When The Post asked me to write about Mariano Rivera the words came ea🐓sy because of the man I knew in the minor leagues and won World Series titles with.
He is a special humanꦗ being. He understands winning more than anybody. He cares about winning more than anybody. We were brought up the right way when it comes to competing in the minor leagues. Mariano completed us. I wouldn’t have five rings if Mariano is not on our team. He is that special and I say it again, he is a special man.
We have all seen how his career has gone but before he became what he is you could tell he was dif♛ferent.
I knew something was very special about Mariano in 1995. Something just took off. 𒈔He was throwing 91, 92 and all of a sudden he was throwing 96, 97 miles per hour. He was throwing it by people nice and easy with the delivery and the ball just jumping out of his hands.
I remember a no-hitter he threw against the Baltimore affiliate, Rochester if I am not mistaken. The game was shortened by rain after five innings. He was throwing fastballs by professional hitters. They had guys who were in the big leagues and guys who were future prospects. He was ridiculous, going through them like nothing. I knew Mariano from 1991 but not until 1995 did 🍃everything click and you know the history after that.
You look at ♏his career and it might seem hard to pick out one year as being better than another but 1999 sticks o🅷ut for me.
We had a great year in 1998 b🐈ut what we did in 1999, also. To be able to win World Series back-to-back. Look at Mariano’s numbers and you realize how ridiculous this guy was going through people. He had a special year in 1998 and a special year in 1997 when he had a tough thing at the end of the year in Cleveland. But look at 1999. I was back there for most of the year and I was blessed to be part of this guy’s career.
I have been asked if Mariano was ever out of character when he didn’t complete the job and the only thing out of character was him throwing the ball away at second🍃 base (Game♔ 7 of the 2001 World Series in Arizona). That’s the only thing, he was a great fielder.
People talk about Louie Gonzalez and the bases loaded. I kept saying I knew Mariano was going to get it done. He is that special. Usually, things don’t bother me but🐷 throwing the ball away at second base hurt.
As for retiring, I think he is ready. He has been amazing this year but it’s mentally♍ that you retire. Physically you can still do it and you can come back but going through what he has been through, especially last year. He wanted to go ღout on his own terms and he is doing it. He could do it for another three years easily but it’s more mentally than anything.
I was asked how Yankee fans will remember Mariano and what they wi𒈔ll remember is not only how he pitched on the field but the way he handled himself off the field. It is going to be tough for somebody to replace him and put on those shoes. We have five championships because of him. I consider him a friend and I consider him a brother.