10.87 in 1996 to 5.3 in 1998,<ref name=brpro/> but it also decreased his [[pitch count|pitches per inning]] rate from 18.7 in 1995 to 14.9 in 1998.<ref name=subtle/> Rivera credited his improved efficiency and consequent longevity in baseball to his long-time pitching coach [[Mel Stottlemyre]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Kuty|first=Brendan|date=January 23, 2019|title=Why Yankees great Mariano Rivera isn't thrilled about state of baseball <nowiki>|</nowiki> 9 takeaways from Hall of Fame press conference|url=https://www.nj.com/sports/g66l-2019/01/2dfa90204f4827/why-yankees-great-mariano-rivera-isnt-thrilled-about-state-of-baseball-9-takeaways-from-hall-of-fame-press-conference.html|access-date=June 7, 2023|website=[[NJ.com]]|archive-date=June 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620173152/https://www.nj.com/sports/g66l-2019/01/2dfa90204f4827/why-yankees-great-mariano-rivera-isnt-thrilled-about-state-of-baseball-9-takeaways-from-hall-of-fame-press-conference.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Rivera had an impeccable ability to accurately locate pitches and consistently throw strikes, particularly on the inside and outside edges of the strike zone. This strength offset his reliance on one pitch and hitters' anticipation of it.<ref name=onepitch/><ref>{{cite web|last=Sheppard|first=Drew|date=May 16, 2013|title=Mariano Rivera Breaking Bats|url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/mariano-rivera-breaking-bats/|access-date=October 31, 2019|website=[[Fangraphs]]|archive-date=October 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031185819/https://blogs.fangraphs.com/mariano-rivera-breaking-bats/|url-status=live}}</ref> His former catcher Joe Girardi said: "He was so easy to catch because he always put the ball right there. I don't think there's ever been a pitcher that great who was so easy to catch."<ref name="exit">{{cite magazine|last=Verducci|first=Tom|date=September 23, 2013|title=Exit Sandman|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/2013/09/23/exit-sandman|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|volume=119|issue=12|pages=36–43|access-date=March 17, 2021|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308145927/https://vault.si.com/vault/2013/09/23/exit-sandman|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera's 4.10 career strikeout-to-walk ratio in the regular season ranks 15th-best in MLB history.<ref>{{cite web|title=Career Leaders & Records for Strikeouts/Base on Balls|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/strikeouts_per_base_on_balls_career.shtml|access-date=September 14, 2021|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|archive-date=June 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620232111/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/strikeouts_per_base_on_balls_career.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> His control was a byproduct of his smooth, easily repeated pitching motion,<ref name=mosv/> one that [[Darrin Fletcher]] found deceptive as an opposing hitter. He said in 1999 that Rivera "almost kind of lulls you to sleep with his delivery. It gives you a false sense of security, and then the ball is on you and it's exploding."<ref name=broken/>

{{Quote box|quote="You know what's coming, but you know what's coming in horror movies too. It still gets you."|source=—[[Mike Sweeney]], on the difficulty of hitting Rivera's cutter despite expecting it<ref name=mosv/>|width=25em|align=left|style=padding:8px;}}
Defying conventional wisdom of [[lefty-righty switch|lefty-righty matchups]], [[switch hitter]]s occasionally batted right-handed when facing the right-handed Rivera, believing that his cutter would [[Glossary of baseball terms#jam|jam]] a batter hitting left-handed.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kepner|first=Tyler|date=March 23, 2004|title=For Yankees and Rivera, It's Case Closed|edition=National|page=D1|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/23/sports/baseball-for-yankees-and-rivera-it-s-case-closed.html|access-date=July 25, 2007|archive-date=May 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521080224/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/23/sports/baseball-for-yankees-and-rivera-it-s-case-closed.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Similarly, some managers, such as [[Bruce Bochy]] in the 1998 World Series, sent right-handed batters to [[pinch hitter|pinch hit]] for left-handers against Rivera, thinking that the cutter would be more difficult for lefties to hit.<ref>{{cite news|last=Berardino|first=Mike|date=October 22, 1998|title=Bochy Defends His Game 3 Decisions|page=C6|newspaper=[[South Florida Sun-Sentinel]]|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1998/10/22/bochy-defends-his-game-3-decisions/|access-date=June 7, 2023|archive-date=June 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620173152/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1998/10/22/bochy-defends-his-game-3-decisions/|url-status=live}}</ref> Opposing hitters occasionally chose to face Rivera with backup or batting practice bats, rather than risk breaking their best ones against his cutter.<ref name=mosv/><ref name=broken/>

Rivera was considered an exceptional athlete, distinguished by his slender physique and durability.<ref name=king/> His propensity to shag balls during batting practice convinced scouts he could be a top AL [[center fielder]]. Olney compared Rivera's regimen of physical preparation and guidelines for staying healthy to [[Satchel Paige]]'s "Rules for Staying Young".<ref>{{cite web|last=Olney|first=Buster|date=February 20, 2010|title=Taking a Paige from Rivera's book|url=https://insider.espn.com/blog/buster-olney/post/_/id/1387/mlb-buster-olney-mariano-rivera-no-plans-fade-away-new-york-yankees|url-access=subscription|access-date=May 14, 2017|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=November 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112021943/http://insider.espn.com/blog/buster-olney/post/_/id/1387/mlb-buster-olney-mariano-rivera-no-plans-fade-away-new-york-yankees|url-status=live}}</ref> Former teammate [[Alex Rodriguez]] expressed amazement at Rivera's athleticism and claimed that the pitcher completed a {{convert|35|in|adj=on}} [[vertical jump]] in Yankees training camp at age 41.<ref>{{cite episode|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpvFTU3TczE| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/IpvFTU3TczE| archive-date=November 14, 2021 | url-status=live|title=A-Rod: PED usage shouldn't ban players from Hall of Fame|series=First Take|series-link=First Take (talk show)|author=Rodriguez, Alex|network=[[ESPN]]|type=Television broadcast|date=January 23, 2019|access-date=January 23, 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Personality===
Rivera exhibited a reserved demeanor on the field that contrasted with the emotional, demonstrative temperament of many of his peers.<ref name=mosv/> Hall of Fame closer [[Goose Gossage]] said that Rivera's composure under stress gave him the appearance of having "ice water in his veins".<ref name=conf/><ref>Levin (2008), p. 28</ref> Commenting on his ability to remain focused in pressure situations, Rivera said, "When you start thinking, a lot of things will happen... If you don't control your emotions, your emotions will control your acts, and that's not good." His ability to [[Compartmentalization (psychology)|compartmentalize]] his successes and failures impressed fellow reliever [[Joba Chamberlain]], who said, "He's won and lost some of the biggest games in the history of baseball, and he's no worse for the wear when he gives up a home run."<ref name="heart">{{cite news|last=Kepner|first=Tyler|date=March 9, 2008|title=A Closer With an Open Heart|edition=New York|page=SP1|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/sports/baseball/09rivera.html|access-date=September 8, 2011|archive-date=October 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002220617/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/sports/baseball/09rivera.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera explained the need to quickly forget bad performances, saying, "the game that you're going to play tomorrow is not going to be the same game that you just played."<ref>{{cite web|last=Canseco|first=Mario|date=October 1, 2013|title=The Enduring Example of Mariano Rivera|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/community-blogs/the-enduring-example-of-mariano-rivera|access-date=May 4, 2016|website=[[Vancouver Sun]]|archive-date=May 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503124052/http://vancouversun.com/news/community-blogs/the-enduring-example-of-mariano-rivera|url-status=live}}</ref> Derek Jeter called him the "most mentally tough" teammate with whom he had ever played.<ref name=cy/>

During his playing career, Rivera was regarded as a team leader within the Yankees organization, often mentoring younger pitchers and counseling teammates.<ref>{{cite news|last=Waldstein|first=David|date=September 15, 2011|title=Yanks' Closer Also Serves as Mentor and Counselor|edition=New York|page=B12|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/15/sports/baseball/to-yankees-teammates-rivera-is-just-as-valuable-in-private.html|access-date=September 23, 2011|archive-date=September 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916193526/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/15/sports/baseball/to-yankees-teammates-rivera-is-just-as-valuable-in-private.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He had a team-first mindset and deferred most discussions about individual accolades to team goals and his teammates, praising them for making his presence in games possible.<ref name=sv600/> When asked to describe his job, Rivera once put it simply, "I get the ball, I throw the ball, and then I take a shower."<ref>{{cite news|last=Kakutani|first=Michiko|date=September 29, 2013|title=A Zen Master With a Mean Cutter|edition=New York|at=sec. SP, p. 1|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/sports/baseball/mariano-rivera-a-zen-master-with-a-mean-cutter.html|access-date=September 21, 2019|archive-date=September 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921165341/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/sports/baseball/mariano-rivera-a-zen-master-with-a-mean-cutter.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Legacy==
{{Quote box
| quote = "When you go back and look at his career and what he's done with that one pitch, I don't think there's a greater achievement in this game than that. To go through major league hitters and dominate for all those years, it's one of the greatest feats I'll ever look back on... I don't think people realize how incredible it really is. It will never be duplicated, ever."
| source = —[[Eric Chavez]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/11/sports/baseball/mariano-rivera-quietly-approaches-an-underrated-record.html|title=Quietly, Rivera Nears an Underrated Record|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|author=Waldstein, David|date=September 11, 2011|page=SP2|edition=New York|access-date=September 19, 2011|archive-date=September 13, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913181720/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/11/sports/baseball/mariano-rivera-quietly-approaches-an-underrated-record.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| width = 25em
| align = right
| style = padding:8px;
}}
Rivera was a dominant reliever throughout his career, pitching with a consistency and longevity uncharacteristic of a role commonly marked by volatility and high [[Turnover (employment)|turnover]].<ref name="volatile">{{cite web|last=White|first=Paul|date=May 30, 2007|title=Confidence game as closer has few winners|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2007-05-30-sw-closers_N.htm|access-date=February 26, 2013|website=[[USA Today]]|archive-date=November 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103103706/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2007-05-30-sw-closers_N.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Gross|first1=Brian|last2=Lindeman|first2=Todd|date=March 29, 2011|title=There's Mariano... and everyone else|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/theres-mariano----and-everyone-else/2011/03/29/AFUeBswB_graphic.html|access-date=April 5, 2011|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|archive-date=November 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112052431/http://www.washingtonpost.com/theres-mariano----and-everyone-else/2011/03/29/AFUeBswB_graphic.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In his 17-year tenure as the Yankees' closer, Rivera compiled considerable career numbers. A 13-time All-Star, he is MLB's all-time regular season leader in saves (652) and [[games finished]] (952).<ref name=brpro/> He pitched in 1,115 regular season games, which is fourth-most in MLB history,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ticotimes.net/2013/09/30/panama-s-mariano-rivera-the-best-closer-in-baseball-history-ends-his-19-year-career|title=Panama's Mariano Rivera, the best closer in baseball history, ends his 19-year career|website=[[The Tico Times]]|date=September 20, 2013|access-date=August 3, 2016|archive-date=August 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819073136/http://www.ticotimes.net/2013/09/30/panama-s-mariano-rivera-the-best-closer-in-baseball-history-ends-his-19-year-career|url-status=live}}</ref> the most in AL history,<ref name="al-gp"/> and the most by a right-handed pitcher.<ref name="42things"/> Rivera holds or shares several records for the most seasons of reaching various save milestones, including seasons with at least: 20 saves (sixteen);<ref name="20sv16x"/> 25 saves (fifteen consecutive,<ref name="25consv15x"/> sixteen total<ref name="25sv16x"/>); 30 saves (nine consecutive,<ref name="30consv9x"/> fifteen total<ref name="30sv15x"/>); 35 saves (twelve);<ref name="35sv12x"/> 40 saves (nine);<ref name="40-50sv"/> and 50 saves (two).<ref name="40-50sv"/> At the time of his retirement, Rivera's career ERA (2.21) and WHIP (1.00) were the lowest of any MLB pitcher in the [[live-ball era]] (minimum 1,000 innings pitched), making him one of the top pitchers since 1920 at preventing hitters from reaching base and scoring.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/65206/mo-most-dominant-athlete-ever|title=Mo: Most dominant athlete ever?|website=[[ESPN.com]]|first=Will|last=Cohen|date=September 28, 2013|access-date=September 14, 2021|archive-date=September 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914204303/https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/65206/mo-most-dominant-athlete-ever|url-status=live}}</ref> He recorded an ERA under 2.00 in 11&nbsp;seasons, tying him with [[Walter Johnson]] for the most such seasons (minimum 60&nbsp;innings pitched each).<ref name="sub2era">{{cite magazine|last=Verducci|first=Tom|date=November 21, 2011|title=My Sportsman: Mariano Rivera|url=https://www.si.com/sportsperson/2011/11/21/mariano-riverasportsman|access-date=March 17, 2021|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308230929/https://www.si.com/sportsperson/2011/11/21/mariano-riverasportsman|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera also ranks first in career [[adjusted ERA+]] (205), a statistic that adjusts ERA for league and ballpark to allow comparisons of pitchers on the same baseline.<ref name=era/><ref>{{cite web|date=March 7, 2013|title=Farewell by the numbers for Mariano Rivera|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/62986/farewell-by-the-numbers-for-mariano-rivera|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112003000/https://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/62986/farewell-by-the-numbers-for-mariano-rivera|url-status=live}}</ref> His 1,135 regular season strikeouts rank 13th all time among relievers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/marcus-semien-rangers-win-suspended-game-white-sox|title=Robertson passes former HOF teammate Rivera on all-time reliever K list|website=[[MLB.com]]|first=Tim|last=Stebbins|date=August 28, 2024|access-date=September 8, 2024}}</ref>

