How tall is mariano rivera

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Many thanks to him. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. The Negro Leagues are Major Leagues. We have dramatically expanded our coverage of the Negro Leagues and historical Black major league players. Read our Announcement. WAR ERA 2. He recorded an ERA under 2. Rivera has one older sister, Delia, and two younger brothers, Alvaro and Giraldo. Supported by Mariano Sr. As a young man, Rivera played soccer and baseball with his friends on the beach during low tide.

For baseball games, they substituted cardboard milk cartons for gloves and tree branches for bats, and they fashioned balls by taping wads of shredded fishing nets.

Rivera used this makeshift equipment until his father bought him his first leather glove when he was 12 years old. He used milk cartons and tree branches to play baseball while growing up in Panama. At age 16, he began to learn the fishing trade by working on a commercial boat captained by his father, catching sardines.

He spent three years learning the fishing trade, saving the money he earned in hopes of opening an automobile repair shop. 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. Scout Herb Raybourn watched him play shortstop in a baseball tournament but did not project him to be a major leaguer.

Two weeks after his pitching debut, Rivera was invited to a Yankees tryout camp run by Heron in Panama City. Raybourn was surprised to hear he had switched positions but decided to watch him throw. Although Rivera had no formal pitching training, weighed just pounds 70 kg , and threw only 85—87 miles per hour — kilometers per hour , Raybourn was impressed by his athleticism and smooth, effortless pitching motion.

Rivera and his wife Clara have known each other since elementary school, and they were married on November 9, He was drafted by the Yankees with the nd pick in the MLB draft, but decided to return to Iona for his junior year. Ranked on the list of most popular Baseball Player.

Also ranked in the elit list of famous celebrity born in Panama. Mariano Rivera celebrates birthday on November 29 of every year. Over the course of his professional career, Rivera learned English, beginning in with the Greensboro Hornets, when he realized none of his teammates spoke his native Spanish. He is now a proponent of Latino players learning English and of American press members learning Spanish to bridge the cultural gap.

Rivera is a supporter of Israel as a Jewish state. The organization helped facilitate trips to Israel in and in which Rivera participated. Rivera attended the Christians United for Israel conference in July Rivera began the season by blowing a save on Opening Day but followed it with eight scoreless innings and five saves for the remainder of April.

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's right knee buckled on the field's warning track while shagging balls during batting practice, causing him to tear his right anterior cruciate ligament ACL.

Speculation grew that the injury would end his career, as he had hinted at retirement during spring training. 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. Rafael Soriano filled in as closer in Rivera's absence and saved 42 games in 46 opportunities. He won the 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". That same offseason, Trevor Hoffman retired as the all-time regular season saves leader with a final tally of , leaving Rivera as the active leader in saves and 42 behind Hoffman's record to start Rivera's season was marked by several milestones.

He broke the all-time record for games finished, and in May, he became the 15th pitcher to make 1, appearances and the first to do so with a single team.

He was named an All-Star for the 12th time with a 1. His pursuit of the saves record reached a climax in the final month of the season. On September 13, he collected his th save, making him just the second pitcher to accomplish the feat.

Four days later, he saved his st game, tying him with Hoffman for the most in MLB history. 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. After the game, Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli called him to offer his congratulations.

Rivera finished the season with a 1. In the offseason, he underwent throat surgery to remove polyps from his vocal cords. A list by the marketing firm 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. Based on sales figures from Majestic Athletic, Rivera had the 18th-best-selling MLB jersey in , and the top-selling jersey in the second half of Rivera had one of his best first halves, compiling a 1.

He earned an 11th All-Star selection but withdrew from the game due to lingering oblique and knee injuries. 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. Rivera ended with a 1. In his first 12 appearances of , Rivera surrendered four home runs and had a 3. As the season progressed, his numbers improved, and he reached a milestone on June 28 by becoming the second pitcher with regular season saves.

With 23 saves in 24 opportunities and a 2. In the season's second half, Rivera allowed earned runs in only two of his final 40 appearances, while he set a new personal best for consecutive save opportunities converted with He finished the regular season with a 1. In the postseason, he pitched 16 innings, allowing one earned run and saving five games, and he clinched the Yankees' victory in the 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. Reflecting on the decade's end, ESPN. Rivera rebounded in and began the year with 16 consecutive scoreless innings pitched and 28 consecutive save opportunities converted, both personal bests to start a season. His first-half performance, highlighted by a 1.

Leading up to the 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. He instead was used as a reliever in the AL's extra-inning win. In the final month of the season, he recorded two milestones: on September 15, he recorded his th save to pass Lee Smith for second all-time in regular season saves; on September 21, in the final game at Yankee Stadium, Rivera threw the final pitch in the venue's history, retiring Brian Roberts of the Baltimore Orioles on a ground-out.

