Shortly after the Hall of Fame announced that Mariano Rivera (unanimously) and Mike Mussina (76.7%) will be inducted in Cooperstown later this year, praise from Yankees officials, ex-teammates and former opponents poured in: On Mariano Rivera Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner (via statement): “Mariano was a fierce competitor and a humble champion, which has made him such a beloved baseball legend. Success and stardom never changed Mariano, and his respect for the game, the Pinstripes and for his teammates and opponents alike makes this day such a celebration of his legacy. There will be many more great and talented relief pitchers, but there will never be another like him. This is another incredible achievement for Mariano, and a day like today brings me great pride knowing he wore the Pinstripes for each and every game of his remarkable career.” Yankees senior vice president and general manager Brian Cashman (via statement): “It’s humbling to think of the incredible journey that Mariano has had over the course of his life — his unassuming beginnings in a Panamanian fishing village to pitching for the Yankees under the brightest lights with the world watching. I speak for every Yankees fan when I say how fortunate we were to have had him on our side for so long. Clearly his World Series rings and longtime statistical dominance testify to his standing among the greats to ever play our sport. But no matter how big a star he became, he never failed to carry himself with unerring professionalism and class. Mo was always someone who I could point to and say, ‘That’s what a Yankee should be like.’” Yankees manager Aaron Boone (via statement): “Mariano was simply the best ever at closing out games. He had the perfect combination of confidence and humility, and it was a thrill to play alongside him.” Former Yankees catcher Jorge Posada (via statement): “Mariano is a rare, once-in-a-lifetime pitcher, and the greatest closer to ever play the game of baseball. There was such a humility and grace to the way he did his job — day after day and year after year. I’m so proud of everything he has accomplished, and I’m ecstatic that he and his family can celebrate this ultimate honor.” Former Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte (via statement): “Mo, congrats on being a first ballot Hall of Famer. What an honor it was playing alongside of you for all those years. When I look back on my career, many of my best memories directly involve you. This is a pretty obvious statement, but I wouldn’t want anyone else closing out a game that I started. I never took for granted what you provided for each and every starting pitcher in our rotation.” Former Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams (via statement): “When it comes to Mariano, I had the best seat in the house from center field watching him pitch. It was mindboggling to see him literally just mow down hitters. Mariano would cause more broken bats in one inning than most starters had in an entire game. If we had a lead in the ninth inning — the game was over. He achieved a level of consistency for such a long time, and that is very hard to do. You just don’t really see that in a reliever. That’s what made him so remarkable. Everyone in the stadium knew he was going to throw that cutter – and they still couldn’t hit it. Subscribe to Newsday’s sports newsletter Receive stories, photos and videos about your favorite New York teams plus national sports news and events. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy. “Mariano, in almost two decades of pitching, essentially dominated three generations of players of the mid 1990s, through the 2000s and into this decade and he did it with just one pitch. He faced everyone from Cal Ripken Jr. and Ken Griffey, Jr. to Ichiro, David Ortiz and Miguel Cabrera, to Mike Trout and Manny Machado. “A lot of people don’t know this, but in the clubhouse, Mariano was a prankster — he was very funny and would play jokes on guys and keep things loose. He was also one of those old school players that took it upon himself to take care of young players. He would take rookies to dinner, talk to them about life as a major leaguer and how to carry yourself. He was always very embracing of the young blood on the team — a great teammate. “He was also a family man who was very devoted to his wife and kids. Perhaps the one thing I admired most about him is that on his long road to becoming the greatest reliever of all time, he included his family, and took this journey with them close by him the entire time. That’s just the kind of man he is. “There was, and always will be just one Mariano — a special player, special teammate, special man.” Former Yankees first baseman Tino Martinez (via statement): “Mo