NEW YORK — The Old-Timers’ Day game returned at Yankee Stadium on Saturday morning, the first showdown between Yankees greats in the Bronx since 2019.
It included a Yankee legend getting hurt, a serious setback that will require surgery.
Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera tore his Achilles while playing the outfield, Rivera’s agent confirmed to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic.
After the Yankees’ 5-4 win over the Astros, a Yankees spokesperson had confirmed that Rivera hurt his Achilles. At that point, the severity of the injury was unknown.
News of Rivera’s injury first broke when Roger Clemens shared what happened to Suzyn Waldman and Dave Sims on the live WFAN broadcast.
“We all thought it was a hamstring, but I think it’s a little worse than that,” Clemens said.
Rivera can be seen crumbling to the ground in center field on a pop up on the infield grass from Willie Randolph. The ex-Yankees closer must’ve though the ball was headed his way.
When Clemens was asked if Rivera’s Achilles popped on that play, Clemens said he thought so.
“I think he’s at the hospital now,” Clemens said. “Unbelievable.”
Rivera mentioned before the game on Saturday that he had plans to speak with Yankees struggling reliever Devin Williams. He even smoked a base hit in an at-bat against Andy Pettitte, a rocket to the left side, earlier in the game.
The worst injury of Rivera’s career also came when he was in the outfield. Back in 2012, Rivera famously tore his ACL while shagging fly balls during batting practice in Kansas City. Rivera ended up missing the rest of that season before returning to the Yankees for one final campaign in 2013, his 19th big-league season.
Rivera is the first and only player to be voted into the Hall of Fame unanimously. He holds the record for the most saves in baseball history (652), he was an All-Star 13 times with the Yankees and he won five championships in pinstripes.
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Max Goodman may be reached at mgoodman@njadvancemedia.com.
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