Mariano Rivera says only 'God and themselves' can stop Yankees from winning World Series

Former New York Yankees pitcher and hall of famer Mariano Rivera throws the ceremonial firs pitch before a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Indians, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Former New York Yankees pitcher and hall of famer Mariano Rivera throws the ceremonial firs pitch before a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Indians, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

NEW YORK - It's time. Mariano Rivera looks at this year's Yankee team and says it is time for the decade-long World Series drought to end. He sees no reason for them not to be hoisting the World Series trophy in October.

"The only thing that will stop them is God and themselves," Rivera said after a ceremony before Saturday's game commemorating his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame last month. "They have everything to do it. I don't see why not. It's time for the championship to go back to New York."

Rivera certainly knows something about winning titles. The greatest closer in the game, Rivera compiled a gaudy 652 saves, baseball's all-time record, and finished a major league best 952 games.

His legacy, however, was written in the postseason. He has the most postseason saves, 42, as the Yankees won World Series titles in '96, '98, '99, 2000 and 2009.

That is why he was the first player ever to be unanimously elected into Cooperstown, but he doesn't think he should be the last. He thinks there should also be no exceptions for his former teammate Derek Jeter either.

"If it was me, he will be 1,000 percent! Forget about 100 percent! A thousand percent! You know, I played with Derek for so many years and seeing him day in and day out for all those years and seeing him the way he played the game and respected the game, I don't see why not," Rivera said. "Obviously I don't vote, but I don't see why not. It's just a number. It's something that should have been done a long time ago, but who am I? I'm the first of many to come. I'll be happy to be there for (Jeter)."

Former manager Joe Torre joined Rivera and his family on the field for the pregame ceremony. Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada and Jeter sent video tributes and the team gave him a $250,000 check to help with the learning center he is building. Current Yankees watched from the dugout and even some of the Indians were out to watch the ceremony, including former Red Sox and current Cleveland manager Terry Francona.

It was the final official celebration of Rivera's Hall of Fame summer.

"There's nothing else you can do. It's just continue living now and moving towards other things," Rivera said. "But baseball has been amazing and for me I believe as a player this is the culmination of my career."

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