Enter Sandman

Mo is still the same after 17 years and
1,000 appearances later.

New York Yankee closer Mariano Rivera has accomplished a lot during his 17 seasons in the Bronx, but Wednesday afternoon he did something no other pitcher in baseball history ever has. Rivera, who hadn't pitched in over a week, entered the game to his usual strains of "Enter Sandman" in a non-save situation with New York leading Toronto 7-3 just to stay sharp. The appearance marked the 1,000th of his illustrious career, making him the first pitcher in major league history to have 1,000 appearances for one team.

    Rivera is only the fifteenth pitcher in major league history to appear in 1,000 games, but the first to do so with one team. All-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman had made 902 appearances for the San Diego Padres before signing with the Milwaukee Brewers and appearing in 105 games for them over two season before retiring prior to this season. Hoffman is second on the all-time list in appearances for one club.

    The latest accomplishment by Rivera is truly a resemblance of his career in a nutshell. His consistence and longevity as a reliever has made him the most dominant closer the game has ever seen. His impeccable control and devastating cutter has set him apart from the rest.

    Rivera's postseason resume is really what has defined his career appearing in 94 postseason games. He has accumulated a 0.71 ERA in a 139.2 innings. pitched. His 42 saves are by far the most in postseason history. Fourteen of those saves have come while pitching more than one inning of relief.

    With Rivera still the best closer in the majors, this will not be the last time he makes history with the all-time saves record within his grasp. Rivera has recorded 572 career saves trailing only Hoffman's 601 for the all-time lead. With only 28 saves shy of 600, Hoffman's record is not safe.

    New York will need Rivera more than ever with the injury news to offseason acquisition set-up man Rafael Soriano. Soriano will miss anywhere between 6-8 weeks with an elbow injury, leaving the 8th inning to Joba Chamerblain for a while. Soriano is in the first year of a three-year contract he signed in the offseason even though general manager Brian Cashman told Yankee Brass not too.

    The way Rivera has painted the corners of home plate all these years, has painted a masterpiece of a career for forty-year old from Panama.