Mariano Rivera announced in March that he would be retiring after the season. Because of his announcement, he has been able to receive some retirement gifts from opposing franchises. Nothing has topped what the Minnesota Twins gave him on Tuesday.
Prior to the second game of the series between the Twins and New York Yankees at Target Field, the Twins presented Rivera with a unique retirement gift. They gave the closer a rocking chair made of broken bats, and they called the chair “Chair of Broken Dreams.” The chair was extremely appropriately named; Rivera has ruined the hopes of so many hitters over the years by sawing off their bats with his lethal cutter.
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, veteran first baseman Justin Morneau, and closer Glen Perkins presented the perfect gift to Rivera. The chair was said to be Gardenhire’s idea.
Rivera has received other gifts from teams during the season.
The New York Mets presented Rivera with a hose and firebox for being such a good reliever. The Detroit Tigers gave him framed photos of him pitching at Tiger Stadium and Comerica Park. The Oakland A’s presented him with a surfboard and bottle of Napa wine. But nothing can top what the Minnesota Twins did.
Here’s another look at the chair:
Photos: Twitter/Twins; Twitter/CJZero
H/T Jimmy Traina