In addition to his strong regular season numbers, Rivera excelled in the postseason,<ref name="verducci">{{cite magazine|last=Verducci|first=Tom|date=January 20, 2005|title=Gotta get to Mo|url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2005/01/20/rivera-yankees|access-date=August 21, 2014|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028100052/https://www.si.com/more-sports/2005/01/20/rivera-yankees|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Gonzalez|first=Alden|date=September 14, 2011|title=Postmaster general: In playoffs, Rivera is tops|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/24277036/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112175716/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/24277036/|archive-date=November 12, 2014|access-date=November 12, 2014|website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> recording an 8–1&nbsp;win–loss record and a 0.76&nbsp;WHIP.<ref name=ps-stats/> He holds numerous postseason records, including lowest career ERA among players with a minimum of 30&nbsp;innings pitched (0.70), most saves (42),<ref name="ps-rec">{{cite web|title=All-time and Single-Season Postseason Pitching Leaders|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/Playoffs_pitching.shtml|access-date=September 6, 2011|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|archive-date=July 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708004514/https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/Playoffs_pitching.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> most consecutive scoreless innings pitched ({{frac|33|1|3}}),<ref name=33ip/> most consecutive save opportunities converted (23),<ref name=23sv/> and most games pitched (96).<ref name=ps-rec/> He saved more than twice as many postseason games as any other pitcher; [[Kenley Jansen]], with 20, has the next-highest total.<ref name="ps-rec"/> In an oft-cited statistic, more [[List of people who have walked on the Moon|people have walked on the Moon]] (12) than have scored an earned run against Rivera in the postseason (11).<ref name="mlb-19hof-elect">{{cite web|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=January 23, 2019|title=Mo is 1st in history with unanimous Hall election|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mariano-rivera-elected-to-hall-of-fame/c-302995428|access-date=January 23, 2019|website=[[MLB.com]]|archive-date=January 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123224038/https://www.mlb.com/news/mariano-rivera-elected-to-hall-of-fame/c-302995428|url-status=live}}</ref> Joe Torre, who was the Yankees' manager for most of Rivera's career, said: "Let's face it. The regular season for Mo is great, but that's the cupcakes and the ice cream. What separates him from everybody else is what he's done in the postseason."<ref name=mosv/> Rivera's dominance in the postseason often led to him being utilized for two-inning appearances,<ref name=verducci/> as he saved a record 14&nbsp;postseason games in this manner—more than all other relievers combined during his career.<ref name="ESPN results"/> He ranks first all time in [[win probability added]] (WPA) in the postseason with 11.7, nearly three times the total of the next-closest player.<ref name="ps-wpa">{{cite web|last=Axisa|first=Mike|date=January 17, 2019|title=2019 Baseball Hall of Fame: Putting Mariano Rivera's historic career with Yankees into context as he readies for induction|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2019-baseball-hall-of-fame-putting-mariano-riveras-historic-career-with-yankees-into-context-as-he-readies-for-induction/|access-date=January 17, 2019|website=[[CBS Sports]]|archive-date=January 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121151/https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2019-baseball-hall-of-fame-putting-mariano-riveras-historic-career-with-yankees-into-context-as-he-readies-for-induction/|url-status=live}}</ref> He also ranks first all time in championship WPA in the postseason (183, or 1.83),<ref name=ps-rec/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2021/3/17/22335319/relief-pitcher-championship-belt-mariano-rivera-dennis-eckersley-rollie-fingers|title=The Relief Pitcher Championship Belt|website=[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]|first=Zach|last=Kram|date=March 17, 2021|access-date=January 7, 2024}}</ref> meaning his performance alone added nearly two World Series championships to the Yankees.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25793389/mariano-rivera-had-not-one-two-hall-fame-careers|title=Mariano Rivera had not one, but two Hall of Fame careers|website=[[ESPN.com]]|first=Sam|last=Miller|date=July 18, 2019|access-date=July 16, 2024}}</ref> In a 2009 ESPN.com poll, Rivera was voted one of the top five postseason players in MLB history.<ref>{{cite web|title=MLB Hall of Fall (2009)|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/playoffs/2009/halloffall|access-date=May 14, 2017|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=November 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112073900/http://www.espn.com/mlb/playoffs/2009/halloffall|url-status=live}}</ref> Neil Greenberg of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' ranked him the most "[[Clutch (sports)|clutch]]" player in MLB postseason history.<ref>{{cite news|last=Greenberg|first=Neil|date=March 31, 2020|title=The five most clutch MLB players in postseason history|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/03/31/mlb-most-clutch-postseason-players/|access-date=March 31, 2020|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|archive-date=April 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401070525/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/03/31/mlb-most-clutch-postseason-players/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Mariano Rivera shakes Jorge Posadas hand.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85|alt=Jorge Posada wearing catcher's equipment shakes hands with Mariano Rivera on a grass field.|Rivera ''(right)'' shakes hands with [[Jorge Posada]] after finishing a game in 2009.]]
Rivera achieved a reputation as an all-time great reliever among baseball experts and his peers.<ref name=conf/><ref>{{cite web|last=DiComo|first=Anthony|date=June 29, 2009|title=Friends, foes respect Rivera's dominance|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/5587344/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112175928/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/5587344/|archive-date=November 12, 2014|access-date=November 12, 2014|website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> Hall of Fame starter-turned-closer Dennis Eckersley called him "the best ever, no doubt",<ref name="eck">{{cite web|date=July 17, 2006|title=A decade later, Rivera still dominates; 'Best ever,' Eckersley says|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=2522170|access-date=May 14, 2017|website=[[ESPN.com]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|archive-date=November 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112031255/http://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=2522170|url-status=live}}</ref> while Trevor Hoffman said he "will go down as the best reliever in the game in history".<ref name=conf/> Torre said, "He's the best I've ever been around. Not only the ability to pitch and perform under pressure, but the calm he puts over the clubhouse."<ref name="04ext"/> Writer [[Tom Verducci]] said, "Rivera is definitively the best at his position by a wider margin than any player at any position in the history of baseball. There is Rivera, a gulf, and then every other closer."<ref name="si-acl"/> He compared Rivera's reputation for being the best at his sport's position to those of [[Michael Jordan]] in [[basketball]] and [[Wayne Gretzky]] in [[ice hockey]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Verducci|first=Tom|date=September 13, 2011|title=As he nears record, Rivera's career a study of poetry in motion|url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2011/09/13/mariano-rivera|access-date=August 21, 2014|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|archive-date=August 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822014318/http://www.si.com/more-sports/2011/09/13/mariano-rivera|url-status=live}}</ref> MLB Commissioner [[Bud Selig]] said, "Clearly unequivocally, he's the greatest relief pitcher of all time, and did it in a way that was remarkable."<ref>{{cite news|last=Gardner|first=Steve|date=October 25, 2013|title=Kelly will square off vs. Buchholz in Game 3|page=5C|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2013/10/24/mariano-rivera-bud-selig-historic-achievement-award-fenway-park-world-series/3183267/|access-date=November 13, 2013|archive-date=October 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031202946/http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2013/10/24/mariano-rivera-bud-selig-historic-achievement-award-fenway-park-world-series/3183267/|url-status=live}}</ref> Speaking about Rivera's looming presence at the end of games, Alex Rodriguez said: "He's the only guy in baseball who can change the game from a seat in the clubhouse or the bullpen. He would start affecting teams as early as the fifth inning, because they knew he was out there. I've never seen anyone who could affect a game like that."<ref>{{cite web|last=Matthews|first=Wallace|date=September 19, 2011|title=Save No. 602 cements Mo as No. 1|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/story/_/id/6989214/new-york-yankees-closer-mariano-rivera-more-baseball-career-saves-leader|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=December 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215233948/http://www.espn.com/new-york/story/_/id/6989214/new-york-yankees-closer-mariano-rivera-more-baseball-career-saves-leader|url-status=live}}</ref> Gossage said that Rivera "might be the greatest closer of all-time" but suggested that the modern closer's job has become too specialized and easy compared to multiple-inning "firemen" from Gossage's era;<ref>{{cite news|last=Feinsand|first=Mark|date=June 30, 2009|title=Gossage slams door on debate|page=44|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/goose-gossage-closes-debate-mariano-rivera-all-time-best-article-1.379082|access-date=November 3, 2019|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402195956/https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/goose-gossage-closes-debate-mariano-rivera-all-time-best-article-1.379082|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Zimniuch (2010), p. 97</ref> Rivera had only one regular season save of seven-plus outs in his career, whereas Gossage logged 53.<ref>Rosen (2011), p. 213</ref> Rivera has been ranked among the greatest baseball players of all time, with ''[[The Athletic]]'' ranking him 91st in 2019,<ref>{{cite web|last=Posnanski|first=Joe|date=December 27, 2019|title=The Baseball 100: No. 91, Mariano Rivera|url=https://theathletic.com/1446180/2019/12/27/the-baseball-100-no-91-mariano-rivera/|access-date=December 29, 2019|website=[[The Athletic]]|archive-date=December 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230032127/https://theathletic.com/1446180/2019/12/27/the-baseball-100-no-91-mariano-rivera/|url-status=live}}</ref> and ESPN.com ranking him 31st in 2022.<ref>{{cite web|date=February 2, 2022|title=Top 100 MLB players of all time: Nos. 50–26|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33145627/top-100-mlb-players-all-nos-50-26|access-date=February 3, 2022|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=February 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202203744/https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33145627/top-100-mlb-players-all-nos-50-26|url-status=live}}</ref> Two years later, ESPN.com ranked him 59th on its list of the top 100 professional athletes of the 21st century.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/40446224/top-100-athletes-21st-century|title=Ranking the top 100 professional athletes since 2000|website=[[ESPN.com]]|date=July 16, 2024|access-date=July 16, 2024}}</ref>

