Matt Shalbrack/Winonan

Baseball is full of great moments–moments that make you shake your head, moments that make you cheer and even moments that make you cry. On Sept. 26 in the Bronx, the Yankees made the entire baseball world cry during a heartfelt moment with two outs in top of the ninth.

The greatest closer in the game, Mariano Rivera, pitched in his last game at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees did all sorts of things to help make this moment in his career stand out from the other great moments Rivera has had as a Yankee.

It all started with him entering the game, down 4-0 against the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth inning. Now, as a closer, Rivera would normally make his trip from the bullpen to the mound in the ninth inning, but this wasn’t like any other game. This was Rivera’s final game at Yankee Stadium.

Rivera entered the game and took his spot on the mound accompanied by his usual walk-out music, “Enter Sandman” by Metallica. One thing that was different was the fact that the Yankees used a recording of the late P.A. announcer Bob Sheppard to introduce him into the game.

Rivera then cleaned up the mess that he was left with in the eighth inning by doing what he does best–getting outs. He might be 43 years old, but the man still plays baseball with his heart, and he does all the little things right.

Rivera went out to pitch the ninth inning, and he recorded the first two outs. Then, while he was still in the zone, Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte both came out to the mound to take Rivera out of the game. It was this moment that really made this spectacle spectacular. Jeter, Pettite and Rivera have been a core part of the Yankees organization since 1996.

Jeter is the captain of the team, and Pettitte and Rivera have won/saved more playoff games than any other pitching combination in the history of the game. It wasn’t until Jeter and Pettitte were about halfway to the mound from the dugout when Rivera realized what was happening. It was the perfect sendoff.

Once at the mound, Pettite and Jeter said some words to Rivera and then Pettitte and Rivera shared a hug. This is when the emotions took control of Rivera.

Rivera and Pettitte embraced, and as Pettitte was trying to let go, Rivera was pulling him in closer, tears visibly falling down his face. It wasn’t a moment of weakness; it was a moment of passion for the love of the game of baseball and all of the moments that come with it.

After he hugged both Pettitte and Jeter, Rivera walked slowly back to the dugout for the last time at Yankee Stadium, taking in all the sights and sounds one more time. He tipped his hat to everyone in the stadium and he walked into the dugout and shared an embrace with his manager, Joe Girardi. Both men, crying, hugged each other and shared words.

Not only was this a special moment because of Rivera, but it was special because Girardi played with Rivera and was his catcher.

Their bond goes back just as long as the bond between Rivera, Pettitte and Jeter’s does.

The Yankees lost the game and they’re out of the playoffs. However, that doesn’t matter because what they did for Mariano Rivera, in his last game at Yankee Stadium, means more than both of those.

Sure, it’d be great to see Rivera keep pitching into the playoffs, but sometimes, good things come to an end. Rivera could still play for another year or two, but he’s going out on his terms and he’s going out on top. Only a few players can actually say they’ve left the game of baseball that way.

Mariano Rivera will forever be the best closer baseball has ever seen. His legacy will always live on. He played the game with heart, passion and soul never letting anything get in his way of being the best he could be. I cried last night watching the game. I’ve watched the highlights of it as well.

Thanks Mo, for all the memories. You deserve to be the last person to ever wear the No. 42. As a fan, I’ll never forget watching you play, and I will always remember you as an icon – a person to tell the younger generations about. Baseball won’t be the same without you next season, and it won’t be the same without you in October this season.

Contact Matt at [email protected]