Riccardo Schiroli in New York
The 2013 Major League All Star Game (the 83rd edition of the event) was mostly about emotions, but also about first times and a last time. It was, in short, a great event, hosted by New York in the Mets’ “City Field” and enjoyed a record 41,186 attendance for the venue and an unprecedented 3,500 media from all over the world.
Yankees great Mariano Rivera made everybody emotional in a packed post game press conference when he said: “God loves me” and almost broke into tears “Tonight was the perfect night”.
Rivera, the all time saves leader, pitcher the 8th inning. It was a scoreless inning and he was named the event MVP.
“I cannot describe what I feel. As a player…as a team player, you don’t work for this, but sometimes it happens”.
When Rivera made the field, the record crowd tribute him a standing ovation. Rivera was alone on the field, since all of his team mates remained in the dug out, respectfully.
“That was not baseball” he smiled “It was very strange being alone”.
Mariano Rivera was asked how he could manage to remain the same guy who made it to the Big Leagues, even after being celebrated as one of the game stars: “Again, God counts” he said “Since he made me aware of who I am and where I come from, a small village in my beloved Panama”.
Rivera left after the writers’ standing ovation. And commented: “It’s been a real privilege. I have been very lucky, to have a whole country supporting me”.
The All Star Game meant emotions for Matt Harvey, the Mets’ pitcher who was named the starter for the National League, joining Tom Seaver (who threw the ceremonial first pitch) and Dwight Gooden in a very restricted club amongst Mets’ pitcher: “When I am warming up and they start chanting my name, that’s something as a kid I don’t think you could ever imagine”.
Before the All Star Game MLB and the Players Associationannounced a new code of conduct, strengthening protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation.
“We welcome all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation, in our ballparks” said Commissioner Bud Selig.
Prior to the game, Selig received from Legendary Entertainment(the company behind the movie 42) a 42,000 dollar check to go toward the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities program. The money will go to the Jackie Robinson-Jersey City and the Our Lady of Solace-Brooklyn leagues.
Talking about first times, Oakland A’s Yoenis Cespedes became the first Cuban born player to win the Home Run Derby and Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jason Grilli became the first Italian player to appear in the All Star Game after Mike Piazza.
On a final note about emotions, legendary artist Neil Diamond sang live his world famous “Sweet Caroline” after the top half of the 8thinning.
