One last go around - For 17 seasons, longtime Yankees closer Mariano Rivera has dominated the American League landscape with his devastating cutter, sawing off broken bats and fooling batters while on his way to becoming baseball's all-time saves leader with 608 career saves. Saturday afternoon, however, the 43-year old Panama native held a press-conference in front of the media where he announced his plans to retire at the conclusion of the 2013 MLB season, ending the distinguished career that began with the New York ball club in 1995. With plans to retire after the 2012 season last year, Rivera, a 12-time All-Star was forced to rethink his retirement when those plans came to an abrupt stop after suffering a knee injury while shagging balls prior to a game in Kansas City on May 3, which turned out to be a torn ACL that put the 17-year veteran on the shelf for the remainder of the season. Having been the poster boy for success during much of his career, many thought there was no way that one of baseball's most celebrated players would go out like that.
They would be right as Rivera refused to let his decorated big league career end at the hands of an injury, shooting down all rumors of that being the last we saw of the one they call 'Mo' toeing the rubber in the ninth inning with the game on the line. "I'm not going down like this," Rivera told the baseball world after undergoing knee surgery in June. And after those words left his mouth, the sun came out and the birds began to sing like a scene from a Disney movie. But like all Disney movies which feature a happy ending, the only way to properly end this saga will be for the Yankees to send their closer on a horse riding in the sunset with a sixth World Series title under his belt. With Rivera calling it an "honor to put on the pinstripes," it's been nothing short of an honor for us baseball fans to watch him take the hill during the ninth inning and do what he's done his entire career -- win ball games. And though I'm not a fan of the Yankees personally, I think I can speak for everyone when I say Mo wore the pinstripes the way they were meant to be worn -- with class. After watching another one of baseball's all around good guys take the field for one last hurrah in 2012, Mo could expect similar treatment to that of Chipper Jones who received gifts from every National League organization last season in what was his final year in the big leagues before calling it quits.
One gift that won't be given to him, however, is a sixth World Series Championship and is one he and his teammates want more than anything else. Unfortunately it won't be an easy task as the Yankees will be without much of their power hitters to start the year. With Mark Teixeira out 8 to 10 weeks with a strained tendon in his right wrist, Curtis Granderson sidelined until May with a fractured right forearm and Alex Rodriguez not expected back until mid-season at the very least while recovering from hip surgery, the Yankees will depend heavily on Robinson Cano to provide much of the pop for the Bronx Bombers. They'll also be looking for some much needed production from players such as Ichiro Suzuki, Travis Hafner and Kevin Youkilis, all of which were All-Stars for their respected former clubs. Not to be forgotten is Derek Jeter who himself is recovering from an ankle injury sustained during the ALCS last season and Brett Gardner who when healthy can run the base paths with the best of them. As for the pitching staff, Phil Hughes is expected to miss his first start of the regular season while battling back problems.
The injury bug has been so contagious to the Yankees organization as of late that even Yankees GM Brian Cashman hit the disabled-list with a broken leg and dislocated ankle suffered during a sky-diving stunt. For their sake, I hope this isn't a bad omen of things to come for those who support the pinstripes. And for the first time in awhile, the Yankees are entering the season as underdogs to make it out of their division on top with the recent retooling of the Toronto Blue Jays who many are expecting to contend for a title.
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Hells Bells - With the early stages of baseball's Spring Training underway as pitchers and catchers begin reporting to camp, one hurler who won't be taking part in the festivities for the first time in nearly 20 years is the recently retired Trevor Hoffman. Having solidified himself as one of the best closers the game of baseball has ever seen, the 43 year old reliever decided it was finally time to hang up his cleats. After 18-years in the big leagues, the highly touted right-hander set the bar for closers, logging a total of 601 saves making him baseball's all-time career saves leader. Better known as the longtime ninth inning specialist for the San Diego Padres where he would set numerous Major League and franchise records, the California native also served time with the Florida Marlins whom he was drafted by, and the Milwaukee Brewers where he spent the final two years of his prestigious career.The 7-time All-Star recently announced his retirement late last month after becoming the first and only player in Major League history to reach the 600 save plateau in September of last season. After a lackluster season productively in which he struggled and was demoted to a set-up role, the 2-time NL Rolaids Relief Man of the Year still managed to compile 10 saves, improving his all-time saves mark to 601 where it stands today. Helping him dominate at his position for so many years, was the devastating changeup he added to his repertoire once his fastball velocity began decreasing after undergoing surgery. In 1998, Hoffman recorded career bests in both Saves (53) and ERA (1.48), creating quite an argument for the highly coveted Cy Young Award as well as MVP honors. However, he fell short of bringing home either piece of hardware, finishing seventh in MVP voting and runner up for the Cy Young.
