There are many fabulous images of Mariano Rivera in your mind. Maybe it's the slow, methodical jog from the bullpen as Enter Sandman blares from the Yankee Stadium speakers. They could be from any one of his record 652 saves, or maybe from one of the four World Series clinchers he closed out in his career, most of anyone in history.
One of my favorite images of Mariano is from spring training. It doesn't matter what year because it happened every year I covered him, from 2001-2013. So many days in the early weeks of February, before the morning workout began, I would see Mariano sitting at his locker with several teammates spread out around him. Some were in chairs while several others were seated on the floor around him. It was a group of anywhere between 4-8 players most mornings. And it looked like Mariano was a kindergarten teacher, about to read a story to his students.
It was a fascinating scene for what it represented—total respect. Many of the players in these sessions were young Latin players who adored the camaraderie with a future Hall of Famer. Others were from varied backgrounds, including those raised in the U.S. Watching from afar it was a perfect representation of who Mariano was to his teammates.
Last year I asked Rivera what he would talk about in all those sessions. And his answer made it even clearer to me how special a person and teammate Mariano was.
"We just talked about what a privilege it was for us to be there another year, or for the first time, or for a few years. And I was able to see them grow—Cano, Melky, Veras, Sanchez. To see them all growing up, to me that was priceless.
I was investing in them something that I wish someone did for me. I was putting in them 'Yes, we can.' Hope, insurance, knowing that you're there because you earned it, because you're good, because you're special, and don't allow no one to tell you something different or something less than that. Not because of where you came from, not because you were Latin, not because you were black. Even because you were white. There were some white players there. I say it don't matter where you came from, or the backgrounds. It matters that you are here, in the same (place) where we are. We are a team. So we have to take advantage of this opportunity that a lot of people will desire to have, but they can't. And now you're here with the opportunity to do something special. Don't miss that. Don't take it for granted. Give your best.
If I had to do it all over again I would do it the same way. Because that gave me satisfaction that I put something in them, and when I see them in the big leagues having success and pushing forward I say, 'Man, that's the way.'
Baseball gave Mariano Rivera a great deal. He made sure he gave some of it back. And to witness that in action each and every spring, that's the image of Mariano that I will always keep.
