Mariano Rivera

Early Life

Mariano Rivera was born on November 29, 1969. He was born in Panama City, Panama. Panama is a country in Central America. As a child, Rivera was poor. His father was a fishing boat captain. Young Mariano helped his father catch fish. He also loved to play baseball. But he did not have money for a real baseball glove. He made gloves from cardboard. He used milk cartons to catch balls.

Growing Up

Rivera went to school in Panama. He stopped going to school at age 16. He needed to work to help his family. He worked on fishing boats with his father. He also worked fixing boats. In his free time, he played baseball with his friends. He was very good at throwing the ball. People saw that he had special talent.

Starting Baseball

Rivera started playing baseball for a team called Panama Oeste. He was a shortstop. This means he played in the field. He did not pitch at first. But one day, his team needed a pitcher. Rivera tried pitching. He was very good at it! People were surprised by how well he could throw the ball.

## Coming to America

In 1990, a baseball scout saw Rivera play. The scout worked for the New York Yankees. The Yankees are a famous baseball team in America. The scout liked how Rivera played. The Yankees gave Rivera $3,000 to sign with them. This was not much money, but it was a big chance for Rivera.

Rivera moved to America. He did not speak English. Everything was new and different. He had to learn many things. But he worked very hard. He played for small Yankees teams first. These teams help players get better before they play for the big team.

Learning His Special Pitch

In 1995, Rivera learned to throw a very special pitch. It is called a cut fastball, or "cutter." He learned it by accident! One day, the ball started moving in a strange way when he threw it. This new pitch was very hard for batters to hit. The cutter became Rivera's best pitch. It helped make him famous.

Playing for the Yankees

Rivera started playing for the New York Yankees in 1995. At first, he was not the main pitcher. He was a setup man. This means he pitched before the last pitcher of the game. In 1997, the Yankees made him their closer. A closer is the pitcher who plays at the end of the game. This was the start of something very special.

The Greatest Closer Ever

Rivera became the best closer in baseball history. He was very good at his job. When Rivera came to pitch, the other team knew they were in trouble. The Yankees played a special song when he came to pitch. The song was "Enter Sandman" by Metallica. Fans would stand up and cheer when they heard this song.

Here are some amazing things Rivera did:
- He helped the Yankees win five World Series titles
- He saved 652 games (This means he helped the Yankees win these games)
- He was picked for the All-Star team 13 times
- He was the best player in the 1999 World Series
- He played for 19 years, all with the Yankees

How He Played

Rivera was different from many pitchers. He was calm and quiet. He did not celebrate in a big way after winning. He just did his job very well. His cutter pitch was so good that other players knew it was coming, but they still could not hit it!

Other things that made Rivera special:
- He never got angry on the field
- He was very nice to young players
- He worked hard every day
- He was the same person whether he won or lost
- He was a good teammate

Life Outside Baseball

Rivera has a family. He married his wife Clara in 1991. They have three sons. He likes to spend time with his family. He also helps other people. He built a church in Panama. He gives money to help poor children. He wants to help people have better lives.

Some ways Rivera helps others:
- He gives money to schools
- He helps build churches
- He pays for poor children to go to school
- He helps people in Panama and New York
- He teaches young players about baseball

Big Awards

In 2019, Rivera got a very special award. He was picked for the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is for the best baseball players ever. Every person who voted said Rivera should be in the Hall of Fame. This had never happened before! He was the first person to get all the votes.

What Makes Rivera Special

Many things make Rivera special:
1. He was very good at his job
2. He was always kind to people
3. He worked hard
4. He never gave up
5. He helps other people
6. He is a good example for young players

Life Today

Today, Rivera lives in New York. He still helps the Yankees sometimes. He teaches young pitchers how to play better. He spends time with his family. He works with his charity. The charity helps poor children. He goes to Panama often to help people there.

What We Can Learn

We can learn many things from Mariano Rivera:
- Work hard
- Be nice to people
- Never give up
- Help others
- Stay calm
- Practice to get better
- Be humble

Fun Facts About Rivera

Here are some interesting things about Rivera:
- His nickname is "Mo"
- He wore number 42
- He never threw the ball very fast
- He likes soccer too
- He is a good cook
- He can fix boats
- He likes to fish
- He speaks English and Spanish
- He became an American citizen in 2015

Special Records

Rivera has many baseball records:
- Most saves in baseball history (652)
- Most games finished (952)
- Best ERA in playoff games (0.70)
- Most saves in playoff games (42)
- Most consecutive saves at home (51)

Words People Use to Describe Rivera

People use these words for Rivera:
- Calm
- Kind
- Smart
- Strong
- Honest
- Hard-working
- Religious
- Humble
- Professional
- Helpful

The End of His Career

Rivera stopped playing baseball in 2013. His last game was at Yankee Stadium. Many people cried. They were sad to see him leave. But they were happy for all the good things he did. The Yankees gave him many gifts. Other teams gave him gifts too. Everyone showed how much they liked and respected him.

His Legacy

Rivera left baseball better than he found it. He showed that:
- You can be nice and still be the best
- Hard work helps you win
- Being calm is good
- Helping others is important
- You should always try your best

Today, many young players want to be like Rivera. They know he is a good example. He shows that you can come from a poor place and do great things. He shows that being kind is as important as being good at sports.

Rivera's story teaches us that dreams can come true. But we must work hard. We must be good to others. We must never give up. These are the things that made Mariano Rivera great. These are the things that can make anyone great.

# Reading Comprehension Questions

True or False Questions
1. Mariano Rivera was born in New York.
2. As a child, Rivera made baseball gloves from cardboard.
3. Rivera spoke English when he first came to America.
4. Rivera played for many different teams in his career.
5. Rivera helped the Yankees win five World Series titles.
6. Rivera learned his famous cutter pitch on purpose.
7. Rivera has four sons.
8. Rivera was born in 1969.
9. Rivera's wife is named Clara.
10. Rivera stopped playing baseball in 2015.

Multiple Choice Questions
1. Where did Rivera work before becoming a baseball player?
a) In a store
b) On fishing boats
c) In a school
d) At a church

2. What was Rivera's special pitch called?
a) Fastball
b) Slowball
c) Cutter
d) Slider

3. What song played when Rivera came to pitch?
a) Happy Birthday
b) Enter Sandman
c) New York, New York
d) We Will Rock You

4. How many games did Rivera save in his career?
a) 452
b) 552
c) 652
d) 752

5. What number did Rivera wear?
a) 24
b) 32
c) 42
d) 52

Short Answer Questions
1. Name two ways Rivera helps poor people.
2. What did Rivera use to make baseball gloves when he was poor?
3. Why did Rivera stop going to school at age 16?
4. How much money did the Yankees first pay Rivera to sign with them?
5. What happened special about Rivera's Hall of Fame selection?

Fill in the Blanks
1. Rivera was born in _______ City, Panama.
2. Rivera's nickname is "_______".
3. Before becoming a pitcher, Rivera played as a _______.
4. Rivera played baseball for _______ years.
5. Rivera built a _______ in Panama.

Sequence Questions
Put these events in order (1-5):
- Rivera enters the Hall of Fame
- Rivera learns the cutter pitch
- Rivera is born in Panama
- Rivera becomes the Yankees' closer
- Rivera stops playing baseball

Thinking Questions
1. Why do you think Rivera was such a good closer?
2. How did Rivera show he was humble?
3. What lessons can we learn from Rivera's life?
4. Why do you think other players respected Rivera?
5. How did Rivera help his community?