⚾️MLB・NPBの試合速報、選手分析、コラムをまとめた野球専門ブログ。最新情報を毎日更新。
／
Baseball Freak Echoes is a blog that captures the resonance between numbers and stories.
Beyond scores and stats, it explores the lingering questions and emotions left after the game.
From NPB to MLB, we echo the voices of baseball that extend beyond the diamond.
⚾️
2025/12/26
[Column]🏰🧢 Baseball Freak Feature Part 3-4: The Science of Baseball Perfection Beyond Perfection: The Unanimous "100%" Mariano Rivera, A Divine Path Carved by a Single Pitch ／完璧を超えた「100%」の真実。マリアノ・リベラ、神が授けた1本の軌跡
2013/09/26、ヤンキー・スタジアム。最後のマウンド。8回から登板し完璧に抑えていた9回二死、マウンドに歩み寄ったのは監督ではなく、戦友デレク・ジーターとアンディ・ペティットでした。「Time to go, Mo」。その言葉に、百戦錬磨の守護神はペティットの肩で子供のように泣きました。それは野球の神様が用意した、最も完璧なフィナーレでした。
🧢 Baseball Freak Special: Part 3-4 Mariano Rivera The "100%" Truth Beyond Perfection: Mariano Rivera, the Divine Trajectory
In the sport of baseball, the word "perfection" carries a unique weight. It might refer to a statistical feat like a "Perfect Game," where a pitcher retires 27 batters in a row. However, what if there were another kind of "perfection," different in nature but equally profound?
On January 22, 2019, a shockwave hit the baseball world. Mariano Rivera, the legendary closer for the New York Yankees, became the first player in history to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame with a 100% unanimous vote. All 425 voters answered "Yes" to his induction. This was an unprecedented achievement, surpassing even the record set by Ken Griffey Jr. in 2016.
Not even Babe Ruth, Cy Young, or Ted Williams had ever achieved a unanimous selection. Why was it only Mariano Rivera who could grasp this honor of "Perfect Selection"? Today, as a "Baseball Freak," I will carefully unravel this legend.
A "Gift" Granted in the Bullpen
His hallmark, the "Cutter," was not something he developed through grueling practice. Instead, it descended upon him one day like a divine revelation.
In 1997, shortly after transitioning to the closer role, he was playing catch with teammate Ramiro Mendoza. Though he was supposed to be throwing fastballs, the ball would sharpely and unpredictably dart just as it reached the catcher's hand. Even the pitching coach struggled to "correct" it, but the movement never stopped.
"I thank God. The ball never stopped moving."
Approaching at nearly 95 mph and breaking sharpely just before the plate, it shattered bats like a "buzzsaw." It became an "exitless labyrinth" for Major League hitters.
Testimonies from the "Razor's Edge"
David Ortiz once remarked: "Facing Mariano’s cutter was like trying to hit the edge of a razor blade. You knew it was coming, but there was nothing you could do about it." Todd Helton also testified: "By the time he throws three pitches, you’re just praying to make contact."
A 19-Year Voyage: The Unwavering "Lighthouse"
His career is epitomized by his 652 saves, the all-time MLB record. Over 19 years, he maintained a career ERA of 2.21. In the volatile role of a closer, he remained elite for over 15 years, acting as a "Lighthouse that never faded," safely guiding the Yankee ship.
The Legend in October: Mr. Postseason
His legend is most vivid on the postseason stage: 96 games, 42 saves, and a 0.70 ERA. This figure is an anomaly. On the most grueling stage, he outperformed his own regular-season stats. In 141 innings, he allowed only 2 home runs. "Rivera is in. The game is over."
From a Panamanian Village and Shoes with Holes
The story began in Puerto Caimito, Panama. A boy who admired soccer king Pelé was discovered by chance while filling in on the mound. On the day of his tryout, his shoes had a large hole at the toe. From a $2,000 bonus, his legend began.
The Day the Sanctuary Wept: "Time to go, Mo"
September 26, 2013, Yankee Stadium. His final mound. Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte walked to the mound to take him out. "Time to go, Mo." The guardian wept on Pettitte's shoulder—the most perfect finale orchestrated by the gods of baseball.
Why was he "Unanimous"?
Free from scandals, he stood before the media without making excuses even after a loss. All 425 voters saw that integrity. "There was no reason to vote against him." He was, truly, the most "perfect existence" in baseball history.
