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The inside story of unanimous Hall of Fame electee Mariano Rivera’s career finale vs. Rays

"Oh my God, that game,'' Rivera said
 
New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera, left, leaves his final game, handing the ball to Andy Pettitte as Derek Jeter, right, watches during the Sept. 26, 2013 game against the Rays. [BILL KOSTROUN | AP]
New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera, left, leaves his final game, handing the ball to Andy Pettitte as Derek Jeter, right, watches during the Sept. 26, 2013 game against the Rays. [BILL KOSTROUN | AP]
Published Jan. 23, 2019

Mariano Rivera spoke, as usual, humbly about his career.

He had been announced early Tuesday night as the first ever unanimous electee to baseball's Hall of Fame, but that didn't change his appreciation for every day he had in his pinstriped Yankees uniform.

"I was just happy to be playing in the big leagues,'' he said.

Especially his last day on the mound, the Sept. 26, 2013, game at Yankee Stadium against the Rays.

Not so much how his outing started, Rivera coming in to his usual Enter Sandman Metallica song — albeit with sellout crowd of 48,675 roaring and both teams applauding — and retiring Delmon Young and Sam Fuld to get out of an eighth inning jam after the Rays had extended their lead to 4-0, but how it ended.

Rivera came back to start the ninth, the crowd again roaring, retiring Jose Lobaton on a comebacker and Yunel Escobar on a pop to second.

The movement in the Yankees dugout was expected, but the action wasn’t. Rather than manager Joe Girardi coming out, it was longtime Yankees teammates Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte heading to the mound.

An emotional goodbye became even more so, Rivera hugging Pettitte and breaking down crying on his shoulder, then doing the same to Jeter.

The crowd roared as the Rays, who were closing in on a playoff berth with their 90th win, stood in their dugout and applauded as well.

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"Oh my God, that game,'' Rivera said Tuesday. "I remember facing Tampa Bay, two outs in the top of the ninth and seeing Andy making a change, calling for the bullpen.

"I was surprised but at the same time grateful those two guys were walking toward me to help me out and being there with me for me when I needed them the most. It was amazing. Amazing.

"It was so powerful that anytime I see that moment or any flash on TV or whatever that represents that, it brings me to emotions. Because that was a powerful moment for me in my career at the end, I can't say more about that.''

Rivera, who between innings felt his career flashing before his eyes and had trouble staying focused during the ninth, walked off the field wiping tears and waving his cap to teammates and fans. He came out for a curtain call. After the game ended, he headed back to the mound, scooping up a handful of dirt for a special keepsake of that historic night.

Rivera so wanted to preserve the memory he decided not to pitch during the Yankees final series in Houston.

"It was so powerful that remember we were going to play our last three games in Houston and I come out to the fans and the (Houston) organization and apologize for me not to pitch,' he said, "Because I wanted to remember my career the way it happened in New York with Andy and Derek and myself on that mound. ... I wanted to have that in my mind for the rest of my life.''