It never changed for Mariano Rivera — from his childhood in the fishing village of Puerto Caimito in Panama to the pitcher's mound at Yankee Stadium.
"I always wanted to be the last guy to kick the ball or took the last shot at the basket. Give me the ball," Rivera said. "I wanted to contribute to this victory. I wanted to help my team do whatever it took to win, and it worked many times."
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It never changed for Mariano Rivera — from his childhood in the fishing village of Puerto Caimito in Panama to the pitcher's mound at Yankee Stadium.
A lightly regarded pitcher when signed as an amateur free agent with the New York Yankees in 1990, Rivera struggled as a starter but found his niche as a reliever with a devastating cut fastball.
"I feel humbled that I was the one that the Lord blessed," said the 49-year-old Rivera, who will be inducted Sunday. "It won't change my life, but it's something that you know that you were the first one. That is special."
Rivera grew only stronger in the postseason, allowing just 86 hits with 110 strikeouts, 21 walks and only 11 earned runs in 141 innings and registering 11 saves in the World Series. He also was 4-1 in World Series clinchers, the lone loss in 2001 to the Arizona Diamondbacks on a bloop single by Luis Gonzalez with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth.
And Mussina was thankful for that — Rivera saved 49 of his victories.
Martinez, born in New York and raised in Puerto Rico, had to overcome a condition that prevented his eyes from seeing in tandem. He struggled through his first five seasons with the Seattle Mariners. He initially feared the switch from third base to designated hitter, but his passion for preparation and training served him well. He was honored as the AL's outstanding DH five times and the award now bears his name.
Three members of the class were first-round selections in the amateur draft, the first time that's happened. Baines was No. 1 overall in 1977, Mussina No. 20 in 1990 and Halladay No. 17 in 1995.
"I'm very honored, very grateful," he said. "Playing for 22 years just trying to be as consistent as I could throughout my career, I think I accomplished that."
"Man, I'm speechless," he said. "I'm so fired-up about it."
When the festivities begin, a record 59 Hall of Famers are expected on the podium, including the six newcomers. Rivera figures there's a good chance he'll be the closer, and if it's anything like his tear-filled final appearance with the Yankees it'll be a moment to remember.
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FILE - In this Dec. 10, 2018, file photo, Harold Baines, left, and Lee Smith pose during a news conference for the Baseball Hall of Fame during the Major League Baseball winter meetings in Las Vegas. Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies are Sunday, July 21, 2019, in Cooperstown, N.Y. .(AP PhotoJohn Locher, File)
FILE - In this Jan. 23, 2019, file photo, Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Edgar Martinez, left, Mike Mussina, center, and Mariano Rivera, right, pose for photographs during news conference in New York. Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies are on Sunday, July 21, 2019, in Cooperstown, N.Y. (AP PhotoFrank Franklin II)
FILE - In this Nov. 4 ,2009, file photo, New York Yankees' Derek Jeter, left, and Mariano Rivera look at the championship trophy after winning the Major League Baseball World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, in New York. Rivera will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 21, 2019. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip, File)
FILE - In this Oct. 27, 1999, file photo, New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, left rear, and third baseman Scott Brosius, right rear, rush pitcher Mariano Rivera as teammates run to the mound after the Yankees beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 in Game 4 of the World Series to sweep the series in New York. Rivera will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 21, 2019. (AP PhotoRon Frehm, File)
FILE - In this Sept 26, 2013, file photo, New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera delivers the ball to the Tampa Bay Rays during the eighth inning of a baseball game in New York. Rivera will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 21, 2019.(AP PhotoBill Kostroun, File)
FILE - In this Sept. 25, 2006, file photo, New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera throws a seventh inning pitch against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays during a baseball game in St. Petersburg, Fla. Rivera will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 21, 2019. (AP PhotoChris O'Meara, File)
FILE - In this Sept. 26, 2013, file photo, New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera acknowledes the crowd's standing ovation after coming off the mound in the ninth inning of his final appearance in a baseball game in New York. Rivera will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 21, 2019, in Cooperstown, N.Y. (AP PhotoKathy Willens, File)
With that mindset came greatness.
FILE - In this May 10, 2006, file photo, New York Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina waves to the crowd while leaving the game during the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox at New York's Yankee Stadium. Mussina will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 21, 2019. (AP PhotoFrank Franklin II, File)
A lightly regarded pitcher when signed as an amateur free agent with the New York Yankees in 1990, Rivera struggled as a starter but found his niche as a reliever with a devastating cut fastball.
The Yankees won seven pennants and five World Series with Rivera in the bullpen. His major league record of 652 saves was his ticket to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Not for nothing was nicknamed Sandman, after the Metallica song "Enter Sandman" that boomed across Yankee Stadium whenever he headed to the mound, ready to silence bats.
His greatness on the mound and his humble spirit — win or lose — helped Rivera achieve another milestone. He's the only player in history to be elected unanimously , receiving all 425 votes in the January balloting.
