In 1969, Mariano Rivera was born in a poor Panamanian fishing village, but he would go on to become a thirteen-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion. He holds two MLB records and many other awards, yet when asked to describe his job, his humble reply was, “I get the ball, I throw the ball, and I take a shower.”
After he retired, he devoted himself to philanthropic work and his churches. He and his wife, Clara sponsor college sponsorships, a foundation to provide underprivileged children with educations, and a number of other projects that help others.
In 2019, Mariano was honored by President Trump with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest non-military award in the United States. That same year he was unanimously voted into the national Baseball Hall of Fame.
It Began in a Fishing Village
In the fishing village where he grew up, many families did not have running water, electricity, or indoor bathrooms. The Rivera family had electricity and running water, but they used an outhouse.
And everything smelled like fish.
As a youngster, he played baseball and soccer with his cousins, and he really liked soccer over baseball until the day he was hit in the eye with a soccer ball. He had temporarily lost his vision and left that game behind.
He discovered that he had good aim when they played a game they had made up where they cut holes in cardboard and threw rocks from a distance through the holes.
He played for a team in Panama called the Cowboys. He was so good that two of his teammates spoke to a scout. This skinny pitcher would become one of the greatest of all time 
at his position and would help lead the New York Yankees to an era of great success.
Mariano Rivera has led a life that is full of adventures, conquests, victories, and humanitarian outreaches. You can read about his start, his baseball career, and where he is today in All About Mariano Rivera by Jorge Iber and Raquel Iber published by Blue River Press 2020. Included in the contents you will find quotes, a glossary, timelines, and an index. Pick up your copy to day here or wherever fine books are sold.
About the Authors
Jorge Iber is an Associate Dean at Texas Tech University. As a professor, he focuses on the social significance of the history of Latinx people in US sports. He has written eleven books for children and adults with several books on baseball, including Mike Torrez: A Baseball Biography (McFarland 2016)
Raquel Iber is a retired elementary school teacher. She grew up in New Jersey, and is a huge fan of the Yankees and Mariano Rivera.
From the precocious fourth grader to Hi-Lo level eight graders, students will enjoy the All About…series! These titles offer a diverse range of topics and are great resources for school reports or leisure reading. Each title has a Lexile number and F&P rating. These books include 55+ illustrations and a timeline, glossary, index, bibliography, and teacher guide. 