Yankee 21
01-29-2002, 06:27 PM
Rivera honors true heroes
Mo honors New York firemen at Baseball Writers' Association of America dinner
By Ian Browne
MLB.com
NEW YORK -- It was a little less than three months ago that the normally superhuman Mariano Rivera suffered the most gutwrenching blown save of his life, costing the New York Yankees Game 7 of the World Series. Just as Rivera proved that he really was human on that warm November evening in Phoenix, the classy righty showed just how human he was again Sunday night.
Only this time, his actions received universal applause from the New Yorkers who were on hand to witness it.
Mariano Rivera
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 170
Position: P
Bats/Throws: R/R
More info:
Player page
Stats
Splits
yankees.com
Video Highlights: 56k | 300k
At the annual awards dinner held by the New York Chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, Rivera was presented with the American League's Rolaids Relief "Fireman of the Year" honor. Only Rivera gave that trophy away a lot quicker than he surrendered Game 7 to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
"I want to present this trophy to the true saviors, the true closers ... the Rescue Department of New York City, they are deserving of this honor," said Rivera. "They were an inspiration for us. I'd like to present this to Mr. Tom Von Essen."
Von Essen stepped down as Fire Commissioner of New York City on Dec. 31. But thanks to Rivera, he will be making a return visit to his office this week.
"On behalf of all the firefighters in New York City, I thank you for this Mariano," said Von Essen, after taking the hand-off from Rivera. "It's wonderful. I'll make sure it gets to the fire department (Monday). Thank you very very much."
With that heartfelt gesture, Rivera drew a thunderous applause from a packed gathering at the Sheraton New York in Manhattan. It was a fitting tribute to sum up a season that ended up being about so much more than just baseball in New York, following the tragic terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.
Rivera's gesture moved his peers, and even a certain New York Met.
"Obviously I'm not a voter, but I'd like to nominate Mariano Rivera for next year's Good Guy Award for his incredible and gracious act," said Mike Piazza, after receiving the New York Chapter's "Good Guy" award.
Rivera wasn't the only player to go home without his trophy. Upon receiving his unprecedented sixth Cy Young award, Roger Clemens stepped down from the dais and put his trophy into the arms of his mother Bess, who traveled in from Houston.
"This is your Cy Young mom," said Clemens, the New York Yankees future Hall of Famer. "I love you."
One man New Yorkers clearly don't love is Randy Johnson, whose uncanny brilliance in the World Series prevented the Yankees from a fourth consecutive title. However, the Big Unit was treated with a respectful applause from the audience - OK, a couple of boos were mixed in - as he stood up and grabbed his fourth Cy Young award from Mets Manager Bobby Valentine
"He's as tough as there is," lauded Valentine, who received an award for community service earlier in the evening. "When Randy goes to the mound, every hitter better bring his A game, or they'll flunk out quickly."
You don't have to tell Lou Piniella about the Big Unit's A game. Piniella was his manager in Seattle. In fact, Johnson was the first of a trio of potential Hall of Famers (Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez) to flee the Mariners. Yet Piniella extracted an American League-record 116 regular season victories out of the 2001 Mariners, and there he was Sunday, accepting his AL Manager of the Year Trophy.
This was a much more pleasant New York experience for Piniella than his last visit, which saw the Yankees upend the Mariners in the ALCS.
Even though the Yankees and Mariners have played in the ALCS the last two years, Piniella remains warm in the heart of New York fans, who remember his playing days in Pinstripes.
When Piniella stepped to the podium, he was greeted with a loud "Louuuuuuu" ovation.
With Ichiro Suzuki unable to make the lengthy trek from the Far East, Piniella also accepted the AL trophy on behalf of his brilliant right fielder and leadoff man.
"Like Yogi (Berra) told me a little while ago, that little Japanese guy can sure baseball," said Piniella, who drew a lot of laughs with that one.
The NL MVP can play a little baseball too. Barry Bonds, who captured his fourth MVP this season on the heels of his record-setting 73-home-run campaign, drew a huge applause from the audience when he stepped to the mike.
"My dream is to win a World Series," said Bonds, who has accomplished virtually everything else possible in his career.
"Then join the Yankees," hollered a random woman in the audience.
That won't happen any time soon, but thanks to the new interleague format in 2002, Bonds - a career National Leaguer -- will play in Yankee Stadium for the first time when the Giants visit June 7-9.
"I thank baseball for allowing me an opportunity this year to play in Yankee Stadium against Roger Clemens," Bonds said. "I just have one thing to say before I leave, Joe (Torre), make sure he's pitching."
One man who won't play in that potentially dazzling matchup is Paul O'Neill, the popular and fiery Yankee who retired following the World Series.
O'Neill was presented with the Joe DiMaggio "Toast of the Town" award. The roars in the audience of "Paulie, Paulie, Paulie" made it feel like a miniature Yankee Stadium.
"I'm blown away by what this city has shown me," said O'Neill, a Yankee from 1993-2001. "I just want to tell you, thank you."
The equipment in the Yankees dugout and clubhouse will thank him too, for not coming back. O'Neill was noted for his fiery outbursts following fruitless at bats.
"The water cooler is going to have a big smile on its face this year," said Clemens. "When you go to the dugout to get water, there will actually be water coming out of the spout."
Among some of the other honorees on hand were Albert Pujols (NL Rookie of the Year), Larry Bowa (NL Manager of Year) and Ozzie Smith (recently voted into Hall of Fame).
