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Cy Young, Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, legends all. Yet none of them were unanimous selections to Cooperstown.

The first man to earn that distinction was Yankee closer Mariano Rivera. The 13-time All Star and 5-time World Series champion, Rivera retired as the game’s all time leader in saves.

Rivera had 8 seasons of 40 or more saves including two 50-save campaigns. Good until the end, Rivera was 6-2 with 44 saves and a 2.11 ERA as a 43 year old in his final season. Quite simply, he was the best ever at his position.

Imagine opening a pack and finding this autographed Mariano Rivera card inside. That’s what some what lucky collectors did in 1998. The season was kind to the Yankee closer as he went 3-0 — his only undefeated season — with 35 saves and a 1.91 ERA.

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Mariano Rivera is the greatest regular-season closer of all time. In the postseason he was even better.

The right-hander helped the Yankees advance to the playoff in 16 of his 19 big league seasons. It was in October that Mo was at his best.

In 96 games spanning 141 innings, his ERA was a miniscule 0.70. He went 8-1 with 42 saves. The ERA and save totals are the best in MLB history.

Along the way he was named 1999 World Series MVP and 2003 ALCS MVP. Rivera is a five-time World Series champion.

Here Mariano Rivera signs a letter of authenticity for a ball used in one of his saves in 2004. The ball itself is not in the collection. The Panamanian hurler finished in the top three in Cy Young Award voting four times. Rivera retired as the game’s all-time leader in saves (652), and games finished (952).

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Mariano Rivera played all of his 19 years for the New York Yankees. When his team won, Rivera could be found on the hill slamming the door.

Rivera’s out pitch was his cutter. The pitch had great movement, breaking away from right-handed hitters and into lefties. Rivera had outstanding command of the pitch throughout his career.

A fan favorite in New York, Rivera’s presence in a game usually meant a Yankee victory. As the great Yankee Stadium entered its final season of use, fans became nostalgic.

It is only fitting that the game’s greatest closer and a lifetime Yankee threw the final pitch in the stadium’s illustrious history.

In the collection is a photo taken of the last Major League pitch in old Yankee Stadium. Fittingly Mariano Rivera is on the hill and has signed, this image adding the inscription, “Final Out 9.21.08”. Rivera was magnificent that season, posting a 1.40 ERA with 36 saves.

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Mariano Rivera is the greatest closer in baseball history. His 652 career saves rank #1 on the all-time list. At his best when it mattered most, Rivera has an MLB-record 42 postseason saves and a stingy 0.70 ERA. In 96 postseason appearances spanning 141 October innings he gave up just 11 earned runs.

Rivera pitched into playoff baseball in 16 seasons covering 32 Series. Despite his regular October appointment, more men have walked on the moon than have scored an earned run off the pitcher.

One of the few runs he did give up a run involved the most memorable hit in Arizona Diamondbacks history. It came courtesy of Luis Gonzalez in 2001.

Appearing in the franchise’s first World Series, the Snakes took the first two games against Rivera’s Yankees. New York stormed back with three-straight Series victories.

Game 6 in Arizona was a lopsided affair as the Snakes pummeled Andy Pettitte for 7 runs in the first two innings. After the lefty’s exit, Arizona tacked on 8 more to force a deciding Game 7.

Roger Clemens got the ball for New York against Arizona’s Curt Schilling. The two hurlers men did not disappoint. Clemens allowed just one run through 6 1/3. Schilling held the Yankees scoreless through the 6th before allowing a run to score in both the 7th and the 8th innings

With just six outs needed for the championship, Yankee skipper Joe Torre summoned Rivera out of the pen for the bottom of the 8th. The right-hander responded by striking out the side. With the nearly-unhittable Rivera on the hill a one-run lead in the 9th felt secure.

The Diamondbacks had other plans.

First baseman Mark Grace opened the inning with a single to center then gave way to a pinch runner. After a fielder’s choice and a throwing error, followed by a failed bunt attempt, Arizona had runners on first and second with one out.

Tony Womack shocked the baseball world by lacing a line-drive double to right to tie the game. Rivera then hit Craig Counsell to load the bases.

As Gonzo came to the plate, play-by-play announcer Joe Buck set the scene. “A chance of a lifetime for Luis Gonzalez. Two-two, bottom of the 9th, Game 7 of the World Series. Bases loaded. Infield in, one out.”

Gonzales fouled off Rivera’s first offering.

Color man Tim McCarver surveyed the situation. “The one problem is Rivera throws inside to left-handers and left-handers get a lot of broken-bat hits into shallow outfield, the shallow part of the outfield. That’s the danger of bringing the infield in with a guy like Rivera on the mound.”

As if on cue, Gonzalez broke his bat on Rivera’s next pitch. The ball landed just past the edge of the infield dirt behind second base.

Buck made the call. “Floater, centerfield. The Diamondbacks are World Champions!”

With the one swing, Gonzalez etched his name into World Series lore and earned the love of Diamondback fans forever.

In the collection is a photo taken of the last Major League pitch in old Yankee Stadium. Fittingly Mariano Rivera is on the hill and has signed, this image adding the inscription, “Final Out 9.21.08”.