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. Rivera's season was one of his best individual years. Along with a 1. He averaged 9. He pitched with such control that his With his contract set to expire after the 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. Concerned sportswriters attributed his struggles to infrequent use, as the Yankees presented him with few situations to enter a game. Rivera saved 30 of his next 32 opportunities and posted a 2. On July 14, he passed John Franco for third place on the all-time saves list with his th career save.

Still, Rivera finished with closer career worsts in earned runs 25 , hits 68 , and ERA 3. 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. Rivera began with a 3.

On June 6, he saved his st career game, passing Dennis Eckersley for the fourth-most saves in major-league history. Rivera was selected to his third consecutive All-Star team with a 1. Although a throwing elbow strain sidelined Rivera for most of September, he finished the season with 34 saves in 37 opportunities and an ERA of 1.

For a second consecutive year, fans voted him the Delivery Man of the Year. Both restaurants have since closed. The business is attempting to expand to Port Jefferson Station, New York, by purchasing an existing dealership. Rivera has been a celebrity spokesman for several companies, including: Nike sports apparel; Canali, a premium men's clothing company, as their first athlete spokesperson; the New York Acura Dealers; Skechers footwear; and The Hartford Financial Services Group.

Rivera donated all his earnings from endorsement deals to his foundation. In June , 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.

Rivera rebounded in dominating fashion. He pitched 23 consecutive scoreless innings, set a new career high by converting 31 consecutive save opportunities, and was selected to the All-Star team. Rivera finished with 43 saves in 47 opportunities, and set new career bests in many statistical categories, including ERA 1. Rivera limited opposing hitters to a batting average against of. During the postseason, MLB announced the Latino Legends Team, a fan-voted all-time roster of the greatest Latino players; Rivera was named the team's relief pitcher.

On May 28, he reached career saves, making him the 18th player to do so. He was selected to his sixth All-Star team with a 0. Rivera's final numbers for the year included a 1.

Following the Yankees' victory in the 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.

He recorded a save that night, as well as in Game 2. 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 pinch ran and 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 team in MLB history to win a best-of-seven series in which they trailed three-games-to-none.

Although he allowed just one earned run in the postseason, he blew three of five save opportunities in the two series. Following a career high in appearances in , Rivera did not throw during the offseason, unlike previous years.

His 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. Fans at Yankee Stadium booed Rivera, and baseball journalists speculated if his days as a dominant pitcher were over.

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 tipping his cap to the crowd. Rivera's cut fastball was a respected pitch among major-league players. Jim Thome called it "the single best pitch ever in the game". David Ortiz echoed his sentiment, saying: "His 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. Olney described his cut fastball as "the most dominant pitch of a generation". 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. Pitchers watched him and marveled at what he did with one pitch. To placate the Yankees' concerns about his durability, Rivera followed a strength and conditioning program in the offseason, instead of throwing. Torre said that he would try to reduce Rivera's workload during the season to minimize the injury risk to his closer.

However, Rivera suffered a groin injury before the season began, causing him to miss the first month. After returning on April 30, he pitched well in the season's first half, saving 16 games in 17 opportunities. His save on June 12 against the St. Louis Cardinals secured the th career win for starter Roger Clemens.

Rivera slumped early in the second half; over one stretch, he blew five of eleven save opportunities, but he rebounded to convert his final 15 of the season.

He finished the regular season with a new career best in ERA 1. In the AL Championship Series against the 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 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 World Series.

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. The Yankees lost the World Series to the Florida Marlins; Rivera saved five games and allowed only one earned run in 16 innings pitched that postseason. On May 9, , Rivera recorded his th career save, surpassing Dave Righetti as the Yankees' franchise leader in saves.

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, though his first-half numbers, which included a 1. In a game on July 14, Rivera endured one of his worst outings, allowing six earned runs, including a walk-off 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.

For the season, Rivera recorded a 2. In , he was selected for the All-Star team for a third consecutive year. His final numbers included a 2. His saves total that year surpassed Dave Righetti's 46 saves in for the most by a Yankee pitcher in a single season, and made him just the sixth MLB pitcher to reach 50 saves in a single season.

Despite having what sportswriters deemed an "aura of invincibility" in the postseason, Rivera failed to close out the decisive Game 7 of the 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, and later lost the series for the Yankees by allowing Luis Gonzalez's bloop single with the bases loaded to score the winning run.

It was the first and only loss of Rivera's postseason career, and it snapped his record streak of 23 consecutive postseason saves converted. Rivera's signature pitch was a cut fastball or "cutter", which exhibited lateral movement towards left-handed hitters similar to that of a slider but with the velocity of a fastball. The sharp, late movement of Rivera's cutter prevented hitters from making contact with the ball on the sweet spot of their bats, leading to them not only making weak contact on batted balls but also frequently breaking their bats.