Monday, April 24, 2023  |  3:45pm - 5:00pm 

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Mariano Rivera 

Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher, Philanthropist, and Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient 

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Mariano Rivera is a Panamanian American professional baseball pitcher who played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball with the New York Yankees from 1995-2013.

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A thirteen-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion, he is MLB’s career leader in saves (652) and games finished (952). In addition to the numerous American League awards he won, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019, in his first year of eligibility, and was the first and only player to ever be elected unanimously by the Baseball Writer’s Association of America (BBWAA).

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Rivera is regarded as one of the most dominant relievers in major league history. Pitching with longevity and consistency to the closer role he saved at least 25 games in 15 consecutive seasons and posted an ERA under 2.00 in 11 seasons, both of which are records. Along with his signature cut fastball pitch, Rivera was known for his precise control, smooth pitching motion, and composure on the field. In 2013, the Yankees retired his uniform number 42; he was the last major league player to wear the number full-time, following its league-wide retirement in 1997 in honor of Jackie Robinson.

 

A devout Christian, he has been involved in charitable causes and the religious community through the Mariano Rivera Foundation. For his philanthropy, Rivera received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States, in September 2019. He and his wife, Clara, have three sons and live in New York.

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Don't miss this inspiring discussion as this baseball great talks about overcoming adversity and becoming a champion, not only in sports ... but in life.