was the only closer in baseball that jogged onto the field and everyone knew the game was over — including the opponent. He was such a class act. He never showed up a batter after striking someone out or retiring the final batter of the game. It was such a joy being a teammate of his.” Former Yankees outfielder Paul O'Neill (via statement): "He is absolutely the best. I have said it many times — we would never have had the run in the ‘90s without Mo! I don’t know many people I respect more than Mariano, because of who he is and how he stayed who he was, even while being the best ever.” Fellow Hall of Fame Class of 2019 inductee Edgar Martinez (via statement): “Mo is one of the greatest pitchers of all time, and he is the greatest closer of all time. It was always a challenge to face him, but I enjoyed the competition, and I like to think he did, too. It is very special for me to be able to share this day and this honor with him. Especially since, not only was he a great pitcher, but he did terrific work in his communities.” Hall of Fame closer Trevor Hoffman (via statement): “Congratulations, Mariano. Throughout your career, you exemplified the meaning of the phrase ‘Hall of Famer.’ You are one of the most amazing pitchers in baseball history and have always represented the game with great class and dignity. Enjoy your rightful place in Cooperstown.” On Mike Mussina Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner (via statement): “I’m very pleased that Hall of Fame voters recognized Mike’s consistently dominant career by honoring him with enshrinement into Cooperstown. While he went about his business in an understated way, Mike was a premier pitcher for almost two decades while competing in the grueling American League East. I’d like to congratulate Mike on this incredible distinction and for his many years of contributions to the Yankees and the game of baseball.” Yankees senior vice president and general manager Brian Cashman (via statement): “I’m so happy to see Moose recognized for his incredible career. Accomplishing what he did while spending all 18 of his seasons in the ultra-competitive AL East is remarkable. Unlike the big arms that dominate today’s pitching landscape, Mike was a quintessential craftsman who played up to his strengths and hunted for the weaknesses in his opposition — before that level of preparation was a commonplace thing to do. More importantly though, he was a gamer, plain and simple. He wanted the ball, and did everything within his power to get himself ready to contribute. I don’t get too invested in players’ individual milestones, but I was thrilled that he won 20 games in his final season. He deserved that validation then just like he deserves the validation he’s going to get this summer in Cooperstown.” Yankees manager Aaron Boone (via statement): “I absolutely loved playing behind Mike Mussina. He was a perfectionist and his athleticism allowed him to do whatever he needed to do on the mound to be successful.”<doc-sep>Mariano Rivera made a lot of very good baseball players look very bad for a very long time. A total of 993 different hitters recorded at least one at-bat against Rivera during his 19-year major-league career with the New York Yankees. Close to two-thirds of them posted a batting average of .200 or worse against him, with nearly half failing to record a single hit off Rivera and his magical cut fastball. For that reason and so many more, Rivera was elected into the Hall of Fame on Tuesday by the voting members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. He is the first player in history to be voted in unanimously, a remarkable achievement that has long been seen as an impossibility. As Rivera receives the sport’s ultimate honor, it seems fitting that he will be joined in Cooperstown this summer by his greatest nemesis: Edgar Martínez—the only person ever to conquer the great Rivera. Martínez, the longtime Seattle Mariners designated hitter, owned Rivera in a way that almost doesn’t sound real. Including the playoffs, Martínez went 11-for-19 against him for a .579 batting average—by far the best of anybody who faced Rivera more than five times. Five of those hits went for extra bases, making Martínez the only player to accomplish that feat. Rivera even intentionally walked Martínez twice, proving that Martínez achieved the near-impossible: He scared the fearless. “He had more than my number,” Rivera said in an interview with Charlie Rose after his retirement in 2013. “He had my breakfast, lunch and dinner.” Edgar Martinez finished his 18-year career with 2,247 hits. Photo: AP Before developing the cutter that he calls a “gift from God,” Rivera came up in 1995 as a conventional starting pitcher, and not a particularly good one. Martínez devoured him