Final Card Friday: 2013 Mariano Rivera

Though statistically there are several more deserving players who could have been the first to get 100% of the vote for the Baseball Hall of Fame, there are none who could have been any more humbled with the honor than Mariano Rivera. There’s little doubt Rivera deserves to be a first ballot Hall of Famer. He was the greatest reliever in history, whether you measure him by regular or postseason accomplishments. Rivera grades out well in WAR, FIP, and WHIP. However, if Sabermetrics had statistic called NICE or CLASS, the Sandman would have graded out better than anyone in baseball history.

Few players have had as much success with one pitch as Rivera. Sandy Koufax had his curve ball; Nolan Ryan had his fastball; Roger Clemens had his split finger fastball; Hoyt Wilhelm had his knuckleball; and Pedro Martinez had his changeup. Mariano Rivera had his cutter, a wicked pitch that hitters couldn’t hit even if they knew it was coming.

It’s hard to find a pitcher with better final card than Mariano Rivera. After an injury shortened 2012 campaign, he finished his career with a typical season. Rivera finished with 44 saves and a 2.11 ERA. Like few others, Rivera provided consistency for APBA league owners for 18 of his 19 seasons. You could count on him to be at least an A* rating with a Z and 78+ innings every season. For his final season, Rivera had an impressive ZZ rating.

With the addition of Lee Smith and Rivera, only seven relief pitchers have been elected to the Hall of Fame. That number speaks to the difficulty in judging firemen/relievers/closers. Baseball fans and experts still haven’t figured out there exact value. Though few would argue that relievers aren’t important, it must be said that they don’t hold as much value as starting pitchers or position players. Complicating things, during the past 50 years the roll of relievers has changed as much as anything in baseball. Mariano Rivera bridged the gap between the long save (multi-inning) relievers and closers. Early in his career, he frequently went more than three outs for a save, as did predecessor firemen like Goose Gossage and Rollie Fingers. Then, as the game changed, he adjusted to the role of the three out closer better than anyone.

As the all-time saves leader, a thirteen time All-Star, and five time World Series champion, I think Mariano Rivera was a shoe in first ballot selection to Cooperstown. He reset the bar for closers. He was to closers what Sandy Koufax was to starters in the mid-60s. I was impressed with Rivera’s poise and humbleness in his interviews once he’d learned of his election to the Hall. It’ll be interesting to hear what the poor fisherman’s kid from Panama has to say in his induction speech this summer. I’m sure it will contain the same class, dignity, and respect he demonstrated throughout his career.