Yesterday Mariano Rivera became the 15th pitcher to reach 1,000 appearances and the first to do with it with the same team. There are certain Rivera appearances that most of us know such as his first appearance (5/23/95 at Anaheim), his first save (5/17/96 vs. Anaheim), his 400th save (7/16/06 vs. the White Sox) and his 500th save (6/28/09 at the Mets).
If there is a best way to comprehend what 1,000 appearances with one team actually means, it's best to look incrementally such as in increments of 50.
50 - July 6, 1996 vs. Milwaukee - A year and two days removed from his eye-opening 11-strikeout performance in Chicago, Rivera does what he did so often during the 1996 season. That was pitching the seventh and eighth inning and in a 2-0 victory, he put the tying run on first base in Jesse Levis but then retired Fernando Vina on a double play. At this point in his career, Rivera had pitched 127 innings and had an ERA of 3.76
100 - May 24, 1997 vs. Boston - Approaching the two-month mark of his first season as closer, Rivera pitched the ninth (tie game at home) and replaced David Cone by retiring Reggie Jefferson, Tim Naehring and Troy O'Leary. Then Rivera was the winning pitcher when Charlie Hayes hit the game-winning two-run home run off John Wasdin. At this point in his career, Rivera has pitched 198 2/3 innings with an ERA of 3.26 and 19 saves.
150 - April 27, 1998 vs. Toronto - In just his fourth appearance of the 114-win Yankee season due to a DL stint, Rivera enters a 1-0 game and keeps it that way by retiring the side, including two ex-Yankees Mike Stanley and Tony Fernandez. At this point in his career, Rivera had pitched 250 2/3 innings with an ERA of 2.91 and 50 saves.
200 - September 26, 1998 vs. Tampa Bay - In his final appearance of 1998, Rivera replaced Mike Stanton with one out in the ninth and actually gave up a run on a bases-loaded walk to Mike Kelly. He kept the game at 3-1 by retiring Quinton McCracken on a groundout, ending an appearance with two hits and two walks. At this point in his career, Rivera had pitched 307 2/3 innings with an ERA of 2.75 and 84 saves.
250 - August 24, 1999 at Texas - In an extra-inning game that saw the Yankees overcome an early 4-0 deficit and blow a 7-6 lead in the eighth, Rivera comes in for the 11th following a three-run home run by Tino Martinez. With two outs, Rivera had second and third but ends a 10-7 victory by striking out Ivan Rodriguez. At this point in his career, Rivera had pitched 359 1/3 innings with an ERA of 2.71 and 120 saves.
300 - July 8, 2000 vs. New York Mets - In the nightcap of the first "Subway Series" game, Rivera finished out a game best known for the Roger Clemens-Mike Piazza drama that resurfaced in the World Series. He nearly gave up an unearned run when Derek Jeter was charged with an error on a Jay Payton grounder but nails down a 4-2 victory by retiring Mark Johnson. At this point in his career, Rivera had pitched 416 1/3 innings with an ERA of 2.62 and 150 saves.
350 - May 13, 2001 vs. Baltimore - This was a rough outing for Rivera who came into the game in the 11th after Paul O'Neill hit a two-run home run in the ninth. Rivera faced eight Orioles and allowed four hits and one walk. After allowing the go-ahead run on a groundout, Rivera allowed a three-run home run to Jeff Conine for the deciding margin in a 10-5 loss. At this point in his career, Rivera had pitched 473 1/3 innings with an ERA of 2.66 and 176 saves.
400 - September 26, 2001 vs. Tampa Bay - A night after the Yankees clinched their fourth straight AL East title in the first home game after the Sept. 11 attacks, Rivera finishes up a 5-1 victory by hitting Jose Guillen with a pitch (In 2008 Guillen hit a go-ahead home run off Rivera for the Royals) but ends the game by getting Felix Martinez on a double play. At this point in his career, Rivera had pitched 530 innings with an ERA of 2.60 and 212 saves.
450 - May 1, 2003 vs. Seattle - After injuries in 2002, Rivera makes his 2003 debut the night before and in this one he picks up his first save of 2003 by striking out Randy Winn, retiring Bret Boone and noted Yankee killer Edgar Martinez to preserve Mike Mussina's 6-0 start. At this point in his career, Rivera had pitched 581 innings with an ERA of 2.60 and 244 saves.