{{MLBBioRet
|Align=right
| Image  = MarianoRivera42.jpg
| Name   = Mariano Rivera
| Number = 42
| Team   = New York Yankees
| Year   = 2013
}}
Rivera is well respected throughout baseball for his professionalism. Fellow closer [[Joe Nathan]] said: "I look up to how he's handled himself on and off the field... You never see him show up anyone and he respects the game. I've always looked up to him and it's always a compliment to be just mentioned in the same sentence as him."<ref>{{cite web|last=Rodriguez|first=Justin|date=July 14, 2009|title=All-Starry-eyed Nathan|url=http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090714/SPORTS/307149933|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616202150/http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090714/SPORTS/307149933|archive-date=June 16, 2011|access-date=May 19, 2010|website=[[Times Herald-Record]]}}</ref> [[Michael Young (baseball)|Michael Young]] said of Rivera: "I respect Mo more than anybody in the game. The guy goes out there, gets three outs and shakes [Jorge] Posada's hand. You appreciate someone who respects the game like he does, respects the people he plays with and against, and obviously his results speak for themselves."<ref>{{cite news|last=Feinsand|first=Mark|date=July 14, 2009|title=Jeter & Mo Show|page=45|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yankees-derek-jeter-mariano-rivera-praised-10th-all-star-trip-article-1.426557|access-date=November 4, 2019|archive-date=April 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419065942/https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yankees-derek-jeter-mariano-rivera-praised-10th-all-star-trip-article-1.426557|url-status=live}}</ref> In a ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' cover story about Rivera that was published in the final week of his career, Verducci said of the pitcher, "Few players in any sport have retired with more reverence from his peers."<ref name=exit/> Rivera was the last MLB player to wear the uniform number 42 on a regular basis; at the time of his retirement, he was the only active player still grandfathered by the league to wear Jackie Robinson's retired number.<ref name=jr42/> Speaking about Rivera's connection to her husband, Robinson's widow [[Rachel Robinson|Rachel]] said: "[Rivera] carried himself with dignity and grace, and that made carrying the number a tribute to Jack... I've always been proud and pleased that Mariano was the one chosen to wear that number because I think he brought something special to it."<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Connor|first=Ian|date=March 6, 2013|title=Jackie's widow: Mo worthy of No. 42|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/9028898/jackie-robinson-widow-rachel-proud-new-york-yankees-mariano-rivera|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=April 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419031908/http://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/9028898/jackie-robinson-widow-rachel-proud-new-york-yankees-mariano-rivera|url-status=live}}</ref> Presenting him with the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award, Selig said: "Throughout his illustrious career, he has represented his family, his country, the Yankees and all of Major League Baseball with the utmost class and dignity. It is wholly appropriate that Mariano was the last Major League player to wear Jackie Robinson's sacred number 42."<ref name=chaa/>

[[File:Mariano Rivera's cutter grip traced onto ball for Roy Halladay at Baseball Hall of Fame.jpg|thumb|upright=0.95|left|A ball onto which [[Roy Halladay]] traced Rivera's cutter grip as a reference, as seen in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]]
Rivera's cut fastball was a respected pitch among major league players.<ref name=king/><ref name="scare">{{cite web|last=Stark|first=Jayson|author-link=Jayson Stark|title=The pitches that scare major leaguers|url=http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/stark_jayson/1382666.html|access-date=March 5, 2009|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=September 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915174905/http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/stark_jayson/1382666.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Jim Thome]] called it "the single best pitch ever in the game".<ref>{{cite news|last=Curry|first=Jack|date=July 17, 2006|title=End in Sight, Guillén Shows Respect With a Rare Retreat|edition=New York|page=D2|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/17/sports/baseball/17curry.html?scp=1|access-date=August 10, 2006|archive-date=October 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016173234/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/17/sports/baseball/17curry.html?scp=1|url-status=live}}</ref> [[David Ortiz]] echoed his sentiment, saying: "[Rivera's] cutter was the single best pitch I've ever seen, but the really amazing thing is how he was able to do it for so many years. Are there guys now who have stuff as nasty as Mariano? Maybe for one year, two years. But nobody could maintain it like he did."<ref>{{cite web|last=Ortiz|first=David|author-link=David Ortiz|date=September 23, 2015|title=The Five Toughest Pitchers I've Ever Faced|url=https://www.theplayerstribune.com/articles/david-ortiz-red-sox-five-toughest-pitchers-ive-ever-faced|access-date=March 17, 2021|website=[[The Players' Tribune]]|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308073113/https://www.theplayerstribune.com/articles/david-ortiz-red-sox-five-toughest-pitchers-ive-ever-faced|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2004, ESPN.com ranked his cutter as the best "[[Glossary of baseball terms#out pitch|out pitch]]" in baseball.<ref>{{cite web|last=McAdam|first=Sean|date=April 20, 2004|title=Knockout pitches|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?id=1786041|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=April 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420033042/http://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?id=1786041|url-status=live}}</ref> Olney described his cut fastball as "the most dominant pitch of a generation".<ref>Levin (2008), p. 59</ref> Several of Rivera's colleagues credit him with popularizing the cutter among major league pitchers. Fellow closer [[Jason Isringhausen]], who adopted the pitch later in his career, said: "I think he's been an influence on everybody that throws it. Everybody saw what [Rivera] could do, basically with one pitch. Nobody could throw it like he did, but now, you talk about the evolution of the cutter—just ask hitters about it and they tell you everybody's throwing one. And they hate it."<ref name=cuthell/> [[Al Leiter]], whose signature pitch was a cutter, echoed Isringhausen's sentiments: "Now, everybody throws it and Mo has had a huge influence on that. Pitchers watched him and marveled at what he did with one pitch."<ref name=cuthell/> During the 2008 All-Star break, [[Roy Halladay]] consulted Rivera for help with his own cutter and traced the reliever's suggested grip onto a baseball as a visual reference; Rivera's willingness to help an opponent drew a playful fine from his teammates in the Yankees' [[Kangaroo court#As informal proceedings in sport|kangaroo court]].<ref name="halladay-mo"/>
{{clear}}

==Personal life==
[[File:Mariano Rivera with family during presentation of Presidential Medal of Freedom.jpg|thumb|Rivera with his three sons, wife Clara, and daughter-in-law at the [[White House]] in 2019]]
Rivera and his wife Clara have known each other since [[elementary school]],<ref name=king/> and they were married on November 9, 1991.<ref>Levin (2008), p. 22</ref> They have three sons: Mariano III, Jafet, and Jaziel. The family lived in Panama until 2000, when they relocated to [[Westchester County, New York]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Curry|first=Jack|date=March 10, 2005|title=Fear Drove Rivera to Relocate His Family Here|edition=National|page=D1|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/10/sports/baseball/fear-drives-rivera-to-bring-family-here.html|access-date=April 6, 2018|archive-date=November 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112074225/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/10/sports/baseball/fear-drives-rivera-to-bring-family-here.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2006, the Riveras purchased a {{convert|13000|sqft|adj=on}} home in [[Rye, New York]], for $5.7&nbsp;million. They listed it for sale for $3.995&nbsp;million in 2020 and planned to move to a newly built house in [[White Plains, New York|White Plains]].<ref name="wsj-homes">{{cite news|last=Clarke|first=Katherine|date=November 6, 2020|title=Private Properties: Former Yankee Mariano Rivera Lists His N.Y. Home|edition=Eastern|page=M2|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/mariano-rivera-selling-westchester-ny-home-11604348979|url-access=limited|access-date=February 17, 2021|archive-date=January 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106115542/https://www.wsj.com/articles/mariano-rivera-selling-westchester-ny-home-11604348979|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.lohud.com/story/money/real-estate/homes/2020/12/28/ruined-castle-100-m-estate-best-hudson-valley-properties-2020/3822425001/|title=The best houses of 2020|newspaper=[[The Journal News]]|first=Karen|last=Croke|date=December 26, 2020|pages=1C–2C|access-date=February 17, 2021|archive-date=January 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122193323/https://www.lohud.com/story/money/real-estate/homes/2020/12/28/ruined-castle-100-m-estate-best-hudson-valley-properties-2020/3822425001/|url-status=live}}</ref> The couple also sold a lakefront home in [[Tampa, Florida]], for $3.2&nbsp;million in December 2019.<ref name="wsj-homes"/>

Mariano III pitched for [[Iona College (New York)|Iona College]] in [[New Rochelle, New York|New Rochelle]], not far from his home. He was drafted by the Yankees with the 872nd pick in the [[2014 Major League Baseball draft|2014 MLB draft]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Tucker|first=Douglas|date=June 8, 2014|title=Yanks draft Mariano Rivera's son|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/11048673/new-york-yankees-draft-son-mariano-rivera-29th-round|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=October 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005194746/http://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/11048673/new-york-yankees-draft-son-mariano-rivera-29th-round|url-status=live}}</ref> but decided to return to Iona for his junior year.<ref name="jr15draft">{{Cite web |date=June 9, 2015 |title=Nats take Mariano Rivera Jr. in 4th round; other notable names off board |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/13045489/mlb-draft-washington-nationals-take-mariano-rivera-jr-son-former-new-york-yankees-closer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005194826/http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/13045489/mlb-draft-washington-nationals-take-mariano-rivera-jr-son-former-new-york-yankees-closer |archive-date=October 5, 2018 |access-date=November 3, 2019 |website=[[ESPN.com]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> In the [[2015 Major League Baseball draft|following year's draft]], Mariano III was selected by the [[Washington Nationals]] in the fourth round with the 134th overall pick.<ref name="jr15draft" />

