Mariano Rivera Honored by Former Padres Closer Trevor Hoffman in Fitting Tribute
August 2, 2013 · Rick Weiner · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Mariano Rivera‘s farewell tour rolled into San Diego’s Petco Park on Friday night where Mo was met by a familiar face at home plate—former Padres closer Trevor Hoffman.
It was fitting that Hoffman was the man to present Rivera with his gift, as it was Hoffman’s career saves record that Rivera broke back in 2011. Hoffman is widely considered the second-best closer of all time, right behind Rivera.
As for the gift, well, let’s say that Rivera will be able to cruise in style for years to come:
Trevor Hoffman, Mariano Rivera… and a beach cruiser! pic.twitter.com/OIYZH8oUc4
— Marly~ESPN Deportes (@MarlyRiveraESPN) August 3, 2013
Not to be outdone by some of the other impressive tributes that Rivera has received in his final season, Hoffman and the Padres raised the bar. Not only did they present Rivera with one custom beach cruiser, but they gave him five—one for each member of his family.
That’s a classy move right there, and it’s one that Rivera, a class act himself, likely appreciated more than we’ll ever know. You can watch the entire pregame ceremony here.
For those wondering just how many saves were standing at home plate for the presentation, Pete Caldera of the Bergen Record has your answer:
That’s 1,243 saves at home plate in Padres’ ceremony for Mariano Rivera, presentation by Trevor Hoffman.
— Pete Caldera (@pcaldera) August 3, 2013
Rivera has picked up an impressive array of gifts from teams around baseball this season.
The Minnesota Twins presented him with a rocking chair made from broken bats, the Oakland Athletics gave him a surfboard and the Cleveland Indians presented him with a personalized gold record of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” which has been Rivera’s entrance music at Yankees Stadium and sign to the opposition that the game was, for all intents and purposes, over.
Even Delta Airlines got in on the action, dedicating a 757 aircraft in his honor that will fly out of New York’s John F. Kennedy airport.
The biggest and most emotional tribute is yet to come, as Rivera will be honored by the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 22 before their afternoon game against the San Francisco Giants.
That, folks, is going to be must-watch television right there, whether you’re a Yankees fan or not.
For there’s only one Mariano Rivera—and all of baseball will miss him when he’s gone.
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