that year, going 6-for-7 with two home runs, a double and five RBIs. That includes a single in the American League Division Series, the same series that provided Martínez’s signature moment: a two-run double down the left-field line off Jack McDowell that scored Ken Griffey Jr. from first base and sent the Mariners to the next round. But even after Rivera became Rivera, Martínez kept on hitting. He doubled in both of his matchups against him in 1996. The only time they faced each other in 1997, Rivera walked him intentionally, a strategy he famously loathed. Joe Torre, Rivera’s manager with the Yankees from 1996 through 2007, distinctly remembers instructing Rivera to intentionally walk Carlos Delgado against his will in a game against the New York Mets in 2006. The next batter, David Wright, won the game with a rocket into deep center field. Afterward, Rivera approached Torre and said, “Let’s not do that again.” “The one thing about Mariano,” Torre said, “is when he’s out on the mound, he doesn’t think anybody can hit him.” Except Martínez, despite his insistence that Rivera threw the best cutter he ever saw. The problem for Rivera, however, was that his cutter, the pitch that turned hundreds of bats into sawdust and dominated pretty much everybody, played directly into Martínez’s strengths. To right-handed hitters like Martínez, Rivera’s cutter darted to the outside part of the plate, taking what looked on television like a sharp left turn. Martínez lived for pitches away, frequently looking to drive balls up the middle or to the opposite field, allowing him to neutralize Rivera’s primary weapon. “His ball would cut away from you, so you could not try to pull it,” Martínez said. “You have to follow that pitch and go in that direction. I would tell myself that for a pitcher like Mariano, you just can’t over-swing.” New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera had 652 saves in 19 seasons. Photo: AP Alex Rodríguez, a teammate of both players, says he knows the exact moment everything changed. When Rodríguez arrived on the Mariners months removed from his high-school prom in 1994, Martínez quickly became his mentor. “He had a Ph.D. in hitting from Harvard,” Rodríguez said. In the ninth inning of Game 1 of the ALCS in 2001, Martínez stepped up to the plate against Rivera. Heading into the at-bat, Martínez was 10-for-13 against him. But this time, Rivera had something special he was saving for his toughest foe: a sinker, a fastball that resembled a cutter out of his hand, but broke in to righty hitters instead of away. Martínez swung and got jammed, fisting a weak ground ball to first base, ending the game and leaving him with nothing besides the handle of his bat. Martínez was stunned. He had never seen Rivera throw that pitch and didn’t realize he had it in his arsenal. From that point on, Martínez went 1-for-5 against Rivera. “That pitch became an incredible lethal weapon for Mariano,” Rodríguez said. “But it was started to defend against Edgar Martínez’s crazy hitting.” The road to enshrinement couldn’t have been more different for this unlikely pairing. Rivera’s journey was preordained. He has the career record for saves with 652, to go along with his 2.21 ERA. He is regarded as arguably the best clutch performer ever, putting up an absurd 0.70 ERA in the playoffs, helping to power the Yankees to five championships in a 14-season span. New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera, left, during a pregame ceremony with former Seattle Mariners designated hitter Edgar Martinez, right, in 2013. Photo: AP It wasn’t quite that simple for Martínez to gain entrance into the Hall. Despite his lifetime .312 batting average and .933 OPS, he struggled to generate support. Martínez received just 36.2% of the vote when he first appeared on the ballot in 2010 and dropped all the way to 25.2% in 2014, likely being penalized because he didn’t have a defensive position. Now, thanks to a reappraisal of his career and a dedicated fan campaign, Martínez earned 85.4% of the vote, passing the 75% threshold in his 10th and final year of eligibility. (The BBWAA also voted in pitchers Mike Mussina and Roy Halladay, who died in a plane crash in 2017.) Other players had some modicum of success against Rivera. David Ortiz went 13-for-38 off him. Rafael Palmeiro went 9-for-27 with two homers. But nobody hit Rivera quite like Martínez, and now they’re both headed to Cooperstown. “The good part is now we can look back and say we both competed against each other and did the best we could,” Martínez said. “In the end, I wish I had the World Series he has.” Write to Jared Diamond at jared.diamond@wsj.com<doc-sep>Tuesday’s National Baseball Hall of Fame voting could not have gone better from a Yankees perspective. Mariano