As the New York Yankees celebrated Old-Timers’ Day, new Baseball Hall-of-Famer Mariano Rivera achieved a strong career first.
The New York Yankees celebrate Old-Timers’ Day every summer, but this year feels more special since Mariano Rivera is participating for the first time.
Well, folks, the greatest closer of all time made the most of his first at-bat in the new Yankee Stadium. With former teammate Scott Kamieniecki on the mound, Rivera hit a hard line drive to right center. In a glorified pickup game where everyone just has fun instead of playing hard, he managed to turn it into an inside-the-park home run!
Check out the highlight below:
The GREAT Mariano visits the gap on Old-Timers' Day for an inside-the-park home run. #PinstripePride pic.twitter.com/36fzsOP1V7
— ESNY (@EliteSportsNY) June 23, 2019
Mo grabs a bat …
Promptly hits an inside-the-park home run. #OldTimersDay pic.twitter.com/OZCBCk4ZAW
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 23, 2019
In his MLB career, Mariano Rivera had four total plate appearances with no hits. Chances are he was feeling pretty good about this hit, even if it wasn’t in an actual game. Rivera also recorded a putout in centerfield and also pitched, jamming several people with his still-devastating cutter.
Mariano Rivera patrolling centerfield.
Wait, what?! pic.twitter.com/dA4E8aTkyQ
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) June 23, 2019
Sandman's still got it.
Mariano Rivera takes the mound & delivers his signature cutter! ? pic.twitter.com/MEM2nM1rnA
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) June 23, 2019
And this is only the beginning of Mariano Rivera’s wonderful summer. Next month, he will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Earlier in the year, he made history in becoming the only player unanimously elected to the Hall of Fame. His 652 career saves are the most by any closer, and Rivera also owns a record 42 postseason saves.
Several of Rivera’s former teammates were also in attendance, including Johnny Damon, Paul O’Neill and current Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
Needless to say, with Old Timers’ Day already a wonderful Yankees tradition, Mariano Rivera made this year’s celebration all the more fun.
