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| MARIANO RIVERA |
City leaders and about 300 Yankees fans cheered retired Bombers closer Mariano Rivera on Monday, as he unveiled a new street sign that renames a block of River Avenue to “Rivera” Avenue.
The always-modest Yankees relief pitcher is no different in retirement, deferring all credit for the new street to his wife, fans and local businesses.
“I’ve been pitching for 23 years – this sign is for my wife for putting up with me for 23 years,” said Rivera who retired this past fall as baseball’s all-time saves leader, having slammed the door on 652 Yankees victories.
“You guys [fans] made this sign possible. You guys pushed. I didn’t do nothing.
I just tried to do my job. All the businesses on River Avenue … I mean Rivera Avenue now.”
Rivera climbed a ladder and took off a cover, to unveil the new sign for Rivera Avenue, at East 161st Street, right in front of Yankee Stadium.
No Yankees could make Monday’s ceremony because the team was in Anaheim to play the Los Angeles Angels.
But Yankees COO Lonn Trost joked: “We could use someone to pitch tonight if you’re available.”
A handful of fans pushed the River/Rivera Avenue change on social media, making it a home run at City Hall.
“[It’s] very unusual for someone who is still living to have a street named after them,” said city councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo, who represents the Yankee Stadium neighborhood.
“This was all started by a group of fans and when we pushed, I was surprised the support was unanimous. It made the process simple.”
Yankees fan Dan Salogub, who was among the leaders who pushed the issue, thanked The Post and award-winning columnist Mike Vaccaro for also spearheading the effort.
“Team work makes a dream work,” said Salogub. 25.
Another social media voice in this drive, 29-year-old Nicole Saulter, said Monday’s ceremony made all the efforts to rally fan support worth it.
“I am ecstatic this happened. Rivera is an amazing guy and athlete,” she said. “I am overwhelmed that this happened.”
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