8Born in a poor Panamanian fishing village, Mariano River Jr. did not think he would grow up to be a famous New York Yankees pitcher. In fact, he thought that he would follow his father into the fishing industry. After he replaced a poorly-performing pitcher during an amateur baseball game, the Yankees scout saw his talent.
Mariano Rivera would go on to become a thirteen-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion. He holds two MLB records and has won many other awards. H is a favorite for induction into the Hall of Fame.
Derek Jeter called Mariano "the most mentally tough" teammate he'd ever played with. Rivera easily rose to being a team leader and helping the team recover from losses with dignity, and celebrate wins with humility. When once asked to describe his job, Mariano simply stated, "I get the ball, I throw the ball, and then I take a shower."
Since retiring, Mariano has devoted himself to philanthropy and his churches. He and his wife Clara sponsor college scholarships, a foundation to provide underprivileged children with educations, and various other projects.