Wikipedia:Today's featured article/June 29, 2010

Mariano Rivera (born 1969) is a Panamanian right-handed baseball pitcher who has spent his entire Major League Baseball career with the New York Yankees. Rivera has served as a relief pitcher for most of his career, and since 1997, he has been the Yankees' closer. His presence in the late innings of games to record the final outs has played an instrumental role in the Yankees' success, particularly the team's late 1990s dynasty. He has won five World Series championships as a Yankee. Rivera has become regarded as one of the best closers in baseball history, having achieved his success by primarily throwing one pitch—a sharp-breaking cut fastball that has been called an all-time great pitch. Rivera is a ten-time All-Star, a five-time American League Rolaids Relief Man Award winner, and a three-time saves leader. He has recorded the second-most saves in Major League history, and in 2009, he surpassed 500 career saves. Recognized as an exceptional postseason performer, he holds Major League postseason records for saves and earned run average, among other records. Baseball writers expect Rivera will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame upon retirement. (more...)

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