Mariano Rivera is definitely one of the most dominant pitchers to ever step on a Major League mound. He played all of his 19 years of career with the New York Yankees, closing crucial games for The Bronx Bombers throughout his years of play and was a vital component in five World Series titles. The Panamanian born player will finally see his name on a Hall of Fame ballot. Not only that, but he will most likely headline the class of 2019. Rivera’s induction into the Hall of Fame will be the ultimate reward for an underpaid legendary career.
Let The Numbers Speak For Themselves
Mariano has Hall of Fame stats without a doubt. In fact, one wonders if he will be a unanimous inductee or not, rather than questioning his induction in the first place. The Sandman is the all-time leader in saves as he made the 300 Saves Club look ridiculous in comparison. He ended his career with 652 saves in 1,115 games for New York. Rivera left baseball with a 2.21 ERA for life, 1,173 strikeouts and 13 All-Star Game appearances. He also has the ninth highest WAR stat of the Yankees franchise (56.2). Despite his accomplishments, his work was done at a very low price.
Give And Do Not Receive
Professional athletes make plenty of money during their careers. Rivera is no exception to the rule. However, despite being one of the most dominant pitchers of his era, he was constantly underpaid compared to other top pitchers. He made $4.25 million back in 1999 when the Yankees won the World Series against the Braves. Meanwhile, fellow pitcher and Yankee David Cone made $9.5 million plus bonuses. This is still an issue for the new generations of closers as their salaries are not nearly on par with the top starters in the league.
Mo Deserved More
Modern baseball believes all relief pitchers are failed starters, that includes the former owner of New York’s most dangerous cut fastball. Sure, Rivera had a short and unsuccessful career as a starter. He started just 10 games and had an ERA of 5.94. But the former closer then transitioned to his late inning role and turned into a mound phenom. What pitching awards did he get for his efforts? None.
The Reliever of The Year Award was created back in 2014 with those “failed starters” in mind. Ironically, the AL version of the award is named after the former Yankees’ closer. Rivera has an award named after him but why did he not win a pitching award during his career?
Good pitchers are effective. They are capable of getting out of the toughest of situations with the score intact. That was more than evident for Rivera in 2005.
He posted a 1.38 ERA, a 0.868 WHIP, striking out nine batters every nine innings. Not to mention, he finished the year with 43 saves as well. Bartolo Colon was also a solid contender for the award as he posted a 3.48 ERA and a 1.159 WHIP. Colon also had a 21-8 record for the season, striking out six batters every nine innings. Despite posting better numbers than his fellow pitcher, Rivera came in second in the award race and the Cy Young was granted to the then Angels’ starter. This was not the first time Rivera came short in the Cy Young race, but it was certainly the one he most deserved.
This is also an issue for the new generation of bullpen pitchers as they are now only considered contenders for the Reliever of The Year Award no matter how effective they are.
The Problem Of Immortality
Mariano Rivera will be in the Baseball Hall of Fame without the shadow of a doubt. He will become immortal as he will forever be a part of a group very few players can join. However, inducting Rivera into Cooperstown also highlights one major problem. His inclusion in the Hall will be a constant reminder of baseball’s old-time mentality. A reminder that no matter how outstanding a relief pitcher might be, he is still a reliever after all. Rivera induced fear on batters’ eyes for years, his name is worthy of reverence across baseball, yet, to the eyes of Major League Baseball, he was just a reliever.
A Hall of Fame induction will not mend such ineptitude, Major League Baseball.
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