FILE - In this June 2, 2007, file photo, New York Yankees starting pitcher Mike Mussina delivers to the Boston Red Sox during the first inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston. Mussina will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 21, 2019. (AP PhotoElise Amendola, File)
"I feel humbled that I was the one that the Lord blessed," said the 49-year-old Rivera, who will be inducted Sunday. "It won't change my life, but it's something that you know that you were the first one. That is special."
Rivera joins Rod Carew as the only Panamanians elected to the Hall of Fame. He heads a class that also includes pitchers Mike Mussina, Lee Smith and the late Roy Halladay, and designated hitters Edgar Martinez and Harold Baines.
Baines and Smith were selected in December by a veterans committee. Rivera, Mussina, Martinez and Halladay were elected in January by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
FILE - In this Aug. 17, 2008, file photo, New York Yankees' Mike Mussina pitches during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium in New York. Mussina will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 21, 2019. (AP PhotoSeth Wenig)
Rivera grew only stronger in the postseason, allowing just 86 hits with 110 strikeouts, 21 walks and only 11 earned runs in 141 innings and registering 11 saves in the World Series. He also was 4-1 in World Series clinchers, the lone loss in 2001 to the Arizona Diamondbacks on a bloop single by Luis Gonzalez with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth.
"When it comes to the playoffs, you're talking about facing the best of the best in the critical situations and critical times," said Rivera, who will deliver part of his induction speech in Spanish to a crowd local officials project to be around 50,000. "I wanted to be in those situations. I wanted to be the last guy that throws that last pitch. I have a passion for it.
"I maybe believe that that was the situation that my abilities went to a different level. Thank God that I was able to function on those critical times."
FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2013, file photo, two-time Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay answers questions after announcing his retirement after 16 seasons in the major leagues with Toronto and Philadelphia at the Major League Baseball winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The late Roy Halladay will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 21, 2019. (AP PhotoJohn Raoux, File)
And Mussina was thankful for that — Rivera saved 49 of his victories.
Drafted by the Orioles after helping Stanford to two straight College World Series titles in the late 1980s, Mussina went 270-153 in 18 years in the majors and became the first AL pitcher to win at least 10 games in 17 straight seasons. He spent his first decade in Baltimore before signing as a free agent with the Yankees in December 2000, but that elusive title he was chasing never came. The Yankees lost the World Series twice during his eight years in New York.
"I feel really lucky," Mussina said. "It's kind of neat ... to be in a situation like this with guys that you played with. I'm honored to be able to stand up there with those guys."
FILE - In this Aug. 8, 2014, file photo, former Philadelphia Phillies' Roy Halladay acknowledges the crowd before a baseball game against the New York Mets, in Philadelphia. The late Roy Halladay will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 21, 2019. (AP PhotoMatt Slocum, File)
Martinez, born in New York and raised in Puerto Rico, had to overcome a condition that prevented his eyes from seeing in tandem. He struggled through his first five seasons with the Seattle Mariners. He initially feared the switch from third base to designated hitter, but his passion for preparation and training served him well. He was honored as the AL's outstanding DH five times and the award now bears his name.
When he retired in 2004, Martinez was one of only six players in major league history with a .300 batting average, .400 on-base percentage, .500 slugging percentage, 500 doubles and 300 home runs. And he's beloved in Seattle, where he spent his entire career.
"I'm very humbled to see the support that the fans had given me through the years," Martinez said. "It's been incredible and it feels really good to be able to go in and I think they played a big role. I got a lot of support."
FILE - Top, in a 1993 file photo, St. Louis Cardinals reliever Lee Smith pitches in St. Louis. Middle, in an April 6, 1997, file photo, Montreal Expos' Lee Smith pitching against Colorado in Montreal. Bottom, in a Sept. 12, 1995, file photo, California Angels pitcher Lee Smith delivers against the Chicago White Sox during the eighth inning of the game in Anaheim, Calif. Lee Smith will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 21, 2019. (AP PhotoFile)
Three members of the class were first-round selections in the amateur draft, the first time that's happened. Baines was No. 1 overall in 1977, Mussina No. 20 in 1990 and Halladay No. 17 in 1995.
Baines played 22 seasons for five teams (14 with the White Sox) and was a six-time All-Star. Soft-spoken, modest and a model of consistency, he was popular with fans, teammates and owners. He retired in 2001 with 2,866 hits, 1,628 RBIs and 384 homers , solid numbers that were respected but not enough to get him elected by the writers.
That's all in the past now.
FILE - In this Dec. 8, 1987, file photo, Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Lee Smith works against the San Francisco Giants during a baseball game, in Chicago. Lee Smith will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 21, 2019. (AP PhotoBob Fila, File)
"I'm very honored, very grateful," he said. "Playing for 22 years just trying to be as consistent as I could throughout my career, I think I accomplished that."