Over the course of his professional career, Rivera learned English, beginning in 1991 with the Greensboro Hornets, when he realized none of his teammates spoke his native Spanish.<ref>Levin (2008), p. 20</ref> He is now a proponent of Latino players learning English and of American press members learning Spanish to bridge the cultural gap.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bryant|first=Howard|date=June 12, 2009|title=At 39, the great Rivera fighting mortality|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=bryant_howard&id=4251481|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308124629/https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=bryant_howard&id=4251481|url-status=live}}</ref> He encouraged immigrants to the United States to make learning English their top priority.<ref name="pmof-nyt">{{cite news|last1=Crowley|first1=Michael|last2=Kepner|first2=Tyler|date=September 17, 2019|title=After Baseball Hall of Fame Comes a Medal of Freedom|edition=New York|page=B13|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/16/us/politics/trump-mariano-rivera.html|access-date=September 21, 2019|archive-date=September 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920071227/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/16/us/politics/trump-mariano-rivera.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera became a [[Naturalization|naturalized]] citizen of the United States in October 2015 and was recognized as an [[Outstanding American by Choice]] during the ceremony.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dhs.gov/blog/2015/10/26/150-become-citizens-during-two-ceremonies-new-york|title=150 Become Citizens During Two Ceremonies in New York|website=[[United States Department of Homeland Security|DHS.gov]]|date=October 26, 2015|access-date=January 25, 2017|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202024503/https://www.dhs.gov/blog/2015/10/26/150-become-citizens-during-two-ceremonies-new-york|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2019, a Panamanian woman accused Rivera of failing to financially support her two children, a boy and a girl then aged 11 and 15, that Rivera had allegedly fathered out of wedlock. Five lawsuits were filed in his native country, demanding [[child support]] that he allegedly stopped paying two years earlier. He called the demands "unfounded".<ref>{{cite web|date=February 19, 2019|title=Mariano Rivera calls child support allegations 'unfounded'|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26034374/mariano-rivera-calls-child-support-allegations-unfounded/|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|archive-date=February 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224082846/http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26034374/mariano-rivera-calls-child-support-allegations-unfounded|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Religion and philanthropy===
Rivera is a devout Christian. During his childhood, neither he nor his family attended church, but after a [[Born again (Christianity)|born-again]] experience around the age of 21, Rivera became religious and converted from [[Catholicism]] to a [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]] faith.<ref name=inspire/><ref name=king/> His parents followed his lead after seeing the difference it made in him.<ref name=inspire/> Rivera believes that God has a reason for everything that happens. For example, he found his failure in Game 7 of the [[2001 World Series]] easier to deal with when he learned of the consequences it had for teammate [[Enrique Wilson]]. Had the Yankees won the series, Wilson would have remained in New York for the championship parade and would have departed for his native [[Dominican Republic]] on [[American Airlines Flight 587]], which crashed shortly after takeoff and killed all 260 people aboard. Rivera told Wilson, "I am glad we lost the World Series, because it means that I still have a friend."<ref>{{cite web|last=Olney|first=Buster|date=May 2, 2005|title=Excerpt from the "Epilogue" for ''The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty: The Game, the Team, and the Cost of Greatness''|url=https://proxy.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=olney_buster&id=2051491|access-date=May 14, 2017|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=November 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112073858/http://proxy.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=olney_buster&id=2051491|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera's pitching glove was inscribed "Phil. 4:13", in reference to the [[Bible]] verse [[Epistle to the Philippians|Philippians]] 4:13 ("I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me").<ref>Hollander (2005), pp. 55–59</ref>

[[File:Mariano Rivera at 2014 Hispanic Federation Annual Gala IMG 9402 (14063021102).jpg|thumb|Rivera speaking at the [[Hispanic Federation]] Gala in April 2014 while accepting the Premio Orgullo for his humanitarian efforts]]
Rivera is involved with [[philanthropy|philanthropic]] efforts in several countries. The Mariano Rivera Foundation, a [[501(c)(3) organization|{{nowrap|501(c)(3)}} organization]] established in July 1998,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/134076067|title=Mariano Rivera Foundation&nbsp;– Nonprofit Explorer|website=[[ProPublica]]|date=May 9, 2013|access-date=October 3, 2019|archive-date=October 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003211357/https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/134076067|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/legendary_pitcher_mariano_rivera_hits_home_run_by_donating_new_instruments_and_uniforms_to_high_school_band/prweb12344156.htm|title=Legendary Pitcher Mariano Rivera Hits Home Run by Donating New Instruments and Uniforms to High School Band|agency=[[Cision|PRWeb]]|publisher=Giles Communications|date=November 20, 2014|access-date=March 15, 2019|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308150031/https://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/11/prweb12344156.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> helps provide underprivileged children with an education, distributing more than $500,000 annually in the US and Rivera's native Panama through church-based institutions.<ref name=king/> His contributions in Panama include building an elementary school, providing Christmas gifts to children, and developing a program that provides computer access and adult mentors to youths.<ref name=mlb12>"Bio – 2012 Highlights", ''MLB.com''</ref> In addition to funding church start-ups in Panama, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, California, and Florida, Rivera opened a church in New Rochelle in March 2014 that his foundation renovated at a cost of $3&nbsp;million. The church, named Refugio de Esperanza ("Refuge of Hope"), has his wife Clara as its [[pastor]] and hosts a Pentecostal congregation that previously met at the Rivera home.<ref name="nymagsaved">{{cite magazine|last=Miller|first=Lisa|author-link=Lisa Miller (journalist)|date=June 7, 2013|title=Saved|url=http://nymag.com/news/features/sports/mariano-rivera-2013-6/|magazine=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|access-date=June 11, 2013|archive-date=June 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613093254/http://nymag.com/news/features/sports/mariano-rivera-2013-6/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Fitzgerald|first=Jim|date=March 6, 2014|title=Baseball Star Rivera Rescues, Renovates NY Church|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/baseball-star-rivera-rescues-renovates-ny-church|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308065617/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/baseball-star-rivera-rescues-renovates-ny-church|archive-date=March 8, 2014|access-date=August 21, 2014|website=The Big Story|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

For years, the Mariano Rivera Foundation was a [[Private foundation (United States)|private institution]], but during his final baseball season in 2013, many teams wanted to commemorate the pitcher by donating to his foundation. As a result, he formed a [[Charitable organization#United States|public version]] of it; Naomi Gandia was appointed its executive director, working from its headquarters in [[Stanton, Delaware]].<ref name="foundation-del">{{cite news|last=Cormier|first=Ryan|date=April 15, 2018|title=Rivera picks charity base|page=2S|newspaper=[[The News Journal]]|url=https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2018/04/13/famed-yankees-reliever-mariano-rivera-finds-his-charitable-home-delaware/510221002/|access-date=March 15, 2019|archive-date=November 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117141113/https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2018/04/13/famed-yankees-reliever-mariano-rivera-finds-his-charitable-home-delaware/510221002/|url-status=live}}</ref> Since retiring from baseball, Rivera has dedicated himself to philanthropy and his churches.<ref name=king/><ref name=nymagsaved/><ref name="newfall">{{cite web|last=Kramer|first=Peter D.|date=October 5, 2015|title=The (new) fall of Mariano Rivera|url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/2015/10/05/new-fall-mariano-rivera/72965360/|access-date=April 6, 2018|website=[[The Journal News]]|archive-date=October 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027012532/https://www.lohud.com/story/news/2015/10/05/new-fall-mariano-rivera/72965360/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2014, he and Clara created a [[scholarship]] in their names that they have awarded to students at the local [[College of New Rochelle]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Reiner|first=Dan|date=September 23, 2016|title=Mariano Rivera, wife present CNR scholarships|url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/new-rochelle/2016/09/23/mariano-rivera-cnr-scholarships/90930436/|access-date=January 18, 2019|website=[[The Journal News]]|archive-date=January 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119181309/https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/new-rochelle/2016/09/23/mariano-rivera-cnr-scholarships/90930436/|url-status=live}}</ref> Recently, Rivera has organized an annual charity golf tournament that benefits [[White Plains Hospital]] and his foundation.<ref name="nydn-advance-hof"/> He also holds multiple events annually in Delaware, including giveaways of backpacks with school supplies to children, distribution of turkey dinners during the holiday season, and the "Mariano Rivera Foundation [[5K run|5K]] & Kids Run".<ref name="foundation-del"/> In 2021, his foundation launched the Mariano Rivera Mentorship Program, a faith-based initiative aimed at serving underprivileged males in [[Gainesville, Florida]]; New Rochelle; and Houston.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mainstreetdailynews.com/faith_inspiration/mariano-rivera-foundation-finds-early-success-in-gainesville/article_9dccb48a-0513-11ec-847e-cf78ba92bb47.html|title=Mariano Rivera Foundation finds early success in Gainesville|website=Mainstreet Daily News|first=Seth|last=Johnson|date=August 24, 2021|access-date=April 27, 2022|archive-date=April 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427140019/https://www.mainstreetdailynews.com/faith_inspiration/mariano-rivera-foundation-finds-early-success-in-gainesville/article_9dccb48a-0513-11ec-847e-cf78ba92bb47.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2012, the Giving Back Fund estimated that Rivera donated $627,500 to charity in 2010, ranking him as the 25th-most generous celebrity on a list that the fund compiled.<ref>{{cite web|last=Antunes|first=Anderson|date=January 11, 2012|title=The 30 Most Generous Celebrities|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/andersonantunes/2012/01/11/the-30-most-generous-celebrities/|access-date=October 31, 2019|website=[[Forbes]]|archive-date=October 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031185818/https://www.forbes.com/sites/andersonantunes/2012/01/11/the-30-most-generous-celebrities/|url-status=live}}</ref> He won the 2013 [[Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award]], which is given to the MLB player "who inspires others through his on-field performances and contributions to his community".<ref name="13awards"/>

===Business interests and endorsements===
[[File:Mariano Rivera Delta gate dedication (48322988681).jpg|thumb|Rivera with a [[Boeing 757]] dedicated to him by [[Delta Air Lines]] at [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]] in 2019]]
Rivera was an investor in two New York area restaurants: "Clubhouse Grill", which opened in New Rochelle in 2006 as "Mo's New York Grill";<ref name=mo>{{cite news|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/mo-plate-article-1.572078|title=Mo gets more on his plate|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|author=Ziegel, Vic|author-link=Vic Ziegel|date=July 14, 2006|access-date=November 3, 2019|page=84|archive-date=November 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112021605/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/mo-plate-article-1.572078|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Wade|first=Christian|date=May 24, 2013|title=Yankee Mariano Rivera's ultimate 'save': New Rochelle church|url=http://www.newsday.com/search/yankee-mariano-rivera-s-ultimate-save-new-rochelle-church-1.5329508|access-date=November 29, 2013|website=[[Newsday]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308040659/http://www.newsday.com/search/yankee-mariano-rivera-s-ultimate-save-new-rochelle-church-1.5329508|archive-date=March 8, 2021|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Siro's, which opened in [[Manhattan]] in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|date=April 24, 2012|title=Yankees closer Rivera to open Saratoga eatery in NYC|url=http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Yankees-closer-Rivera-to-open-Saratoga-eatery-in-3505726.php|access-date=May 3, 2012|website=[[Times Union (Albany)|Times Union]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|archive-date=April 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429052213/http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Yankees-closer-Rivera-to-open-Saratoga-eatery-in-3505726.php?|url-status=live}}</ref> Both restaurants have since closed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/agent-mariano-rivera-attract-ghetto-people-suit-article-1.1531105|title=Shocking order to Mo's eatery: 'Can't use Mariano, he'll attract ghetto people'|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|date=November 28, 2013|first1=Barbara|last1=Ross|first2=Dareh|last2=Gregorian|page=6|access-date=June 8, 2023|archive-date=June 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620173152/https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/agent-mariano-rivera-attract-ghetto-people-suit-article-1.1531105|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Stock|first=Justin|date=April 13, 2012|title=Yankees Pitcher Mariano Rivera Puts Westchester Restaurant on DL|url=https://dailyvoice.com/new-york/newrochelle/news/yankees-pitcher-mariano-rivera-puts-westchester-restaurant-on-dl/479067/|access-date=October 31, 2019|website=[[The Daily Voice (U.S. hyperlocal news)|The Daily Voice]]|archive-date=October 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031185814/https://dailyvoice.com/new-york/newrochelle/news/yankees-pitcher-mariano-rivera-puts-westchester-restaurant-on-dl/479067/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, he opened a [[Toyota]] and [[Scion (automobile)|Scion]] [[car dealership]] in [[Mount Kisco, New York]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Mikulak|first=Robert|date=July 30, 2015|title=Yankee Great Mariano Rivera Opens Car Dealership In Mount Kisco|url=https://dailyvoice.com/new-york/mtkisco/business/yankee-great-mariano-rivera-opens-car-dealership-in-mount-kisco/553497/|access-date=October 31, 2019|website=[[The Daily Voice (U.S. hyperlocal news)|The Daily Voice]]|archive-date=October 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031185817/https://dailyvoice.com/new-york/mtkisco/business/yankee-great-mariano-rivera-opens-car-dealership-in-mount-kisco/553497/|url-status=live}}</ref> and in 2022, he opened a [[Honda]] dealership in [[Port Jefferson Station, New York]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/mariano-rivera-port-jefferson-station-auto-dealership-nnz6ino3|title=Ex-Yankee Mariano Rivera to open Port Jeff Station car dealership|website=[[Newsday]]|first=Carl|last=MacGowan|date=August 20, 2022|access-date=August 28, 2022|archive-date=August 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828063820/https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/mariano-rivera-port-jefferson-station-auto-dealership-nnz6ino3|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera is a founder and part-owner of Cherri Cafe, a coffee company focused on Central American coffee, especially Panamanian beans.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cherri Cafe |url=https://coffeeroast.com/roaster/cherri-cafe |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=coffeeroast.com |language=en |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119220000/https://coffeeroast.com/roaster/cherri-cafe |url-status=live }}</ref>

