On June 6, 2003 the New York Yankees played at Wrigley Field since the 1938 World Series. I attended that game and had seats about ten rows behind the Yankees bullpen. I was seated behind a boy who was about seven years old. During the early innings, the boy walked down to the Yankees bullpen with a disposable camera. Mariano River noticed him and stopped to smile for him and said hello.
When he got back to his seat, the boy's father handed him a ball and told him to go ask Mariano for an autograph. When he got up there, Mo politely declined. "I can't during the game. It's not allowed. But I'll sign it after the game." The boy was disappointed but his dad did a good job of explaining it all to him.
As the game progressed, the Yankees took the lead and Mariano wound up having to pitch the top of the ninth inning. Mariano got the Cubs out for the save. As the game ended, the Yankees bench emptied and everyone lined up for high-fives. Then all the Yankees started to head back into the dugout. At this point, the dad tried to explain to his son that Mr. Rivera didn't know he would be pitching when the game ended. So he probably won't be coming back out to sign the ball.
But I soon noticed that Mariano was not walking in the same direction as the other Yankees. He turned out towards right field, back toward the bullpen. His lanky frame walked all the way back out to the bullpen at a calm, casual pace.
When he got out there, he pointed to the point and gestured for him to come down. He signed his ball, smiled and turned away back towards the dugout. A few other people started shoving things in his face to sign, but he demurred. A few cursed him for not signing their stuff. But Mo didn't seem to mind. He just kept walking at that same deliberate speed.
A grown up can never appreciate an athlete in quite the same way a child does. So no one will ever replace Don Mattingly as my favorite Yankee. But this story is why Mariano Rivera is my favorite Yankee of this generation.
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