Rivera was always expected to sail into the Hall, but it was a genuine thrill to see Rivera become the first unanimous selection in MLB history. Not only that, but Mike Mussina’s time on the ballot also came to an end, with the wily right-hander also receiving induction in his sixth year of eligibility. Rivera, of course, is among the most beloved figures to every play the game. The entire baseball community embraced him, and it is more than fitting that he managed to find his way onto every ballot, no matter how stingy the voter. While Mussina is not revered the way Rivera is, it’s still a wonderful surprise that Mussina will get his overdue recognition this year. Mussina was an excellent pitcher throughout a successful period of Yankees baseball, but one that unfortunately did not yield a championship. He had the poor luck to just miss the Yankees’ World Series windows, but at last, he now has the good fortune of being enshrined in Cooperstown. Here’s what Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner had to say about the announcements, as per Newsday: “Mariano was a fierce competitor and a humble champion, which has made him such a beloved baseball legend. Success and stardom never changed Mariano, and his respect for the game, the Pinstripes and for his teammates and opponents alike makes this day such a celebration of his legacy. There will be many more great and talented relief pitchers, but there will never be another like him. This is another incredible achievement for Mariano, and a day like today brings me great pride knowing he wore the Pinstripes for each and every game of his remarkable career.” “I’m very pleased that Hall of Fame voters recognized Mike’s consistently dominant career by honoring him with enshrinement into Cooperstown. While he went about his business in an understated way, Mike was a premier pitcher for almost two decades while competing in the grueling American League East. I’d like to congratulate Mike on this incredible distinction and for his many years of contributions to the Yankees and the game of baseball.” Every corner of the Yankees community came out to support the two pitchers. Let’s take a look at some of the best bits from across the internet: What a #HOF2019 class! Congrats to my brother, Mariano Riviera, on becoming the first player to be elected unanimously. So happy for all four inductees, including my mentor Edgar Martinez, my teammate Mike Mussina and the late Roy Halladay, one of the best I ever faced. — Alex Rodriguez (@AROD) January 22, 2019 Congratulations, Mo!! You truly are the best! — Paul O'Neill (@PaulONeillYES) January 22, 2019 I learned more from Mike Mussina about pitchers—what they do and how they do it—than from anyone else In the last two decades covering baseball. The day he retired I thought he would be a Hall of Famer. The call finally came. Congratulations to Mussina, a well deserved honor. — Sweeny Murti (@YankeesWFAN) January 23, 2019 LOOKOUT !!! Mariano & Moose into the Hall Of Fame !!! Yankees representing big time next July in Cooperstown!! Congratulations to you both simply a pleasure watching you pitch — Ken Singleton (@29alltime) January 22, 2019 Mariano Rivera got every vote. That is stunning. And fitting. — Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) January 22, 2019 This guy had the best view of it all. pic.twitter.com/WbMvaORcFi — New York Yankees (@Yankees) January 23, 2019 My most vivid Mike Mussina memory is his final game, inbetween games of a doubleheader at Fenway Park. He was finally a 20-game winner, and though we didn't know it, he had decided to retire. He was munching on some greasy McDonald's fries and seemed just so, so satisfied. — Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) January 23, 2019 Mike Mussina was often underrated for being so good yet just shy of some of the game's big feats: A game shy of a World Series ring (2001), an out shy of a perfect game (2001), second place in the Cy Young voting (1999). Finally he's recognized for a Hall of Fame career. — Tristan H. Cockcroft (@SultanofStat) January 22, 2019 It won’t be the headline, but I’m so glad Mike Mussina was elected. He’s an all-time great who more than deserves the honor. — Joe Sheehan (@joe_sheehan) January 22, 2019 Congrats to Mariano Rivera on joining Bruce Springsteen as the only humans with 100% approval ratings from the Baseball Writers' Association of America — Pablo S. Torre (@PabloTorre) January 22, 2019 In retrospect, of course Mariano Rivera got every baseball writers’ vote. No player in the history of the game has ever helped make more deadlines. — Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) January 22, 2019 Mariano Rivera had an impact on a countless number of people, but I was probably one of the most fortunate. I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without sitting next to him for so many years. Thanks for everything Mo. No one deserves it more. — David Robertson (@DRob30) January 23, 2019 This is who Mariano Rivera is. On the day he set the All Time Saves record he stopped his press conference to congratulate me for becoming a father. https://t.co/F7BoVsCMs3 — Sweeny Murti (@YankeesWFAN) January 22, 2019<doc-sep>
