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Mariano Rivera honored at Little League World Series

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — Mariano Rivera remembers his Little League days fondly. What he remembers most: He hated to pitch.

The former Yankees closer was inducted into the Little League Hall of Excellence on Tuesday night between games of its World Series. Although Rivera’s 1985 Panama team didn’t reach the World Series, he loved his time in youth baseball.

“I was happy with what I had, and I didn’t have nothing,” Rivera said. “But what I had was the game of baseball.”

One other thing.

Mariano Rivera throws out the first pitch.

Mariano Rivera throws out the first pitch.