Despite the long list of milestones he achieved, Hoffman, a converted infielder, saw limited success in the postseason, making a lone trip to the World Series in 1998 where he blew a 3-2 lead in the 9th inning upon getting swept by the eventual world champion New York Yankees. Given he played a majority of his career with a mediocre Padres squad, his impressive body of work both on and off the field made up for it. Receiving high praise from his teammates as well as his managers for his leadership skills, Hoffman's unmatched work ethic made him a fan favorite among players and organizations alike. The younger brother of a former big league shortstop, Hoffman's high leg kick and his traditional 'Hells Bells' introduction music by AC/DC became just as synonymous as Southern California's warm weather.Second to none in San Diego, unless you're Tony Gwynn of coarse who won fans over by way of hitting the ball instead of throwing it, Hoffman was in many ways the face of the Padres ball club. And just like the great Gwynn who was awarded a statue outside of Petco Park, don't be surprised if San Diego plans to honor Hoffman with a statue of his own in the near future. Although his days as baseball's all-time saves leader are limited with Yankees closer Mariano Rivera most likely to surpass Hoffman's 601 mark in the next year or two, Hoffman will still be the NL's all-time saves leader. Though he might not be looking forward to the day his record is broken, one occasion that will be circled on his calendar is when he'll be Hall of Fame eligible in 2016. While voters remain unkind to relievers when it comes time to vote, in my eyes the guy is a first ballot candidate.
A story of my own - Although he never played for my team and was actually a member of one of the Giants division rivals, I always respected Hoffman's body of work and became an instant fan of his when I learned firsthand just how humble he was, regardless of being one of the games bigger names. While on vacation with some friends in Colorado, I managed to make it to a Rockies-Padres game in Denver's Coors Field and witnessed the players taking batting practice and warming up before the game. Lo and behold was Trevor Hoffman stretching in left field. Even though I stood there wearing the hat of a rival team, Hoffman was kind enough to sign my ball, creating one of my all-time favorite moments while at a sporting event.
This edition of Throwback Thursday, we take a look back at not just the career, but the life of one of baseball's most influential pioneers. Born Victor Felipe Pellot Pove, in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, Victor served a 12-year career in the Major Leagues where he played first base for such teams as the Philadelphia/Kansas City Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles/California Angels and Philadelphia Phillies before retiring in 1965. Prior to signing with the Yankees in 1951, Vic played Minor League ball in the French-Canadian town of Drummondville, Quebec. There in Canada, was where the name 'Vic Power' was created.With mostly white players on his team and throughout the league, Victor was often laughed at by the French-speaking crowd, whenever his name [Victor Pellot] was announced. At first he assumed he was being laughed at because of his dark skin color. However, he soon learned the real source of the laughter was not poked at his race, but rather his last name. Victor's last name 'Pellot' resembled the similar-sounding word 'plotte' which is slang for 'vagina' in the Quebec French. In response, he played under the name "Vic Power". The name 'Power' also came from an odd source, as his mother's name Maximina Pove was often misspelled by her teacher in grade school. Thus resulting in Vic's reasoning behind his new chosen stage name.Back in the United States, Vic found himself playing in the Yankees farm system, where he was sent to the organization's Triple-A team in Syracuse, New York. Despite being the Minor League batting champion in 1953, he was not invited to Spring Training. It was just a year later when Vic saw his first action in a big league uniform, playing for the Philadelphia Athletics, and becoming the team's first Puerto Rican born player. Power was a 4-time American League All-Star and went on to win seven Gold Glove Awards, all coming in consecutive seasons from 1958-1964. Among his career totals, he finished with 1,716 hits, 126 home runs and 658 rbi's. Although he didn't put up jaw dropping numbers offensively, he was better known for his slick often criticized one-handed defense. Something he was good at while at the plate, however, was his plate discipline. Vic proved to be one of the harder batters to fan, having only struck out 247 times out of 6,046 at bats.Known as one of the game's premier defenders while on the field, Vic Power became just as well known for what he did off the field as well. To those that understood him, Vic was remembered by his teammates, baseball historians and fans for his sharp wit and dark, deadpan humor, a lot of which was directed at the way black and Latin ball players were treated at the time. In Spring Training, Vic had endured many racist moments during segregation having experienced life in the Southern United States. One of which has been forever remembered by most Hispanic baseball enthusiasts and was even mentioned in Roberto Clemente's biography. While knowing very little English, Vic walked into a southern whites-only diner and sat at the counter. A waitress soon approached Power telling him, "Sorry but we don't serve Negroes here." Power promptly replied, "That's okay, I don't eat Negroes, I just wanted some beans and rice."
On November 29, 2005, Power died in San Juan, Puerto Rico from cancer at the age of 78. Although he's not with us to this day, Victor Pellot has been considered by many islanders to have been one of Puerto Rico's greatest baseball players and a legend. More on his baseball career can be found in the 2005 American documentary Beisbol.