Smith was an imposing figure on the mound at 6-foot-6. He pitched 18 seasons for the Cubs, Cardinals, Red Sox, Yankees, Orioles, Angels, Reds and Expos before retiring in 1997. His 478 saves and 802 games finished rank third all-time. He was a unanimous pick by the Today's Game Era committee.
Smith is stoked for his special moment.
FILE - In this Dec. 10, 2018, file photo, Harold Baines cries during a news conference for the Baseball Hall of Fame during the Major League Baseball winter meetings in Las Vegas. Baines will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 21, 2019. (AP PhotoJohn Locher, File)
"Man, I'm speechless," he said. "I'm so fired-up about it."
The ceremony will be tempered by sadness when Halladay is honored. He retired in 2013 with a 203-105 record and was a two-time Cy Young Award winner in 16 seasons with the Blue Jays and Phillies. He joined Don Larsen (1956) of the New York Yankees as the only pitchers to throw a no-hitter in the postseason. Halladay opened the 2010 NL Division Series with one against the Cincinnati Reds in his first career playoff start. He also tossed a perfect game during the regular season against Miami.
The son of a commercial pilot, Halladay was enamored with flight as a boy. He was flying his own plane when it crashed into the Gulf of Mexico in November 2017, killing him at age 40. His widow, Brandy, will speak in his place Sunday.
FILE - At left, in a July 6, 1996, file photo, Chicago White Sox's Harold Baines (3) watches his ninth inning solo home run during the White Sox's 3-2 win over the Cleveland Indians in Cleveland. At right, in an Oct. 7, 1991, file photo, Oakland Athletics' Harold Baines slams a game-winning home run in the top of the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first game of the American League Championship Series at Sky Dome in Toronto. Baines will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 21, 2019. (AP PhotoFile)
When the festivities begin, a record 59 Hall of Famers are expected on the podium, including the six newcomers. Rivera figures there's a good chance he'll be the closer, and if it's anything like his tear-filled final appearance with the Yankees it'll be a moment to remember.
"I don't know how I'm going to be," Rivera said. "That question was asked about my last day at Yankee Stadium, and you saw what happened. One thing that I know is that I will ... enjoy every moment."
The late broadcaster Al Helfer, winner of the Ford C. Frick Award, and writer Jayson Stark, recipient of the J.G. Taylor Spink Award, will be honored Saturday.
FILE - At left, in a Sept. 8, 1997, file photo, Baltimore Orioles batter Harold Baines watches his first inning home run against the Cleveland Indians, in Cleveland. At right, in a July 22, 1987, file photo, Chicago White Sox' Harold Baines hits his 155th career home run, setting a new club record, during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, in Chicago. Baines will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 21, 2019. (AP PhotoFile)
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FILE - In this July 20, 2008, file photo, Chicago White Sox first base coach Harold Baines poses with his life-sized sculpture during a ceremony before their baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, in Chicago. Baines will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 21, 2019. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh, File)
FILE - In this Dec. 10, 2018, file photo, Harold Baines, left, and Lee Smith pose during a news conference for the Baseball Hall of Fame during the Major League Baseball winter meetings in Las Vegas. Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies are Sunday, July 21, 2019, in Cooperstown, N.Y. .(AP PhotoJohn Locher, File)
FILE - In this Jan. 23, 2019, file photo, Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Edgar Martinez, left, Mike Mussina, center, and Mariano Rivera, right, pose for photographs during news conference in New York. Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies are on Sunday, July 21, 2019, in Cooperstown, N.Y. (AP PhotoFrank Franklin II)
FILE - In this Nov. 4 ,2009, file photo, New York Yankees' Derek Jeter, left, and Mariano Rivera look at the championship trophy after winning the Major League Baseball World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, in New York. Rivera will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 21, 2019. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip, File)
FILE - In this Oct. 27, 1999, file photo, New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, left rear, and third baseman Scott Brosius, right rear, rush pitcher Mariano Rivera as teammates run to the mound after the Yankees beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 in Game 4 of the World Series to sweep the series in New York. Rivera will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 21, 2019. (AP PhotoRon Frehm, File)
FILE - In this Sept 26, 2013, file photo, New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera delivers the ball to the Tampa Bay Rays during the eighth inning of a baseball game in New York. Rivera will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 21, 2019.(AP PhotoBill Kostroun, File)
FILE - In this Sept. 25, 2006, file photo, New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera throws a seventh inning pitch against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays during a baseball game in St. Petersburg, Fla. Rivera will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 21, 2019. (AP PhotoChris O'Meara, File)
FILE - In this Sept. 26, 2013, file photo, New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera acknowledes the crowd's standing ovation after coming off the mound in the ninth inning of his final appearance in a baseball game in New York. Rivera will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 21, 2019, in Cooperstown, N.Y. (AP PhotoKathy Willens, File)