Rivera has been a [[celebrity spokesman]] for several companies, including: [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] sports apparel;<ref>{{cite web|last=Fish|first=Mike|date=February 22, 2006|title=Advertisers are riding the Hispanic wave|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/latinosrise/columns/story?id=2341270|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|archive-date=April 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420053407/http://www.espn.com/mlb/latinosrise/columns/story?id=2341270|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Canali]], a premium men's clothing company, as their first athlete spokesperson;<ref>{{cite news|last=Araton|first=Harvey|date=April 26, 2010|title=The Understated Elegance of the Yankees' Rivera|edition=New York|page=D1|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/26/sports/baseball/26rivera.html?scp=1|access-date=September 20, 2011|archive-date=November 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112170143/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/26/sports/baseball/26rivera.html?scp=1|url-status=live}}</ref> the New York [[Acura]] Dealers;<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mariano-rivera-anchors-new-legends-campaign-for-new-york-acura-dealers-224892292.html|title=Mariano Rivera Anchors New 'Legends' Campaign for New York Acura Dealers|agency=[[PR Newswire]]|publisher=New York [[Acura]] Dealers Association|date=September 23, 2013|access-date=October 18, 2019|archive-date=October 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018164650/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mariano-rivera-anchors-new-legends-campaign-for-new-york-acura-dealers-224892292.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Skechers]] footwear;<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140909005018/en/Mariano-Rivera-Pitch-SKECHERS#.VcC_TPNViko|title=Mariano Rivera to Pitch for Skechers|agency=[[Business Wire]]|publisher=[[Skechers]]|date=September 9, 2014|access-date=August 4, 2015|archive-date=August 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808225036/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140909005018/en/Mariano-Rivera-Pitch-SKECHERS#.VcC_TPNViko|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[The Hartford|The Hartford Financial Services Group]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Levinson|first=Mason|date=June 2, 2015|title=Mariano Rivera to Promote Hartford Insurance in Deal With MLB|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-02/mariano-rivera-to-promote-hartford-insurance-in-deal-with-mlb|access-date=June 7, 2023|website=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg.com]]|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309015127/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-02/mariano-rivera-to-promote-hartford-insurance-in-deal-with-mlb|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera donated all his earnings from endorsement deals to his foundation.<ref name="foundation-del"/> In June 2019, a partnership between Rivera and e-commerce website [[eBay]] was announced. According to eBay, the company created a collection of Rivera-centric [[sports memorabilia]] that included 42 game-used and personal items donated by him for auction to benefit his foundation.<ref name="ebay-pr">{{cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ebay-announces-the-inaugural-class-of-the-ebay-baseball-card-hall-of-fame-300866961.html|title=eBay Announces the Inaugural Class of the eBay Baseball Card Hall of Fame|publisher=[[eBay]]|agency=[[PR Newswire]]|date=June 13, 2019|access-date=June 14, 2019|archive-date=July 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717204743/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ebay-announces-the-inaugural-class-of-the-ebay-baseball-card-hall-of-fame-300866961.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Best|first=Neil|date=June 11, 2019|title=Charitable endeavors delay Mariano Rivera's Baseball Hall of Fame speech writing|url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/mariano-rivera-foundation-hall-of-fame-speech-1.32263285|access-date=June 14, 2019|website=[[Newsday]]|archive-date=June 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612142748/https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/mariano-rivera-foundation-hall-of-fame-speech-1.32263285|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2024, he modeled for a [[streetwear]] collaboration between the New York Yankees and the clothing company New York or Nowhere.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/06/style/yankees-nyon-streetwear.html|title=The Yankees Find a Fashion Partner in New York or Nowhere|website=[[The New York Times]]|first=Alex|last=Vadukul|date=September 6, 2024|access-date=September 8, 2024}}</ref>

A 2011 list by the marketing firm [[Nielsen Company|Nielsen]] ranked him as the second-most marketable player in baseball behind only Derek Jeter; the list accounted for personal attributes such as sincerity, approachability, experience, and influence.<ref>{{cite web|date=March 24, 2011|title=Pinstripe Power: Jeter, Rivera Top List of 10 Most Marketable Players in Baseball|url=https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2011/pinstripe-power-jeter-rivera-top-10-most-marketable-players-in-baseball/|access-date=June 7, 2023|website=[[Nielsen Company]]|archive-date=June 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610050221/https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2011/pinstripe-power-jeter-rivera-top-10-most-marketable-players-in-baseball/|url-status=live}}</ref> Based on sales figures from [[Majestic Athletic]], Rivera had the 18th-best-selling MLB jersey in 2011,<ref>{{cite web|last=Newman|first=Mark|date=April 5, 2012|title=Jeter has top-selling MLB jersey again in 2011|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/c-27956880/print|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406230226/https://www.mlb.com/news/c-27956880/print|archive-date=April 6, 2018|access-date=April 6, 2018|website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> and the top-selling jersey in the second half of 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last=Newman|first=Mark|date=September 26, 2013|title=Rivera's No. 42 jersey is MLB's most popular|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mariano-riveras-no-42-jersey-is-mlbs-most-popular/c-61820140|access-date=April 6, 2018|website=[[MLB.com]]|archive-date=April 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407182609/https://www.mlb.com/news/mariano-riveras-no-42-jersey-is-mlbs-most-popular/c-61820140|url-status=live}}</ref> He earned approximately $169.6&nbsp;million in salary during his baseball career,<ref>{{cite web|last=Gaines|first=Cork|date=September 27, 2013|title=Chart: Mariano Rivera Made More Than $160 Million In His Career|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-mariano-rivera-made-more-that-160-million-in-his-career-2013-9|access-date=March 26, 2016|website=[[Business Insider]]|archive-date=April 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406150802/http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-mariano-rivera-made-more-that-160-million-in-his-career-2013-9|url-status=live}}</ref> ten percent of which he donated to his foundation.<ref name="foundation-del"/> After baseball, Rivera joined the [[Washington Speakers Bureau]] in July 2019 as a [[Speaking fee|paid]] [[Public speaking|public speaker]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/baseball-hall-of-famer-mariano-rivera-is-wsbs-newest-exclusive-speaker-300889545.html|title=Baseball Hall-of-Famer Mariano Rivera is WSB's Newest Exclusive Speaker|publisher=[[Washington Speakers Bureau]]|agency=[[PR Newswire]]|date=July 24, 2019|access-date=October 18, 2019|archive-date=October 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018134106/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/baseball-hall-of-famer-mariano-rivera-is-wsbs-newest-exclusive-speaker-300889545.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Politics===
[[File:President Trump Hosts the Opening Day of the Little League Baseball Season (50147901676).jpg|thumb|Rivera and US president [[Donald Trump]] host [[Little League Baseball]] players on the [[South Lawn]] of the White House in July 2020]]
Rivera is a [[Israel lobby in the United States|supporter of Israel]] as a [[Jewish state]].<ref name="washex-israel">{{cite web|last=Klein|first=Philip|date=July 9, 2019|title=Interview: Yankees legend Mariano Rivera explains why he's a strong supporter of Israel|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/interview-yankees-legend-mariano-rivera-explains-why-hes-a-strong-supporter-of-israel|access-date=August 4, 2019|website=[[Washington Examiner]]|archive-date=August 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804213521/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/interview-yankees-legend-mariano-rivera-explains-why-hes-a-strong-supporter-of-israel|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2013, the [[New York Board of Rabbis]] (NYBR) named him their "Man of the Year".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jta.org/2013/02/06/culture/rabbis-like-yankees-pitcher-mariano-rivera-elect-him-as-man-of-the-year|title=Rabbis elect Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera as Man of the Year|website=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]]|first=Chavie|last=Lieber|date=February 6, 2013|access-date=June 25, 2023}}</ref> The organization helped facilitate trips to Israel in 2015 and 2018 in which Rivera participated. The latter trip included a visit to [[Michve Alon]], an [[Israel Defense Forces]] base, that was arranged by [[Friends of the Israel Defense Forces]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Reback|first=Gedalyah|date=June 18, 2015|title=Yankees baseball legend Rivera in Israel|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/yankees-baseball-legend-rivera-in-israel/|access-date=August 4, 2019|website=[[The Times of Israel]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.algemeiner.com/2018/08/03/yankees-baseball-legend-mariano-rivera-visits-israeli-army-base-to-show-solidarity/|title=Yankees Baseball Legend Mariano Rivera Visits Israeli Army Base to Show Solidarity|website=[[The Algemeiner]]|date=August 3, 2018|access-date=August 4, 2019}}</ref> Rivera attended the [[Christians United for Israel]] conference in July 2019.<ref name="washex-israel"/>

