The case for Rivera over Mantle on Yankees’ Mount Rushmore

Mariano Rivera and Mickey Mantle AP (2)The biggest question surrounding Mariano Rivera’s pending induction to the Hall of Fame this week has been a tired one: Will he be the first player in baseball history to appear on 100 percent of the ballots cast?

Why is it tired? Because we all know there have been plenty of players who deserved induction by acclimation. There is no way to argue against, say, Willie Mays as a Hall of Famer, or Joe DiMaggio, or Ted Williams, or Hank Aaron. Is it even possible that someone could have seen Greg Maddux pitch and make a reasonable argument he wasn’t a Hall of Famer? How about Bob Feller?

Here’s the point: Of course Rivera should get 100 percent of the vote.…