Fact Check: Did Mariano Rivera record a save against every team in the MLB?
Mariano Rivera is one of the best players to have ever played in the MLB. It's tough to deny that Rivera is the best closer in baseball history, setting the record for the most saves in MLB history with a whopping 652. Trevor Hoffman is the only other closer to surpass the 600-save threshold, finishing his career with 601 saves.
"Mariano Rivera went from 19-year-old position player in Panama to collecting the most saves in MLB history. Today, he'll officially become the first unanimous National Baseball Hall of Fame selection by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. (via@E60)" - @espn
Thanks to his incredible achievements on the field, Mariano Rivera made more history by becoming the first player ever to be unanimously inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. One of the most feared relievers in baseball history, Rivera became a true icon of the game thanks to his clutch performances over his 19-year career.
Another impressive detail about his legendary career is the fact that he only played with the New York Yankees. This means that the Bronx Bombers never had to face the Hall of Fame closer, while the rest of the league struggled. However, this raises the question of whether or not Mariano Rivera recorded a save against every MLB team.
Over his historic career, the New York Yankees closer recorded a save against every team in the league except for one (Yankees not included). The only team that Rivera did not record a save against in his career is the Pittsburgh Pirates. This may seem nearly impossible given the number of years that he played and the amount of saves he racked up.
"Mariano Rivera has saves against 29 major league teams and the Pirates isn't one of them. But, does have a save at PNC Park." - @nut_history
Mariano Rivera recorded the most saves of his career against the Baltimore Orioles
While Rivera never recorded a save against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the same cannot be said for the Baltimore Orioles. Unsurprisingly, the New York Yankees closer recorded the most saves against American League East rivals, with the Orioles being the number of victims. Over his career, Rivera recorded a whopping 79 saves against Baltimore.
Following the Baltimore Orioles (79), it's the Tampa Bay Rays (64), Boston Red Sox (58), and the Toronto Blue Jays (54). By the time Rivera retired after the 2013 season, it goes without saying that the AL East was a bit happy to see him go.