Winning Like Mariano Rivera

By Meredith, Copywriter | July 1, 2019

On Sunday July 21st, one of baseball’s most talented players ever will enter The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. The BBG&G team is especially excited about this because one of our clients is the Destination Marketing Corporation of Cooperstown and Otsego County (DMCOC).

But as gifted and statistically unbelievable a ball player as he was—Mariano Rivera is equally admirable as a human being. These are a few qualities that I admire most in “Mo”—on and off the field.

The Ultimate Team Player

Mariano Rivera is the first player ever to be elected unanimously by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, but all stars and former teammates alike have been saying great things about him for years.

 “…when the moment gets really, really, really tough, and New Yorkers can appreciate this about Mariano, the best Mariano Rivera always stands out. And he’s my hero and a role model and a dear friend.”

                         –Alex Rodriguez, Yankee Teammate

Resourceful and Respected

From a modest childhood in Panama where he crafted baseball gloves out of cardboard, Mariano Rivera developed his enigmatic cutter pitch and became one of the most revered closers of all time.

“The one second that you’re not looking at it, it’s in your hand. And he’s the only one, the only one that I have ever faced [like that]. Everybody right now in the league [tries] to throw cutters, pretty much every pitcher [has] a cutter right now, but not like Mariano. Not even close.”

                         –David Ortiz, Designated Power Hitter for the Red Sox

Resilient and Reflective

Fans will always remember the way he jogged to the plate to deafening ovations and his signature tune “Enter Sandman.” Even with all the attention, Rivera never seemed to take success for granted, always keeping things in perspective.

“I just try to take away what I can from every situation, to always keep learning. Life is hard. Life is humbling. I do all I can to keep it simple.” 
                        -Mariano Rivera, The Closer: My Story

Commendable Character

Not only an inspiration for sports fans of all ages, Mariano Rivera will surely go down in history as an admirable humanitarian.  

“It hasn’t been a job so much as a privilege. If he is not to be put in the echelon with Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and DiMaggio as the greatest of all Yankees, he was certainly the most perfect Yankee, on and off the field.”

                        -Bill Madden, New York Daily News

Helping Others Win

With the Mariano Rivera Foundation, Rivera has dedicated his retirement to helping others. From Learning Centers to Scholarship Programs to Book Bag Drives to Hurricane Relief Funds—Mariano Rivera is still finding new ways to have a big impact.

“Yes, I could go another few years in the big leagues, but there are other things more important than baseball. I wanted to give back.” 

                                    -Mariano Rivera

Quite a few baseball fans work here at BBG&G. Yankee fans. Mets fans. We even have a Red Sox enthusiast. Our office is full of team players who enjoy working together to help our clients succeed.

What are the qualities that you admire most in a teammate? Or advertising partner? We’d love to hear from you. Give us a call, and let us help you develop a pitch that can’t be beat.