Rivera served on the [[Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission]] formed by US president [[Donald Trump]] in March 2017.<ref>{{cite web|date=March 30, 2017|title=Former Yankees closer Mariano Rivera joins Trump's opioid listening group|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/03/30/former-yankees-closer-mariano-rivera-trump-opioids/99816066/|access-date=August 12, 2019|website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> The following May, Rivera was nominated to co-chair the [[President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition|President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition]].<ref>{{cite web|date=May 4, 2018|title=Mariano Rivera, Bill Belichick among nominees for president's sports council|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/23403800/mariano-rivera-misty-treanor-herschel-walker-designated-chair-president-council-sports-fitness-nutrition|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref> He was appointed to a second two-year term on the council in December 2020.<ref>{{cite web|last=Salant|first=Jonathan D.|date=December 11, 2020|title=On his way out of office, Trump gives Yankees' Mariano Rivera one more honor|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2020/12/on-his-way-out-of-office-trump-gives-yankees-mariano-rivera-one-more-honor.html|access-date=December 11, 2020|website=[[NJ.com]]}}</ref> He continued as a co-chair until 2022, when President [[Joe Biden]] appointed new co-chairs, but continued to serve as member of the council.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/politics/2022/04/president-biden-has-relieved-yankees-hall-of-famer-mariano-rivera.html|title=President Biden has relieved Yankees Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera|website=NJ.com|first=Jonathan D.|last=Salant|date=April 22, 2022|access-date=April 29, 2022}}</ref>

In August 2018, he co-hosted a fundraiser dinner for the [[America First Action]] [[Political action committee|PAC]] with [[Donald Trump Jr.]] and [[Kimberly Guilfoyle]]. In response to a ''[[Daily Beast]]'' article in July 2019 that labeled his politics "far-right",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-baseball-hall-of-famer-mariano-riveras-secret-far-right-politics|title=Inside Baseball Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera's Far-Right Politics|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|first=Robert|last=Silverman|date=July 21, 2019|access-date=June 25, 2023}}</ref> Rivera defended himself and affirmed his support for President Trump, saying: "I respect him, I respect what he does. I believe that he's doing the best for the United States of America." Rivera said that their friendship predated Trump's presidency and that he would not "turn [his] back on [Trump]".<ref>{{cite news|last=Davis|first=Bradford William|date=July 25, 2019|title=Mariano defends support of Trump|page=48|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-mariano-rivera-fox-and-friends-20190724-hybi2uxi6rdz7jsr5axnbbkkoi-story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724201321/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-mariano-rivera-fox-and-friends-20190724-hybi2uxi6rdz7jsr5axnbbkkoi-story.html|archive-date=July 24, 2019|access-date=August 4, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Rivera continued to support Trump into 2024, endorsing him prior to [[2024 United States presidential election|that year's presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/yankees-legend-mariano-rivera-endorses-donald-trump-president|title=Yankees legend Mariano Rivera endorses Donald Trump for president|website=[[Fox News]]|first=Ryan|last=Gaydos|date=April 10, 2024|access-date=April 10, 2024}}</ref>

==Post-baseball honors and recognition==
[[File:Andrew Miller named 2015 AL Reliever of the Year with Mariano Rivera.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Andrew Miller and Mariano Rivera sit at a table at a press conference dressed in suits.|Rivera ''(right)'' at the presentation of the 2015 AL [[Major League Baseball Reliever of the Year Award|Reliever of the Year Award]] to [[Andrew Miller (baseball)|Andrew Miller]]. The award was named in Rivera's honor the year prior.]]
In March 2014, Rivera was twice recognized for his philanthropic efforts, receiving the ROBIE Humanitarian Award from the [[Jackie Robinson Foundation]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Red|first=Christian|date=March 4, 2014|title=Mo honored to live up to 42's legacy|page=53|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/mo-admits-feeling-pressure-wearing-no-42-article-1.1709602|access-date=November 3, 2019}}</ref> as well as a [[Jefferson Awards for Public Service|Jefferson Award for Public Service]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/tom_brokaw_mariano_rivera_andrew_shue_receive_a_jefferson_award_for_public_service/prweb11630195.htm|title=Tom Brokaw, Mariano Rivera & Andrew Shue Receive a Jefferson Award for Public Service|agency=[[Cision|PRWeb]]|publisher=[[Jefferson Awards for Public Service|Jefferson Awards]]|date=March 3, 2014|access-date=March 31, 2014}}</ref> Later that month, the "Legends Series", comprising two MLB exhibition games between the Yankees and Miami Marlins, was played in Rivera's native Panama to "honor [his] legacy". He helped promote the games, which were accompanied by charitable events and a gala benefiting his foundation.<ref>{{cite web|last=Nowak|first=Joey|date=February 13, 2014|title=Yanks, Marlins to play in Panama, with Mo on hand|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/c-67729616/print|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406230357/https://www.mlb.com/news/c-67729616/print|archive-date=April 6, 2018|access-date=April 6, 2018|website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> 

On April 9, 2014, MLB announced that a new annual award for relief pitchers, the [[Major League Baseball Reliever of the Year Award|Reliever of the Year Award]], would replace the existing Delivery Man of the Year Award, and that the AL honor would be named after Rivera.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sanders|first=Jeff|date=April 9, 2014|title=Relief awards named for Hoffman, Rivera|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/sdut-mlb-trevor-hoffman-mariano-rivera-relief-awards-2014apr09-story.html|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[San Diego Union-Tribune]]}}</ref> The following month, a section of River Avenue bordering Yankee Stadium at 161st Street was renamed "Rivera Avenue" in the pitcher's honor.<ref>{{cite web|last=Davidson|first=Kavitha A.|date=May 6, 2014|title=Mo's Road to the Hall Starts At Rivera Avenue|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2014-05-06/mo-s-road-to-the-hall-starts-at-rivera-avenue-kavitha-a-davidson|access-date=June 7, 2023|website=[[Bloomberg View]]}}</ref> This coincided with the release of his autobiography, ''The Closer: My Story'', co-authored with Wayne Coffey.<ref>{{cite web|date=May 7, 2014|title=Cano: Mo Rivera still 'the best closer|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/10893292/robinson-cano-responds-mariano-rivera-opinion|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]|agency=News services}}</ref> [[New York University]] bestowed an honorary [[Doctor of Humane Letters]] degree upon Rivera during its commencement ceremony at Yankee Stadium on May 21, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Feinsand|first=Mark|date=May 21, 2014|title=Mariano Rivera receives honorary Doctorate from NYU at Yankee Stadium|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/yankees/mariano-rivera-receives-honorary-doctorate-nyu-yankee-stadium-blog-entry-1.1800566|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[New York Daily News]]}}</ref> During the [[2015 Little League World Series]], he was inducted into the [[Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum|Little League Hall of Excellence]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Beauge|first=John|date=August 25, 2015|title=Mariano Rivera puts Little League Hall of Excellence up there with other honors|url=https://www.pennlive.com/little-league-world-series/2015/08/little_league_enshrines.html|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[The Patriot-News]]}}</ref> The Yankees dedicated a plaque to Rivera in Yankee Stadium's [[Monument Park (Yankee Stadium)|Monument Park]] on August 14, 2016.<ref>{{cite news|last=Caldera|first=Pete|date=August 15, 2016|title=Monumental Mo|pages=S-1, S-5|newspaper=[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]|url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/mlb/yankees/2016/08/14/yankees-great-mariano-rivera-gets-monument-park-plaque/92943584/|access-date=November 3, 2019}}</ref>

Rivera [[2019 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|was elected]] to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|National Baseball Hall of Fame]] on January 22, 2019, in his first year of eligibility. He became the first player in history to be elected unanimously by the BBWAA, appearing on all 425 ballots; the previous record for election percentage was held by [[Ken Griffey Jr.]], who received 99.3% of votes in [[2016 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2016]].<ref name="ESPN results">{{cite web|last=Schoenfield|first=David|date=January 22, 2019|title=Mariano Rivera, Edgar Martinez, Roy Halladay and Mike Mussina joining Hall of Fame|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25826814/mariano-rivera-edgar-martinez-roy-halladay-mike-mussina-elected-baseball-hall-fame|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref> Rivera was the second [[List of Major League Baseball players from Panama|Panamanian player]] to be elected to the Hall of Fame after [[Rod Carew]],<ref name="mlb-19hof-elect"/> and the eighth relief pitcher.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sawchik|first1=Travis|last2=Rakich|first2=Nathaniel|date=January 23, 2019|title=Mariano Rivera's Unanimous Induction Shows An Evolving Cooperstown|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/mariano-riveras-unanimous-induction-shows-an-evolving-cooperstown/|access-date=January 23, 2019|website=[[FiveThirtyEight]]}}</ref> He was officially inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 21, 2019, in [[Cooperstown, New York]].<ref name="yankmag-hof">{{cite web|last=Santasiere III|first=Alfred|date=August 17, 2019|title=Yankees Magazine: The G.O.A.T.|url=https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mariano-rivera-hof-induction?t=yankees-magazine|access-date=September 1, 2019|website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> The ceremony was attended by 55,000&nbsp;people, the second-largest crowd for a Hall of Fame induction.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kekis|first=John|date=July 22, 2019|title='I'm so humbled'|pages=C1, C5|newspaper=[[Hartford Courant]]|url=https://www.courant.com/2019/07/22/mariano-rivera-closes-from-the-heart-as-he-enters-hall-of-fame/|access-date=June 7, 2023}}</ref> Among those in attendance were Panamanian president [[Laurentino Cortizo]] and Rivera's former teammates, including [[Bernie Williams]], who performed "[[The Star-Spangled Banner]]" and "[[Take Me Out to the Ballgame]]" on guitar.<ref name="yankmag-hof"/> Rivera's speech concluded the ceremony and lasted nearly 25&nbsp;minutes, four of which he spoke in Spanish.<ref>{{cite news|last=Nightengale|first=Bob|date=July 22, 2019|title=Halladay widow's words touching|page=1C|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2019/07/21/baseball-hall-fame-induction-mariano-rivera/1791360001/|access-date=September 1, 2019}}</ref>

[[File:Mariano Rivera Receives the Medal of Freedom (48749526726).jpg|thumb|Rivera receiving the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] in 2019]]
Leading up to and following his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Rivera was recognized by several institutions. The [[New York Racing Association]] hosted him at [[Saratoga Race Course]] as their guest of honor on July 12, 2019, and held a fundraising luncheon to benefit his foundation.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 12, 2019|title=Mariano Rivera honored at Saratoga Race Course|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/horseracing/2019/07/12/mariano-rivera-honored-at-saratoga-race-course/39681863/|access-date=July 28, 2019|website=[[USA Today]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> At [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]] in New York City, Gate 42B at Terminal 4 was renamed for Rivera in a ceremony with Delta Air Lines, which also placed a sticker bearing his signature and uniform number on one of their airplanes.<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Connell|first=James|date=July 16, 2019|title=Mariano Rivera reflects on his path to Cooperstown during gate renaming ceremony at JFK|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-mariano-rivera-hall-of-fame-induction-20190716-3tawkmciyzedjikp7nk4kot2sa-story.html|access-date=July 16, 2019|website=[[New York Daily News]]}}</ref> On July 27, the City of New Rochelle held a parade in his honor and awarded him a [[key to the city]].<ref>{{cite web|last=McKinney|first=Michael P.|date=July 27, 2019|title=Yankees legend Mariano Rivera accepts key to the city of New Rochelle, parades through it|url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/new-rochelle/2019/07/27/mariano-rivera-new-york-yankees-accepts-key-city-new-rochelle-parade-baseball-hall-of-fame-mlb/1845740001/|access-date=July 28, 2019|website=[[The Journal News]]}}</ref> The Yankees held a pregame celebration for him at Yankee Stadium on August 17 and made a $250,000 donation to his foundation.<ref>{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Marty|date=August 17, 2019|title=Yanks honor new HOFer Mo with celebration|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mariano-rivera-honored-for-hall-of-fame-induction|access-date=August 18, 2019|website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> On September 16, 2019, President Trump, a long-time Yankees fan,<ref name="pmof-nyt"/> presented Rivera with the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]], the highest [[Awards and decorations of the United States government|civilian award]] that can be bestowed upon a person by the [[United States government]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Tillett|first=Emily|date=September 16, 2019|title=Trump honors Yankees great Mariano Rivera with Medal of Freedom|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/president-trump-honors-yankees-great-mariano-rivera-with-medal-of-freedom-live-stream/|access-date=September 16, 2019|website=[[CBS News]]}}</ref> A statement on [[whitehouse.gov]] said: "Off the field, through the Mariano Rivera Foundation, he has helped provide children in need with an education, empowering them to achieve a better future. The United States proudly honors Mariano Rivera for being a legend of the game of baseball and for his commitment to strengthening America's communities."<ref>{{cite web|last=Haynes|first=Danielle|date=September 16, 2019|title=Trump presents Medal of Freedom to Mariano Rivera|url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2019/09/16/Trump-presents-Medal-of-Freedom-to-Mariano-Rivera/4921568653442/|access-date=October 31, 2019|website=[[UPI]]}}</ref>

