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Mariano Rivera’s magical mystery tour continues on Sunday, when his most hated division rival, the Boston Red Sox, honor the relief pitcher during his final regular season game at Fenway Park. After 19 seasons with the New York Yankees, Rivera, 43, plans to retire at the end of the season.
The Boston Red Sox are mum about how they will honor the most feared closer; only that it will be ``big.’’
Since the Cleveland Indians presented him earlier in the year with a gold record from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (of Metallica’s ‘Enter Sandman’) and the Minnesota Twins followed with a rocking chair made of broken bats-the possibilities are endless.
Here, then, are some suggestions.
• Neil Diamond performing live as he belts out a new rendition of ``Sweet Caroline’’, titled: ``Sweet Mariano line!’’
• The American heavy metal band Metallica will perform live their 1991 smash hit ``Enter Sandman’’, which has become Rivera’s signature song at Yankee stadium when he enters a game.
• A Harvard University diploma complete with a cap and gown with Sir Edward Elgar's ``Pomp and Circumstance’’ ceremoniously filling the air. Written on the diploma, of course, will be all the Red Sox batters he struck out over the last 19 seasons
• Members of the Boston Fire Department will present Rivera with a fire hose (including a fireman’s hat), for being one the best and most courageous ``fireman'' the game has ever witnessed.
• The Sand Man will be presented with a Black & Decker lawn mower, for all the hitters he's mowed down during his celebrated career.
• Award Rivera a Boston Marathon trophy, along with a check for $150,000 (the amount marathon winners typically receive) to be donated to a charity of his choosing for making it to the finish line with such style and grace after 19 spectacular marathon seasons.
• Present Rivera with a super-sized Special K (for strikeouts) cereal box with his name plastered on it.
• Fire off a military 42-gun salute in the honor of the ultimate warrior and indomitable foot soldier.
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Mariano Rivera Fast Facts:
• 58 of Mariano Rivera’s 651 career saves have been against the Red Sox, 36 of those in Boston.
• Rivera has more victories (13) over the Red Sox than he does any other MLB team.
• Rivera has 16 regular season blown saves against the Red Sox, the most against any team.
• Struck out a career 1170 batters.
• ERA was below 2.0 in 11 of his 19 seasons.
• 42 saves in the post-season, including an 8-1 record with a 0.71 ERA in playoff competition.
• 4 saves during an All-Star Game.
• World Series MVP (1999).
• All Star Game MVP (2013).
• 9 seasons registered 40 or more saves.
• Sandy Alomar, Jr, of the Indians (1997) and Jay Payton of the Mets (2000) are the only two players to belt a post-season home run against Rivera.
• Mariano has led the American League in saves three times — 45 (1999), 50 (2001) and a career-high and Yankee best 53 in 2004.
Bill Lucey
[email protected]
September 14, 2013
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