NEW YORK — Widely acclaimed as the greatest reliever in baseball history, Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees has been making a farewell tour in his last season before his announced retirement.
"I enjoy every bit of it," he said Monday during All-Star festivities at Citi Field.
With the 43-year-old closer set to pitch in his final All-Star game Tuesday night, a look at five gifts that opposing teams have given the career saves leader:
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CRAAACK! Rivera has made a living shattering the bats of opposing hitters, so the Minnesota Twins paid tribute in a most proper fashion: They presented him with a rocking chair built from cracked bats and inscribed it, "Chair of Broken Dreams." No star was spared, either. Sheared wood once swung by Kirby Puckett, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau was used. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, All-Star closer Glen Perkins and Morneau gave it to Rivera at Target Field.
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WAVE GOODBYE: The Oakland Athletics gave Rivera a surfboard that was trimmed in A's green and gold, along with his No. 42. The team played his signature "Enter Sandman" at the presentation, and also handed him a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc from Groth Vineyards that had his number and a specially-engraved design.
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