==Baseball accomplishments==
===Awards and honors===
{|class="wikitable" margin: 5px; text-align: center;
|-
!Award/Honor
!# of Times
!Dates
!Refs
|-
|[[Major League Baseball All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award|All-Star Game MVP Award]]
|align="center"|1
|[[2013 MLB All-Star Game|2013]]
|<ref name=asgmvp/>
|-
|American League [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]]
|align="center"|13
|{{hlist|[[1997 MLB All-Star Game|1997]]|[[1999 MLB All-Star Game|1999]]|[[2000 MLB All-Star Game|2000]]|[[2001 MLB All-Star Game|2001]]|[[2002 MLB All-Star Game|2002]]|[[2004 MLB All-Star Game|2004]]|[[2005 MLB All-Star Game|2005]]|[[2006 MLB All-Star Game|2006]]|[[2008 MLB All-Star Game|2008]]|[[2009 MLB All-Star Game|2009]]|[[2010 MLB All-Star Game|2010]]|[[2011 MLB All-Star Game|2011]]|[[2013 MLB All-Star Game|2013]]}}
|<ref name=brpro/>
|-
|[[League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award|American League Championship Series MVP Award]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=ws-lcs>Only reliever to win both a League Championship Series MVP Award and World Series MVP Award</ref>
|align="center"|1
|[[2003 American League Championship Series|2003]]
|<ref name=brpro/>
|-
|American League [[Major League Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award|Comeback Player of the Year Award]]
|align="center"|1
|2013
|<ref name="13awards"/>
|-
|American League [[Major League Baseball Player of the Week|Player of the Week]]
|align="center"|3
|{{hlist|May 26 – June 1, 2008|June 22–28, 2009|September 19–25, 2011}}
|<ref name="alpotw">{{Cite web|date=September 26, 2011|title=Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees named the American League Player of the Week|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20110926&content_id=25224516&vkey=pr_mlb&fext=.jsp|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031948/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20110926&content_id=25224516&vkey=pr_mlb&fext=.jsp|archive-date=March 4, 2016|access-date=September 26, 2011|website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref>
|-
|American League [[Rolaids Relief Man Award]]<ref group=lower-alpha>Tied for most times won</ref>
|align="center"|5
|{{hlist|1999|2001|2004|2005|2009}}
|<ref name=brpro/>
|-
|[[Babe Ruth Award]]
|align="center"|1
|1999
|<ref name=brpro/>
|-
|[[Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award]]
|align="center"|1
|2013
|<ref name=chaa/>
|-
|Clutch Performer of the Month Award
|align="center"|1
|June 2010
|<ref>{{cite web|last=Britton|first=Tim|date=July 7, 2010|title=Mariano Rivera named winner of the 'Major League Baseball Clutch Performer of the Month Award Presented by Pepsi' for June|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/mlb/y2010/m07/d07/c12028282.jsp|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112175838/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/12026068/|archive-date=November 12, 2014|access-date=September 21, 2019|website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[Delivery Man of the Year Award]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=most>Most times won</ref>
|align="center"|3
|{{hlist|2005|2006|2009}}
|<ref name="dhl05"/><ref name="dhl06"/><ref name="dhl09"/>
|-
|[[Delivery Man of the Month Award]]
|align="center"|2
|{{hlist|April 2008|July 2009}}
|<ref>{{bulleted list|{{cite web|url=http://m.mlb.com/awards/history-winners/?award_id=DHLDMOM&year=2008|title=All-time winners: DHL Delivery Man of the Month&nbsp;– 2008|website=[[MLB.com]]|access-date=October 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225162148/http://m.mlb.com/awards/history-winners/?award_id=DHLDMOM&year=2008|archive-date=February 25, 2021|url-status=dead}}|{{cite web|url=http://m.mlb.com/awards/history-winners/?award_id=DHLDMOM&year=2009|title=All-time winners: DHL Delivery Man of the Month&nbsp;– 2009|website=[[MLB.com]]|access-date=October 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224085126/http://m.mlb.com/awards/history-winners/?award_id=DHLDMOM&year=2009|archive-date=February 24, 2021|url-status=dead}}}}</ref>
|-
|[[Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award]]
|align="center"|1
|2013
|<ref name="13awards"/>
|-
|[[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|National Baseball Hall of Fame]] – induction
|align="center"|1
|[[2019 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2019]]
|<ref name="ESPN results"/>
|-
|[[Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year Award|''Sporting News'' Comeback Player of the Year Award]]
|align="center"|1
|2013
|<ref>{{cite web|last=McGuire|first=Justin|date=October 21, 2013|title=Sporting News MLB awards: Mariano Rivera, Francisco Liriano voted top comebackers|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/news/sporting-news-mlb-awards-mariano-rivera-francisco-liriano-voted-top-comebackers/15917z4l885mm1fnigm8j3wk55|access-date=May 4, 2016|website=[[Sporting News]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[Sporting News#Pro Athlete of the Year|''Sporting News'' Pro Athlete of the Year Award]]
|align="center"|1
|2009
|<ref name=09sn/>
|-
|[[The Sporting News Reliever of the Year Award|''Sporting News'' Reliever of the Year Award]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=most />
|align="center"|6
|{{hlist|1997|1999|2001|2004|2005|2009}}
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Fireman of the Year / Reliever of the Year Award by The Sporting News|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_snfi.shtml|access-date=June 19, 2009|website=[[Baseball Almanac]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[This Year in Baseball Awards|This Year in Baseball]]'s Closer of the Year Award<ref group=lower-alpha name=most />
|align="center"|4
|{{hlist|2004|2005|2006|2009}}
|<ref>{{cite web|title=2009 This Year in Baseball Awards|url=http://mlb.com/mlb/awards/y2009/tyib/index.jsp|url-status=dead|access-date=December 17, 2009|website=[[MLB.com]]|archive-date=November 22, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091122184619/http://www.mlb.com/mlb/awards/y2009/tyib/index.jsp}}</ref>
|-
|[[Thurman Munson]] Award
|align="center"|1
|2003
|<ref>{{cite news|last=Haudricourt|first=Tom|date=January 17, 2003|title=Yankees still looking to deal|page=S-3|newspaper=[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[World Series Most Valuable Player Award|World Series MVP Award]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=ws-lcs />
|align="center"|1
|{{wsy|1999}}
|<ref name=brpro/>
|-
|[[List of World Series champions|World Series champion]]
|align="center"|5
|{{hlist|{{wsy|1996}}|{{wsy|1998}}|{{wsy|1999}}|{{wsy|2000}}|{{wsy|2009}}}}
|<ref name=brpro/>
|-
|}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

