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Mariano Rivera is better than me. Better than you. Better than all of us.

Mariano Rivera

FILE - In this file photo taken April 9, 2012, New York Yankees’ Mariano Rivera sits in the dugout before a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Baltimore. The Yankees closer was carted off the field after twisting his right knee shagging fly balls during batting practice, Thursday, May 3, 2012, and was sent for further tests. Baseball’s career saves leader was hurt before the Yankees played at Kansas City. Rivera was examined by Royals associate physician Dr. Joe Noland and Yankees trainers, and was set for an MRI at KU MedWest. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, file)

AP

The Wall Street Journal reports on the unique nature of Mariano Rivera’s farewell tour. Rather than going to each park and letting people make him feel special and honored, he’s connecting with the unknown and unsung in each park to let them know how much he appreciates their contributions:

When Rivera decided to retire, he announced that in each ballpark, he wanted to meet people behind the scenes—employees or fans or people connected to the game who don’t get to tell their stories. He has spent a lifetime in the spotlight, the solitary figure in the middle of the mound. But as his baseball career enters his final months, Rivera has found pleasure in quiet moments with everyday people who perform the often thankless jobs of the baseball world.

Like, stadium employees. Or, in the example that kicks off the article, the guy who beats the drum at Indians games. And Rivera praises that guy rather than takes his drumsticks away and threatens violence, which is more than I could do the time I met him.

There are people who have spent 20 years trying to find things to hate about the Yankees. And if you’re determined to do that kind of thing it’s not really that hard. But I’ll be damned if anyone can say a bad thing about Mariano Rivera. I’ve literally heard nothing bad about the guy ever. And this kind of thing makes you think like such a thing would be an impossibility.