MARIANO RIVERA HALL OF FAME SPEECH

Commissioner John “Stray” Corrado’s Introduction Speech for Mariano Rivera:

Born Mariano Rivera, nickname: Mo.

Played 18 Seasons in the Mid-West Baseball League for none different franchises.   Canton 1997 – 2002, Buffalo 2004, Michigan 2004, Chicago 2005, Clovis 2005 – 2006, Severn 2007 – 2010, Coconut Creek 2010 – 2011, Sacramento 2011 – 2013 & New York 2014.

Drafted only once in MWBL – 1997 Inaugural Formation Draft by Warfield.

Traded nine times from Canton to Buffalo, Buffalo to Chicago (Did not play for Chicago then), Chicago to Michigan (3 team deal with Tijuana), Michigan to Chicago,  & Chicago to Clovis, Toad Hollow to Severn, Severn to Coconut Creek, Coconut Creek to Sacramento, Sacramento to New York .

Twelve time All-Star, 1999 A.L. Rolaids Reliever Award Winner, 453 Career Saves, 20 Post Season Saves, 1.93 Earned Run Average.

It is with great honor that I present you with the Mid-West Baseball newest member of the 2018 Mid-West Baseball League Hall of Fame, Mariano Rivera.

SPEECH HERE

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Mr. Commissioner, thank you for the kind words. I’m blushing (grinning). It is truly an honor to be on this stage, in front of my teammates, my friends, my family [looking at his wife to his left]; to be here with so many legends of the game [gestures to his fellow Hall of Famers behind him]; and to be inducted alongside so many great ballplayers—Derek Jeter, Greg Maddux, Larry Walker, Carlos Delgado, and Todd Helton.

What a joy it is to be here. This has been an amazing journey and I am thrilled and proud to be here today to celebrate the Mid-West Baseball League, this institution, those Hall of Famers that have gone before me, and the end of one heck of a career.

As a boy growing up in Puerto Caimito, Panama, it was beyond my wildest dreams to be in this position here. To have spent 18 wonderful seasons with some of the best teams of the MWBL. To have appeared in more than 990 games—more than any pitcher in the history of the league. 453 saves. 11 seasons in the playoffs. 12 All-Star games. 3 World Series Championships: one in 2007 with the Severn Express under Hall of Fame manager Mike Roberts, in which I had the true pleasure of beating the loathsome Tempe Tempers in 5 games, and two with the Sacramento Capitals (2011 and 2012) with another Hall of Fame manager, George Skiles.

Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of playing for some of the best franchises in the league, beginning with the Canton Indians in 1997, then with Buffalo, Michigan, Chicago, Clovis, Severn, Coconut Creek, Sacramento, and finally New York. Personally, I could never understand why anyone would trade me [grinning now], but it’s been a wild and rewarding ride.

There are so many people to thank [searching the audience for familiar faces]: my teammates, my coaches, the owners who spent a pretty penny for my services … thank you for the opportunity to play, to have fun doing it, for all the successes, and the tough times. Thank you for the friendships, the fun we had—even flagging down balls in batting practice. You all made the difference in my career.

Most of all, I want to thank my wife, Clara [smiling and tearing up, eyes locked with his wife], who’s been my best friend since elementary school; and my three sons, Marianno III, Jafet, and Jaziel; and my parents Mariano and Delia. My success in the game was possible, and made all the sweeter, because of you. And, my retirement from the game, even better because it means more time with you all. Thank you.

Thank you everybody for this amazing honor.

[Rivera walks steps back, waves, and soaks up the applause.]