===Records===
{| class="wikitable" margin: 5px; text-align: center;
|-
|+'''MLB records'''
|-
!Record
!Number
!Refs
|-
!style="background:#ddddee;" colspan=3|Regular season
|-
|Most career saves
|652
|<ref name=brpro/>
|-
|Most career games finished
|952
|<ref name="gf">{{cite web|title=Career Leaders & Records for Games Finished|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/GF_career.shtml|access-date=June 29, 2011|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]}}</ref>
|-
|Highest career adjusted ERA+ {{small|(minimum 1,000&nbsp;innings pitched)}}
|205
|<ref name="era">{{cite web|title=Career Leaders & Records for Adjusted ERA+|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/earned_run_avg_plus_career.shtml|access-date=September 23, 2013|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]}}</ref>
|-
|Most career games pitched with single team<br />Most career games pitched in American League history<br />Most career games pitched by right-handed pitcher
|1,115
|<ref name="42things"/><ref name="1000gp" /><ref name="al-gp">{{cite web|title=MLB Stats <nowiki>|</nowiki> Baseball Stats – Player: Pitching: All Time Totals: American Leaguey|url=https://www.mlb.com/stats/pitching/american-league/games/all-time-totals|access-date=March 17, 2021|website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref>
|-
|Most consecutive seasons with at least one&nbsp;save<ref group=lower-alpha name=franco>Tied with [[John Franco]]</ref>
|18 {{small|(1996–2013)}}
|<ref>{{cite news|last=Boland|first=Erik|date=November 5, 2013|title=AL's Comeback Player of Year: Mo|page=A47|newspaper=[[Newsday]]|url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/mariano-rivera-named-al-comeback-player-of-the-year-by-mlb-com-1.6379420|access-date=March 8, 2016}}</ref>
|-
|Most seasons with at least 20&nbsp;saves<br />Most seasons with at least 25&nbsp;saves
|16 {{small|(1997–2011, 2013)}}
|<ref name="20sv16x">{{cite web|date=June 9, 2013|title=Big Savings|url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2013/06/09/big-savings/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203230658/http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox_mlb/boston_red_sox/2013/06/big_savings|archive-date=February 3, 2015|access-date=September 21, 2019|website=[[Boston Herald]]}}</ref><ref name="25sv16x">{{cite web|date=August 4, 2013|title=New York Yankees Official Game Information|url=http://www.mlb.com/documents/1/1/2/55854112/NYY_Game_Notes_08_04_13_at_San_Diego_j4gy5s2h.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718202951/http://www.mlb.com/documents/1/1/2/55854112/NYY_Game_Notes_08_04_13_at_San_Diego_j4gy5s2h.pdf|archive-date=July 18, 2019|access-date=July 18, 2019|website=[[MLB.com]]|agency=[[New York Yankees]]}}</ref>
|-
|Most consecutive seasons with at least 25&nbsp;saves
|15 {{small|(1997–2011)}}
|<ref name="25consv15x">{{cite news|last=Fitzpatrick|first=Mike|date=July 25, 2011|title=Colon, Rivera lift Yankees|page=C5|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|url=http://archive.boston.com/sports/baseball/articles/2011/07/25/colon_rivera_lift_yankees/|access-date=October 18, 2019}}</ref>
|-
|Most seasons with at least 30&nbsp;saves
|15 {{small|(1997–2001, 2003–11, 2013)}}
|<ref name="30sv15x">{{cite web|last=Ehalt|first=Matt|date=July 13, 2013|title=Mariano Rivera hits 30 saves again|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/9474985/mariano-rivera-new-york-yankees-sets-record-15th-career-30-save-season|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref>
|-
|Most consecutive seasons with at least 30&nbsp;saves
|9 {{small|(2003–11)}}
|<ref name="30consv9x">{{cite news|last=Carig|first=Marc|date=August 14, 2011|title=Clubhouse: Yankees – A Look Around the Majors, Including the Yankees and Mets|page=5|newspaper=[[The Star-Ledger]]|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2011/08/the_yankees_this_week_mariano_1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309232759/http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2011/08/the_yankees_this_week_mariano_1.html|url-status=live|archive-date=March 9, 2012}}</ref>
|-
|Most seasons with at least 35&nbsp;saves<ref group=lower-alpha name=hoffman>Tied with [[Trevor Hoffman]]</ref>
|12 {{small|(1997–2001, 2003–05, 2008–09, 2011, 2013)}}
|<ref name="35sv12x">{{cite episode|title=New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox|series=Sunday Night Baseball|series-link=Sunday Night Baseball|network=[[ESPN]]|date=August 18, 2013}}</ref>
|-
|Most seasons with at least 40&nbsp;saves<ref group=lower-alpha name=hoffman/>
|9 {{small|(1997, 1999, 2001, 2003–05, 2009, 2011, 2013)}}
|<ref name="40-50sv">{{cite web|last=Pouliot|first=Matthew|date=September 3, 2013|title=Mariano Rivera notches ninth 40-save season|url=http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2013/09/03/mariano-rivera-notches-ninth-40-save-season/|access-date=January 10, 2016|website=[[NBC Sports]]}}</ref>
|-
|Most seasons with at least 50&nbsp;saves<ref group=lower-alpha name=gagne>Tied with [[Éric Gagné]] and [[Jim Johnson (baseball, born 1983)|Jim Johnson]]</ref>
|2 {{small|(2001, 2004)}}
|<ref name="40-50sv"/>
|-
|Most seasons with sub-2.00&nbsp;ERA {{small|(minimum 60&nbsp;innings pitched each)}}<ref group=lower-alpha name=johnson>Tied with [[Walter Johnson]]</ref><br />Most seasons with 20-plus saves and sub-2.00&nbsp;ERA
|11 {{small|(1997–99, 2003–06, 2008–11)}}
|<ref name="sub2era"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Stark|first=Jayson|date=September 25, 2013|title=Mariano Rivera: A 21-stat salute|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/9717908/a-21-stat-salute-mariano-rivera|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref>
|-
|Most seasons with at least 20&nbsp;saves, sub-2.00&nbsp;ERA, and sub-1.00&nbsp;WHIP
|7 {{small|(1999, 2005–06, 2008–11)}}
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Most seasons with 20+ saves, sub-2.00 ERA, sub-1.00 WHIP (min. 60 IP, 80% games in relief)|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/share.fcgi?id=CBV3P|access-date=March 10, 2017|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]}} Reference not updated to include 2010 or 2011.</ref>
|-
|Most career saves for a single winning pitcher
|72 {{small|([[Andy Pettitte]])}}
|<ref>{{cite news|last=Botte|first=Peter|date=July 7, 2013|title=Yanks hotter than July|page=42|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yanks-bail-pettitte-top-o-sixth-straight-win-article-1.1391825|access-date=November 3, 2019}}</ref>
|-
|Most career [[interleague]] saves
|75
|<ref name="25sv16x"/>
|-
|Most career saves in a single ballpark
|230 {{small|([[Yankee Stadium (1923)|original Yankee Stadium]])}}
|<ref>{{cite news|title=Thanks, Mo: Prime Number|newspaper=[[Newsday]]|date=September 22, 2013|page=H4}}</ref>
|-
!style="background:#ddddee;" colspan=3|Postseason
|-
|Lowest career ERA {{small|(minimum 30&nbsp;innings pitched)}}
|0.70
|<ref name=ps-rec/>
|-
|Most career saves
|42
|<ref name=ps-rec/>
|-
|Most consecutive scoreless innings pitched
|{{frac|33|1|3}}
|<ref name=33ip>Tan (2005), p. 112</ref>
|-
|Most consecutive save opportunities converted
|23
|<ref name="23sv">{{cite magazine|last=Vass|first=George|date=October 2002|title=Last At-Bat Heroics: Every Hitter's Post-Season Dream|magazine=[[Baseball Digest]]|volume=61|issue=10|pages=31–38}}</ref>
|-
|Most consecutive scoreless appearances
|23
|<ref>{{cite web|last=Casella|first=Paul|date=October 26, 2014|title=Game 4 Did you know: Petit makes mark at bat, on mound|url=https://www.mlb.com/giants/news/game-4-did-you-know-yusmeiro-petit-the-first-reliever-since-tim-stoddard-to-get-world-series-hit-win-in-same-game/c-99645316|access-date=April 6, 2018|website=[[San Francisco Giants]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref>
|-
|Most career two-inning saves
|14
|<ref name="ESPN results"/>
|-
|Most career games pitched
|96
|<ref name=ps-rec/>
|-
|Most career saves in each postseason round {{small|(non-Wild Card Series)}}
|{{hlist|18 {{small|([[Division Series|DS]])}}|13 {{small|([[League Championship Series|LCS]])}}|11 {{small|([[World Series|WS]])}}}}
|<ref name="lds-rec">{{cite web|title=All-time and Single-Season LDS Pitching Leaders|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/LDS_pitching.shtml|access-date=October 11, 2009|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]}}</ref><ref name="lcs-rec">{{cite web|title=All-time and Single-Season LCS Pitching Leaders|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/LCS_pitching.shtml|access-date=October 26, 2009|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]}}</ref><ref name="ws-rec">{{cite web|title=All-time and Single-Season World Series Pitching Leaders|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/WS_pitching.shtml|access-date=October 11, 2009|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]}}</ref>
|-
|Most career games pitched in each postseason round {{small|(non-Wild Card Series)}}
|{{hlist|39 {{small|(DS)}}|33 {{small|(LCS)}}|24 {{small|(WS)}}}}
|<ref name=lds-rec/><ref name=lcs-rec/><ref name=ws-rec/>
|-
|Lowest career ERA in Division Series history {{small|(minimum 20&nbsp;innings pitched)}}
|0.32
|<ref name=lds-rec/>
|-
|Most career saves to clinch series
|8
|<ref name="42things"/>
|-
|Most games finished to clinch series 
|16
|<ref name="42things"/>
|-
|Most games finished to clinch World Series championship
|4
|<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sharp|first1=Katie|last2=Simon|first2=Mark|date=August 2, 2013|title=One Mo Time: Rivera vs. Padres|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/61145/one-mo-time-rivera-vs-padres|access-date=November 3, 2019|website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref>
|-
<!--
|Most consecutive postseasons with at least one game pitched
|13 {{small|(1995–2007)}}
|
|-
-->
|-
|Highest career win probability added
|11.7
|<ref name="ps-wpa"/>
|-
|Highest career championship win probability added
|183 (or 1.83)
|<ref name=ps-rec/>
|-
! style="background:#ddddee;" colspan=3|All-Star Game
|-
|Most career saves
|4
|<ref name=asgsv/>
|}

{|class="wikitable" margin: 5px; text-align: center;
|-
|+'''Yankees records'''
|-
!Record
!Number
!Refs
|-
!style="background:#ddddee;" colspan=3|Regular season
|-
||Most career games pitched
|1,115
|<ref name="yanklead">{{cite web|title=New York Yankees Top 10 Career Pitching Leaders|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/leaders_pitch.shtml|access-date=April 13, 2018|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]}}</ref>
|-
|Highest career [[wins above replacement]] ([[Baseball-Reference.com]] version) for a pitcher
|56.3
|<ref name=yanklead/>
|-
|Highest career [[win probability added]] for a pitcher
|56.6
|<ref name=yanklead/>
|-
|Most saves in single season
|53 {{small|(2004)}}
|<ref name="nyyseasonlead">{{cite web|title=New York Yankees Top 10 Single-Season Pitching Leaders|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/leaders_pitch_season.shtml|access-date=April 13, 2018|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]}}</ref>
|-
|Lowest career WHIP {{small|(minimum 500&nbsp;innings pitched)}}
|1.00
|<ref name=yanklead/>
|-
|Most consecutive save opportunities converted
|36
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Longest streak of consecutive saves converted in Yankee history|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/share.fcgi?id=NzKTT|access-date=March 10, 2017|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]}}</ref>
|-
|Most games finished in single season
|69 {{small|(2004)}}
|<ref name="nyyseasonlead"/>
|}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==See also==
*[[List of Major League Baseball career ERA leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career FIP leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career WAR leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise]]

==References==
'''Footnotes'''
{{reflist}}

'''Bibliography'''
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book|title=52 Weeks: Interviews with Champions!|author=Hollander, Dave|location=Guilford, Connecticut|publisher=The Lyons Press|year=2005|isbn=1-59921-008-8}}
* {{cite book|title=Mariano Rivera|author=Levin, Judith|location=New York|publisher=Checkmark Books|year=2008|isbn=978-0-7910-9599-7}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.mlb.com/components/team/player/bio_iframe.html?is_mug_shot=true&roster_cid=nyy&cid=nyy&player_id=121250|title=Mariano Rivera 42 <nowiki>|</nowiki> P: Player Bio Information|website=MLB.com|access-date=March 17, 2021|archive-date=October 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019214451/http://www.mlb.com/components/team/player/bio_iframe.html?is_mug_shot=true&roster_cid=nyy&cid=nyy&player_id=121250|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite book|title=Bullpen Diaries: Mariano Rivera, Bronx Dreams, Pinstripe Legends, and the Future of the New York Yankees|author=Rosen, Charley|author-link=Charley Rosen|publisher=HarperCollins|location=New York|year=2011|isbn=978-0-06-200598-4|url=https://archive.org/details/bullpendiariesma0000rose}}
* {{cite book|title=Birth of a Dynasty: Behind the Pinstripes with the 1996 Yankees|author=Sherman, Joel|publisher=Rodale|location=Emmaus, Pennsylvania|url=https://archive.org/details/birthofdynastybe0000sher|year=2006|isbn=978-1-59486-244-1|access-date=April 28, 2009}}
* {{cite book|title=The 50 Greatest Yankee Games|author=Tan, Cecilia|author-link=Cecilia Tan|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|location=Hoboken|year=2005|isbn=978-0-471-65938-9|url=https://archive.org/details/50greatestyankee0000tanc}}
* {{cite book|title=Fireman: The Evolution of the Closer in Baseball|author=Zimniuch, Fran|publisher=Triumph Books|location=Chicago|year=2010|isbn=978-1-60078-312-8|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/firemanevolution0000zimn}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commonscat|Mariano Rivera}}
*{{Baseball Hall of Fame profile|rivera-mariano}}
*{{baseballstats|mlb=121250|espn=3240|br=r/riverma01|fangraphs=844|brm=rivera002mar|retro=R/Privem002}}
*{{sabrbio|mariano-rivera}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Trevor Hoffman]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Save (baseball)|All-Time Saves Leader]]|years=2011–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}

{{navboxes
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