President Donald Trump honored Yankees great Mariano Rivera with the nation's highest civilian honor Monday, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
"Mariano Rivera has made extraordinary contributions to American sports, culture and society," Trump said during a White House ceremony. "He is the most dominant relief pitcher in the history of baseball, and more than that, he has lived the American dream and shines as an example of American greatness for all to see."
This year, Rivera became the first player ever unanimously elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. The former reliever pitched 19 seasons for the Yankees from 1995-2013 and is baseball's all-time saves leader with 652. He was a 13-time All-Star, a five-time World Series champion and the 1999 World Series MVP.
"For me, it's an honor and a privilege to receive this award, this Medal of Freedom," he said. "All I did was try to be the best and do the best for America."
Rivera, a Panama native who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2015, told a story about coming to the United States in 1990 to play minor league baseball and not being able to speak a word of English. He said during his second season, he was so frustrated about not being able to communicate that he asked two teammates to teach him the language, giving them permission to laugh at him along the way.
"By my surprise, they never laugh at me, and they teach me," Rivera said. "By the end of the year, I was able to communicate with my manager, with my teammates, and I was the happiest man in baseball. And from that, I would say that my career took off, and I was able to realize that I can do something for others. Because I knew the language, now I can relate with someone that's going through the same process that I'd been. But at the same time, I teach them that, yes, learning English is the first thing that we should do. And I did.
"And for that, being American, I'm so proud and honored that coming from a small town, beautiful town, beautiful country called Panama and live with my family here and understand the language and everything that we go through, I'm proud to be an American."
Rivera and Trump are longtime friends, and the retired baseball star serves as a co-chair on the President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition.
During an interview with "Fox and Friends" in July, Rivera said of Trump: "He was a friend of mine before he became president. So because he's president I will turn my back on him? No. I respect him. I respect what he does, and I believe he's doing the best for the United States of America."
Upon Rivera's election to the Hall of Fame in January, Trump tweeted: "Congratulations to Mariano Rivera on unanimously being elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame! Not only a great player but a great person. I am thankful for Mariano's support of the Opioid Drug Abuse Commission and @FitnessGov."
Congratulations to Mariano Rivera on unanimously being elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame! Not only a great player but a great person. I am thankful for Mariano's support of the Opioid Drug Abuse Commission and @FitnessGov. #EnterSandman #HOF2019?? pic.twitter.com/reU1gKWHSQ
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 23, 2019Rivera is the sixth athlete Trump has awarded with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The others were Yankees icon Babe Ruth, former Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach, golf superstar Tiger Woods, Celtics great Bob Cousy and Lakers legend Jerry West.
