First published 2014
Mariano Rivera opens his story as a poor fisherman's son in Panama who had never heard of Babe Ruth or spoken English. When Yankees scouts first discovered him, he owned no glove and imagined becoming a mechanic instead. Rivera chronicles his transformation from that uncertain young man into baseball's most dominant relief pitcher. He details the championships he won, the pressure he faced walking from bullpen to mound with games on the line, and the teammates who became his brothers in the Yankee clubhouse. Rivera explains how he developed his legendary cut fastball and maintains the mental focus that made batters fear his very presence. He recounts the pitch-by-pitch drama of closing Game 7 of the 2001 World Series and how his lowest career moment became a blessing. Throughout thirteen All-Star seasons, Rivera relied on his Christian faith, his love for Clara whom he met in kindergarten, and his deep passion for life. The book reveals how a Latino player navigated professional athletics while staying true to his values and family roots.
Genres: biography, family, christian, autobiography, sports, baseball
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, rags-to-riches
Setting: Panama, Yankee
Period: 21st-century
288 pages · Hardcover · Little, Brown and Company