500 - August 30, 2003 at Boston - Rivera reaches 30 saves with this 1 1/3 inning stint. He replaced Gabe White with first and second and gave up a two-run double to David McCarty. After Jorge Posada's two-run home run in the ninth, Rivera nailed down a 10-7 win by stranding David Ortiz at first as he retired Jason Varitek. At this point in his career, Rivera had pitched 637 1/3 innings with an ERA of 2.54 and 273 saves.
550 - June 30, 2004 vs. Boston - During the famous Yankee sweep of the 2004 season, Rivera comes on after the Yankees scored twice in the eighth on a double by Gary Sheffield and a single by Hideki Matsui. And this time, he nails down the save emphatically by striking out Gabe Kapler, Varitek and McCarty. After this 4-2 victory, Rivera had pitched 689 1/3 innings with an ERA of 2.40 and 312 saves.
600 - May 20, 2005 at New York Mets - Pitching at Shea Stadium in a 5-2 win, Rivera gets a three-run lead following two productive Yankee hits. He nails down his eighth save easily by retiring Jose Reyes, Mike Cameron and Carlos Beltran. At this point in his career, Rivera had pitched 743 innings with an ERA of 2.42 and 344 saves.
650 - September 15, 2005 at Tampa Bay - With the Yankees needing every game in the AL wild card race because of their 11-19 start, Rivera enters into a 7-5 game with two outs in the eighth. After walking Eduardo Perez, Rivera retires Toby Hall. His teammates give him a four-run lead and Rivera seals a 9-5 victory by retiring Carl Crawford for the final out. At this point in his career, Rivera had pitched 799 1/3 innings with an ERA of 2.34 and 375 saves.
700 - July 22, 2006 at Toronto - Two nights after giving up a game-winning home run to Vernon Wells, Rivera does not have to face him again and preserves a 5-4 victory. He does so with two groundouts by Aaron Hill and John McDonald and a pop-up by Reed Johnson. At this point in his career, Rivera had pitched 859 innings with an ERA of 2.32 and 702 saves.
750 - June 29, 2007 vs Oakland - In a lost weekend against the Athletics, Rivera pitched a four-out save after Kyle Farnsworth put two on. He ended the eighth by fanning Jack Cust, hits Dan Johnson in the ninth and ends it by striking out Bobby Crosby for his 11th save in a 2-1 victory. At this point in his career, Rivera had pitched 913 1/3 innings with an ERA of 2.35 and 424 saves.
800 - May 8, 2008 vs. Cleveland - The Yankees avoid the sweep against the Indians with a 6-3 victory and Rivera strands Ben Francisco on second. That was because he retired Franklin Guttierrez and Ryan Garko for the final two outs of his ninth save in the Joe Girardi era. After this 6-3 victory, Rivera had pitched 967 innings with an ERA of 2.32 and 452 saves.
850 - September 23, 2008 at Toronto - Rivera is winding down the first non-playoff season of his career with his 38th save. Two nights after pitching the final outs at old Yankee Stadium, Rivera finished of a 3-1 win by getting Scott Rolen on a groundout and then by striking out Greg Zaun and Travis Snider. At this point of his career, Rivera had pitched 1,022 1/3 innings with an ERA of 2.29 and 481 saves.
900 - August 14, 2009 at Seattle - As the Yankees took their hot performance out West, Rivera enters a 4-2 game after the Yankees scored two in the top of the ninth inning. Three groundouts later to Rob Johnson, Josh Wilson and Michael Saunders on a ground outs. At this point of his career, Rivera had pitched 1,073 2/3 innings with an ERA of 2.27 and 316 saves.
950 - July 5, 2010 at Oakland - In a 3-1 win over the Athletics, Rivera finished off a three-hitter and preserves Javier Vazquez's victory. He does so easily by retiring Ryan Sweeney, Kurt Suzuki and Jack Cust. At this point of his career, Rivera had pitched 1,123 1/3 innings with an ERA of 2.22 and 545 saves.
So there you have it and at some point, we might be documenting Rivera as he sails past some of the 15 men on the list of 1,000 game pitchers.
