Mariano Rivera has been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Rivera is the first member of the Yankee dynasty to receive induction, and he does so as perhaps the most beloved and revered figure from that period of Yankees baseball during the late 1990’s and the 2000’s. His first-ballot induction is no surprise, but it comes at a perfect time to reflect on his greatness, and how thoroughly he dominated his peers.
Putting a reliever in the Hall can be a fraught business, given their status as less valuable than their starting-pitcher counterparts. It’s difficult to put together a Cooperstown-worthy résumé pitching an inning at a time, and analysts often dock relievers for mostly being failed starters.