Yankees Honor Rivera in Pregame Ceremony

Marino Rivera is retiring at the end of this season

The New York Yankees honored career saves leader Mariano Rivera in a pregame ceremony Sunday.

The 13-time All-Star closer is retiring at the end of this season. After being feted at ballparks around the big leagues all year, it was the Yankees turn on Sunday to show their appreciation for the baseball icon with 652 saves.

A 13-time All-Star, Rivera made his debut in 1995 and took over the stopper role two years later.

Part of five World Series championship teams, the son of a Panamanian fisherman has a record 42 postseason saves.

The celebration took place before Andy Pettitte made his final regular-season start at Yankee Stadium. Rivera has saved 72 of Pettitte's 255 career wins, the most for any tandem in major league history.

The band Metallica performed the closer's signature song, "Enter Sandman," during the ceremony.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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