NEW YORK – It's unanimous. Mariano Rivera has joined the immortals. Enter Sandman into Cooperstown. On Tuesday night, Rivera swept into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in an historic election that saw him named on all 425 ballots cast by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. The iconic Yankees’ closer and MLB’s all-time saves leader became the first player to be unanimously elected. Rivera was ushered to Cooperstown along with Mariners’ designated hitter Edgar Martinez, possibly his toughest opponent, the late Roy Halladay – ace of the Blue Jays and later the Phillies – and Yankees teammate Mike Mussina. “Amazing, amazing … I just can’t put it in words, how I feel,’’ Rivera said on a conference call on Tuesday night. “I wasn’t expecting even to be a Hall-of-Famer when I was playing baseball. I was just happy to be in the big leagues and playing for the New York Yankees. “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 of his unanimous election. “Just to be considered a Hall-of-Famer is quite an honor, but being unanimous – it’s amazing.’’ MORE:Mike Mussina finally gets Baseball Hall of Fame nod MORE:Edgar Martinez played his best against Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees "There will be many more great and talented relief pitchers, but there will never be another like him,'' Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement. "This is another incredible achievement for Mariano, and a day like today brings me great pride knowing he wore the pinstripes for each and every game of his remarkable career.” Both Halladay and Martinez appeared on 85.4 percent of all ballots. Mussina received 76.7 percent of the vote. Appearing on his first Hall of Fame ballot, fellow Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte cleared the five-percent threshold to remain on the BBWAA ballot. “Mariano was simply the best ever at closing out games,'' said Yankees manager Aaron Boone in a statement. "He had the perfect combination of confidence and humility, and it was a thrill to play alongside him.” This ballot became a celebration of Rivera’s 19-year unique and memorable career, forged by one special pitch – an incredible cut fastball – that boosted the Yankees toward five world championships. “Mariano is a rare, once-in-a-lifetime pitcher, and the greatest closer to ever play the game of baseball,'' said Jorge Posada, in a statement. "There was such a humility and grace to the way he did his job – day after day and year after year. "I’m so proud of everything he has accomplished, and I’m ecstatic that he and his family can celebrate this ultimate honor.” And in saving a record 652 games, 42 more in the regular season, the extent of Rivera’s celebration was usually a mild fist pump before embracing his catcher and shaking the hands of his teammates. Story continues after podcast MORE:Mariano Rivera and a by-the-numbers glance at his Hall of Fame career "It’s humbling to think of the incredible journey that Mariano has had over the course of his life — his unassuming beginnings in a Panamanian fishing village to pitching for the Yankees under the brightest lights with the world watching,'' Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said in a statement. "Clearly his World Series rings and longtime statistical dominance testify to his standing among the greats to ever play our sport. But no matter how big a star he became, he never failed to carry himself with unerring professionalism and class. Mo was always someone who I could point to and say, ‘That’s what a Yankee should be like.’” “You can’t create somebody’s character,’’ Yankees manager Joe Torre told reporters recently about Rivera. “Longevity is so suspect in that type of job (as a closer)…not only the physical part of it, but the emotional part of being in that situation all the time and being able to turn the page if it doesn’t work.’’ Rivera had his share of October heartbreak, yet forged a 0.70 ERA in 96 postseason games, with 42 saves – a record 11 coming in World Series games. "Mo is one of the greatest pitchers of all time, and he is the greatest closer of all time,'' said Martinez in a statement. Martinez was 11-for-19 (.579) against Rivera, though "it was always a challenge to face him, but I enjoyed the competition, and I like to think he did, too.