Following on from last weeks post about Danny Trejo, this weeks focus for Hispanic Heritage Month is on Mariano Rivera, the closing pitcher for the New York Yankees baseball club.

Born in 1969 in Panama, Rivera made his baseball debut on May the 23rd, 1995, and has spent his entire career playing for the Yankees. He has become a 13-time All-Star and a five-time World Series champion, along with holding the records for career saves with 652, and games finished with 952.

The ‘Sandman’ as he is known, has bid farewell to baseball at 43 years of age, and after an all impressive 19 years in the league. Rivera played his final game last Thursday, calling it “The perfect moment. It was something I would have never expected, I think I squeezed every ounce of fuel out of my tank. It is empty. I have nothing left.”

Rivera married his wife Clara in 1991, they had known each other since elementary school, and together have three children. Rivera is a devout Christian, and is very well known for being reserved, humble, and calm under pressure, Goose Gossage, a hall of fame closer, stated Rivera had “ice water in his veins.” He signed to the Yankees for $3,000, at 20 years old, having never been on a plane and unable to speak English; he finishes his career as one of baseballs greatest closers, an eventual inductee into the Hall of Fame, and having earned 15 million dollars in 2012.

Rivera would enter the pitch near the end of games to ‘save’ them, being called to close out the other teams chances of a comeback, it’s an important part of a game as you could imagine, and to do it in the fashion that Mariano has is no easy feat. He would step upon the pitch, surrounded by thousands of fans, striking fear into the batters heart, yet always remaining calm and humble; on the speakers blasted Metallicas ‘Enter Sandman,’ where he gained the nickname, which sent the crowd into hysterics and furious eruptions of support.

Riveras final home appearance was his 1,115th game, he sent four batters packing before Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte, two long time teammates, came onto the pitch to remove him for the last time. With tears flowing, the crowd standing for a four minute ovation, Rivera left the pitch.

Mariano plans on resting, then resting, and then resting some more now that he has time to; afterwards he will spend most of his time concentrating on philanthropy, in particular the ‘Mariano Rivera Foundation,’ which he set up in 1998 with his wife Clara, to raise money for underprivileged children in the U.S. and Panama.

Have you seen the ‘Sandman’ play? Can you think of any other Hispanic sports stars?