COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – One Hall of Famer after another was introduced onto the stage, one more impressive than the next. Legendary pitchers and home run hitters.
Ken Griffey Jr. followed by Greg Maddux, followed by Hank Aaron.
None of them, however, can ever say what Mariano Rivera now can. He’s a unanimous member of Cooperstown, the first ever player to get into the Hall of Fame by receiving a vote from all 425 members of the Baseball Writers Association of America in his first year on the ballot.
“To the baseball writers, thank you for voting for me and making me a Hall of Famer,” Rivera said during his 25-minute speech to close out the steamy and emotional afternoon.