[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 125 (Friday, September 20, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1356]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO MR. MARIANO RIVERA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 20, 2013

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Mr. Mariano 
Rivera. Originally from Panama, Mr. Rivera has spent 19 years working 
in my district, bringing great joy to the people of the Bronx and to 
Yankees fans around the world with his unparalleled success closing 
games for the New York Yankees. During his time with the Yankees he 
showed himself to be one of the greatest pitchers of his generation and 
struck fear into opponents who had to face him.
  During his 19 seasons in the Bronx with the Yankees, Mr. Rivera has 
been the most successful closer in baseball history, becoming the all 
time saves leader and leading the league in saves three times. For much 
of his career his fearsome cutter meant that the Yankees were playing 
shorter games than everyone else. Once ``Enter Sandman'' played and Mr. 
Rivera strode onto the field, everyone knew the game was over. His mere 
appearance deflated the other team and the opposing players were often 
defeated before he threw a single pitch.
  The length and quality of Mr. Rivera's career is evidenced by his 13 
All-Star Game appearances and the five Relief Man Awards he won over an 
eleven-year period stretching from 1999 to 2009. However, as impressive 
as his individual accomplishments are, baseball is a team game and his 
most important role was helping to lead the Yankees to five World 
Series Championships.
  Given the high quality of his pitching during the regular season it 
may be hard to believe, but Mr. Rivera was even better in the 
postseason. During the 16 postseason appearances that the Yankees made 
during his time with the team, Mr. Rivera accumulated a miniscule ERA 
of 0.70 over 141 innings. His importance to the success of the team in 
the postseason was recognized by voters when he was awarded the World 
Series MVP in 1999 and the ALCS MVP in 2003, an impressive 
accomplishment for a closer who, while often pitching at the most 
critical moments, is only in the game for the final inning or two.
  However, he did not merely pitch in the Bronx, he also worked hard to 
improve life for people in New York and back in his native Panama. 
Through his charitable foundation he has focused on improving the lives 
of children in need by improving their communities and offering 
scholarships so that children from underprivileged families can have 
better opportunities.
  As his magnificent baseball career comes to an end at the end of this 
season, I am sure that he will continue to be a positive contributor to 
his community in a multitude of new ways. It has been an honor to have 
him work in my district and I look forward to his continued success.

                          ____________________