Mo honors New York firemen at Baseball Writers' Association of America dinner
By Ian Browne
MLB.com
NEW YORK -- It was a little less than three months ago that the normally superhuman Mariano Rivera suffered the most gutwrenching blown save of his life, costing the New York Yankees Game 7 of the World Series. Just as Rivera proved that he really was human on that warm November evening in Phoenix, the classy righty showed just how human he was again Sunday night.
Only this time, his actions received universal applause from the New Yorkers who were on hand to witness it.
Mariano Rivera
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 170
Position: P
Bats/Throws: R/R
More info:
Player page
Stats
Splits
yankees.com
Video Highlights: 56k | 300k
At the annual awards dinner held by the New York Chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, Rivera was presented with the American League's Rolaids Relief "Fireman of the Year" honor. Only Rivera gave that trophy away a lot quicker than he surrendered Game 7 to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
"I want to present this trophy to the true saviors, the true closers ... the Rescue Department of New York City, they are deserving of this honor," said Rivera. "They were an inspiration for us. I'd like to present this to Mr. Tom Von Essen."
Von Essen stepped down as Fire Commissioner of New York City on Dec. 31. But thanks to Rivera, he will be making a return visit to his office this week.
"On behalf of all the firefighters in New York City, I thank you for this Mariano," said Von Essen, after taking the hand-off from Rivera. "It's wonderful. I'll make sure it gets to the fire department (Monday). Thank you very very much."
With that heartfelt gesture, Rivera drew a thunderous applause from a packed gathering at the Sheraton New York in Manhattan. It was a fitting tribute to sum up a season that ended up being about so much more than just baseball in New York, following the tragic terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.
Rivera's gesture moved his peers, and even a certain New York Met.
"Obviously I'm not a voter, but I'd like to nominate Mariano Rivera for next year's Good Guy Award for his incredible and gracious act," said Mike Piazza, after receiving the New York Chapter's "Good Guy" award.
Rivera wasn't the only player to go home without his trophy. Upon receiving his unprecedented sixth Cy Young award, Roger Clemens stepped down from the dais and put his trophy into the arms of his mother Bess, who traveled in from Houston.
"This is your Cy Young mom," said Clemens, the New York Yankees future Hall of Famer. "I love you."
One man New Yorkers clearly don't love is Randy Johnson, whose uncanny brilliance in the World Series prevented the Yankees from a fourth consecutive title. However, the Big Unit was treated with a respectful applause from the audience - OK, a couple of boos were mixed in - as he stood up and grabbed his fourth Cy Young award from Mets Manager Bobby Valentine
"He's as tough as there is," lauded Valentine, who received an award for community service earlier in the evening. "When Randy goes to the mound, every hitter better bring his A game, or they'll flunk out quickly."
You don't have to tell Lou Piniella about the Big Unit's A game. Piniella was his manager in Seattle. In fact, Johnson was the first of a trio of potential Hall of Famers (Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez) to flee the Mariners. Yet Piniella extracted an American League-record 116 regular season victories out of the 2001 Mariners, and there he was Sunday, accepting his AL Manager of the Year Trophy.
This was a much more pleasant New York experience for Piniella than his last visit, which saw the Yankees upend the Mariners in the ALCS.
Even though the Yankees and Mariners have played in the ALCS the last two years, Piniella remains warm in the heart of New York fans, who remember his playing days in Pinstripes.
When Piniella stepped to the podium, he was greeted with a loud "Louuuuuuu" ovation.
With Ichiro Suzuki unable to make the lengthy trek from the Far East, Piniella also accepted the AL trophy on behalf of his brilliant right fielder and leadoff man.
"Like Yogi (Berra) told me a little while ago, that little Japanese guy can sure baseball," said Piniella, who drew a lot of laughs with that one.
The NL MVP can play a little baseball too. Barry Bonds, who captured his fourth MVP this season on the heels of his record-setting 73-home-run campaign, drew a huge applause from the audience when he stepped to the mike.
"My dream is to win a World Series," said Bonds, who has accomplished virtually everything else possible in his career.
"Then join the Yankees," hollered a random woman in the audience.
That won't happen any time soon, but thanks to the new interleague format in 2002, Bonds - a career National Leaguer -- will play in Yankee Stadium for the first time when the Giants visit June 7-9.
"I thank baseball for allowing me an opportunity this year to play in Yankee Stadium against Roger Clemens," Bonds said. "I just have one thing to say before I leave, Joe (Torre), make sure he's pitching."
One man who won't play in that potentially dazzling matchup is Paul O'Neill, the popular and fiery Yankee who retired following the World Series.
O'Neill was presented with the Joe DiMaggio "Toast of the Town" award. The roars in the audience of "Paulie, Paulie, Paulie" made it feel like a miniature Yankee Stadium.
"I'm blown away by what this city has shown me," said O'Neill, a Yankee from 1993-2001. "I just want to tell you, thank you."
The equipment in the Yankees dugout and clubhouse will thank him too, for not coming back. O'Neill was noted for his fiery outbursts following fruitless at bats.
"The water cooler is going to have a big smile on its face this year," said Clemens. "When you go to the dugout to get water, there will actually be water coming out of the spout."
Among some of the other honorees on hand were Albert Pujols (NL Rookie of the Year), Larry Bowa (NL Manager of Year) and Ozzie Smith (recently voted into Hall of Fame).