Mariano Rivera
The cutter that changed everything. Rivera's signature pitch was so devastating that hitters knew it was coming and still couldn't touch it — a four-seam fastball that broke bats and hearts with equal efficiency. His 2.21 career ERA across 19 seasons represents the lowest mark for any pitcher with 1,000+ innings since 1920.
What separated Rivera wasn't just dominance but consistency. That 215 career ERA+ means he was more than twice as effective as the average pitcher throughout nearly two decades. His 2005 peak season showcased him at his absolute best: a microscopic 1.38 ERA with an ERA+ of 310, meaning he was literally three times better than league average.
The numbers tell the story of baseball's greatest closer, but they can't capture the October magic that made him a Yankee legend. Rivera entered the Hall of Fame as the first player ever elected unanimously by the writers — a fitting honor for someone who redefined his position.
Career · Pitching
19 seasons| Year | Team | G | IP | W | L | ERA | ERA+ | SO | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | NYY | 19 | 67.0 | 5 | 3 | 5.51 | 81 | 51 | 1.507 |
| 1996 | NYY | 61 | 107.7 | 8 | 3 | 2.09 | 220 | 130 | 0.994 |
| 1997 | NYY | 66 | 71.7 | 6 | 4 | 1.88 | 233 | 68 | 1.186 |
| 1998 | NYY | 54 | 61.3 | 3 | 0 | 1.91 | 231 | 36 | 1.060 |
| 1999 | NYY | 66 | 69.0 | 4 | 3 | 1.83 | 257 | 52 | 0.884 |
| 2000 | NYY | 66 | 75.7 | 7 | 4 | 2.85 | 167 | 58 | 1.097 |
| 2001 | NYY | 71 | 80.7 | 4 | 6 | 2.34 | 188 | 83 | 0.905 |
| 2002 | NYY | 45 | 46.0 | 1 | 4 | 2.74 | 156 | 41 | 1.000 |
| 2003 | NYY | 64 | 70.7 | 5 | 2 | 1.66 | 264 | 63 | 1.005 |
| 2004 | NYY | 74 | 78.7 | 4 | 2 | 1.94 | 230 | 66 | 1.081 |
| 2005 | NYY | 71 | 78.3 | 7 | 4 | 1.38 | 310 | 80 | 0.868 |
| 2006 | NYY | 63 | 75.0 | 5 | 5 | 1.80 | 251 | 55 | 0.960 |
| 2007 | NYY | 67 | 71.3 | 3 | 4 | 3.15 | 142 | 74 | 1.121 |
| 2008 | NYY | 64 | 70.7 | 6 | 5 | 1.40 | 309 | 77 | 0.665 |
| 2009 | NYY | 66 | 66.3 | 3 | 3 | 1.76 | 245 | 72 | 0.905 |
| 2010 | NYY | 61 | 60.0 | 3 | 3 | 1.80 | 226 | 45 | 0.833 |
| 2011 | NYY | 64 | 61.3 | 1 | 2 | 1.91 | 206 | 60 | 0.897 |
| 2012 | NYY | 9 | 8.3 | 1 | 1 | 2.16 | 186 | 8 | 0.960 |
| 2013 | NYY | 64 | 64.0 | 6 | 2 | 2.11 | 183 | 54 | 1.047 |
| Career | 1115 | 1283.7 | 82 | 60 | — | — | 1173 | — | |
Matchups, projections, comps — grounded in Lahman, Retrosheet, and Statcast.