Mariano Rivera poses with his final All-Star Game jersey.
Credit: Getty Images
It’s hard to believe, but the greatest closer in baseball history hasn’t pitched in an All-Star Game since 2009.
Then again, that’s also the last time the American League won.
Mariano Rivera will be making his 13th appearance on the All-Star Game roster. He’s pitched in eight of the 12 so far.
“To me, all of them are special,” Rivera said yesterday. “If you have the opportunity to be there, not too many players have the opportunity. It’s a privilege to represent the American League.”
If he gets into the game, Rivera will be pitching for the first time since getting his fourth All-Star save. He will also be pitching in his second All-Star game in New York.
The last time an All-Star game was held in New York, in 2008, Rivera was nearly the winning pitcher at old Yankee Stadium. Rivera kept that game tied in the ninth and would’ve been the winning pitcher had Grady Sizemore or Evan Longoria gotten a hit with the bases loaded.
Pitching tomorrow or, at the minimum, getting introduced to the crowd are among the reasons Rivera did not want to end his career after suffering a serious knee injury last season.
“The fact that I went through all the adversity and I’m standing here talking about the All-Star Game … it’s a privilege,” he said.
