Baseballs greatest closer: final season
Panamanian closer Mariano Rivera, of the New York Yankees, announced that this will be his final season in major league baseball.
Rivera made the announcement Saturday March 8 at the team's spring training facility in Tampa Florida, after a week of rumors about his plans.
Rivera, 43, is the all-time saves leader with 608 and has helped the team win five World Series titles. Rivera said he would have retired at the end of the last season if he had not been injured. "It did not go well," he said. "I just wanted to give everything."
Rivera missed most of the season due to a torn right knee during practice in early May.
While others have proclaimed him he best closer in baseball history, Rivera sais "I'm not the greatest of all time. I am a team player, "he said. "I like to be remembered as a player who has always been ready to support others."
Rivera missed most of the season last year due to a tear in his right knee.
When asked how he wanted to finish his career, he replied: "I hope that my last game is pitching in the World Series. Winning the World Series is my goal."
"It is not easy to make a decision like this," he said. "After this year I'll be retired. Now you hear it from my own mouth. Now it's official."
Rivera said that he would have retired at the end of last season had he not been injured.
His wife and two children accompanied him at the press conference.
Rivera has not pitched in an exhibition game this spring. The 12-time All-Star garnered a record 42 saves in the postseason with an ERA of 0.70. He began his major league career in 1995 and always played for the Yankees.