Even before this special talent became a closer, he finished third in Cy Young voting in 1996 on the strength of his extraordinary set up work, which led to the resurgence of the Yankee "dynasty" after an eighteen year drought in World Series Championships.
The record book will show John Wetteland as the World Series record holder with 4 saves in 1996, but they were made possible in large part by the set up work of Mariano Rivera, and Mr. Wetteland was allowed to depart for greener pastures.Beginnig with the 1995 post season, Mariano posted his first 14 innings before he ever gave ip a harmless run. He became the Yankee main closer in 1997 and suffered a setback in the ALCS, giving up a tying homer to Cleveland catcher Sanfy Alomar Jr. for his fist blown save to go with the one save he earned earlier in that series. But he learned from his mistake and he learned to put the setback behind him.Eight post season series later, and after surpassing Whitey Ford's post season record of 33 consecutive scoreless innings, Mariano gave up another harmless run in the 2000 ALCS, and he and his cadre of core Yankee teammates would go on to capture their 4th ring in five years! Ironically, his next blown save came from his own fielding blunder, and it cost the Yankees yet another ring in 2001, but no one will hold it against hiim - he has been a "meal ticket".Boston got him in 2004 for his third blown save in post season work, scoring just one run off him.All in all, over the space of 15 years and some 29 post season series, this man has saved 39 of 42 tries, and in 28 of those 29 series, Mariano never gave up more than one run! (2000 WS - he gave up two)He still gets to wear #42 because he was "grandfathered in" when that number was retired for the late Jackie Robinson across all of baseball - but the nanosecond that Mariano confirms he is retired, the Yankees will hold a special ceremony to retire that number in Yankee Monument Park specifically for Mariano's career.They already have a precedent because #8 is retired for both Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra. Mariano's post season resume' is so superlative (like a diamond to carborundum) that his mere appearance on the mound seems to take the wind out of his opponents' sails. At least, that's the way this reporter sees it.I don't think it should be too much of a stretch to rename the outstanding reliever award after Mariano, once he retires.And if he is not a first ballot Hall of Famer, then the BBWAA should fold up shop.
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