Today was Mariano Rivera day at Yankee Stadium http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=121250#gameType='R'§ionType=career&statType=2&season=2013&level='ALL'.
In case you do not know, Mariano Rivera has been the stellar closer for the New York Yankees, and his career with them has continued since 1995, with a lay by in 2012 for an injury. He is retiring, and at Yankee Stadium today, there was a tribute to him.
This year he has done a farewell tour, and has been honored at each baseball stadium during his last scheduled game at the stadium. He was honored at the All Star game, also.
Mariano RIvera, affectionately, called Mo, is a gentleman of class and and high moral characer. Outside of baseball, he is devoted to improving his home town, Puerto Camito, in Panama.
Mariano Rivera is the last baseball player who wears the number 42, which was Jackie Robinson's http://www.jackierobinson.com/ number. You will remember that Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball by playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers, in 1947, being the first black player to play Anglo professional baseball. His number was retired April 15, 1997, and every April 15 is celebrated as Jackie Robinson day.
It was fitting the the wife and daughter of Jackie Robinson, Rachel and Sharon, were at the ceremony today, and their on field escort was Robinson Canó If Jackie Robinson had not broken the color barrier, Mariano Rivera would not have been able to play professional baseball, and be revered as a hero. And, Robinson Canó http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinson_Can%C3%B3 was named after Jackie Robinson.
The baseball game was aired nationally on TBS http://www.tbs.com/?SR=tbs&SR=tbs. Frequently, when there are pre-game activities honoring people, the highlights of these ceremonies are broadcast. TBS broadcast most of the pre-game ceremonies live, which is a statement regarding the reverence the sports industry has for Mariano Rivera.
What a man!
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