Mariano Rivera First Player Ever Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame Unanimously

Kristie Ackert, writing for The New York Daily News:

Mariano Rivera thought he might have “a good shot of being a Hall of Famer” after his 19-year career with 13-All-Star appearances, five World Series rings, MLB’s all-time saves record, an obscene postseason ERA and the title as the “greatest closer ever to play the game.” He never imagined, though, that he would make history on Tuesday night.

The Panamanian right-hander became the first player in baseball history to be elected into the Hall of Fame unanimously.

“After my career, I was thinking I had a good shot to be a Hall-of-Famer, but this was just beyond my imagination,” Rivera said Tuesday night on a conference call with reporters. ”Just to be considered a Hall-of-Famer is quite an honor, but being unanimous — it’s amazing.”

The whole thing where no one had ever been elected unanimously — not even Babe Ruth! — was a bad tradition. Glad to see it go, and even gladder that Mariano Rivera was the player. What a privilege it was to watch him pitch.

Update: Derek Jeter wrote a nice piece on Rivera for The Players Tribune.

★ Tuesday, 22 January 2019