A Yankee closer. A Red Sox starter.
Two storied pitchers reached career milestones recently, and though they might seem like total opposites at first glance, Mariano Rivera and Tim Wakefield have a lot more in common than you might think.
The 41-year-old Rivera recorded his 602nd save Monday in New York, surpassing longtime Padre closer Trevor Hoffman for most all-time. Rivera also holds the top spot on the postseason save list with 42.
Meanwhile, Wakefield earned victory No. 200 on Sept. 13th against Toronto at Fenway. It took the 45-year-old eight tries to reach the milestone, making it that much sweeter for him when he finally did via an 18-6 Red Sox rout.
Both pitchers have shown loyalty to their city in an era when it is uncommon for a player to stay in one spot for too long. Rivera has spent the entirety of his career with the Yankees, originally making his major league debut in 1995 as a starter.
Wakefield has spent all but three years in Boston, making his Red Sox debut during the ‘95 season as well. He is the longest-tenured pitcher in Boston history, and his 17 years with the organization is ranked fourth all-time in seasons with the team.
And it’s not just longevity and loyalty that the two hurlers have in common. Both guys have built dazzling careers based on the maddening effectiveness of a single pitch.
For Rivera, the cutter has been his bread and butter over the course of a dozen All-Star selections and five World Series titles. Hitters know it’s coming, yet they still can’t hit it.
For Wakefield, the knuckleball has carried him to an All-Star selection and two rings. It’s has been a constant source of frustration for hitters and catchers alike, and even Wakefield has had trouble taming the mysterious and unpredictable pitch.
Rivera and Wakefield know quite a bit about the roller coaster nature of the game, too. There’s a word for that — perseverance — and it’s a major reason why both pitchers are taking the hill in their 40s.
Rivera was born and raised in a fishing village in Panama and was signed on a hunch by a Yankees scout in February of 1990 for a mere $3,000 signing bonus. After signing the contract, Rivera left home for the first time and ascended through New York’s minor league system. Even a 1992 elbow surgery didn’t stop him, and by 1997 he was the Yankees’ closer. He squandered three of his first six save chances, but like Rivera has proved throughout the duration of his career, he has the mental toughness of a Samurai warrior. Not even his blown save in Game Seven of the 2001 World Series — Rivera’s only postseason loss to date and a moment that might have been the breaking point for many closers — messed with his psyche.
Rivera has been, and always will be, cool as ice.
Wakefield, too, has seen his fair share of highs and lows. His amazing 1992 rookie season with the Pirates (he hurled a complete game in his debut) was overshadowed by rocky 1993 and 1994 campaigns and his subsequent release from Pittsburgh. But he soon found a home with the Red Sox, and has been battling the erratic nature of the knuckleball, trips to and from the bullpen and the aging process ever since.
Perhaps most importantly, both Rivera and Wakefield have been excellent role models and ambassadors to the game during their tenures. Not once has either guy brought bad publicity to their respective clubhouses. Rivera runs the Mariano Rivera Foundation, which gives back to disadvantaged kids in the U.S. and Panama, and Wakefield, an eight-time nominee for and the 2010 recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award, is also an active philanthropist.
Unfortunately for the Yankees, Red Sox and all of baseball, there will be a day when these two guys have to hang up the cleats. Let’s just hope that these old men don’t walk away any time soon.
Just picture it now: Rivera and Wakefield pitching into their 50s.
It might sound a bit far-fetched, but a fan can dream, can’t he?
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