VIDEO: Remembering When Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte Sent Mariano Rivera Into Retirement in Tearful Fashion

Buoyed by perhaps the single most unhittable pitch in baseball history -- the famous cutter -- New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera called it a career in 2013 after 19 seasons in the Bronx. The second of the "Core Four" to retire, Rivera's final MLB appearance was during a loss against the Tampa Bay Rays, as Mo was allowed to trot out of the bullpen to Metallica's "Enter Sandman" one more time before being taken out of the game. To his surprise, it was teammates Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte who came out of the dugout to relieve him and congratulate him on a legendary career.

Rivera recorded just two seasons from 1997 to 2013 in which he didn't record at least 30 saves, and he had just one in that span with an ERA above 2.85 (!). One of the greatest "control" pitchers of all time, Rivera never walked more than 34 batters in a season.

He was among the best closers in the game right up until he retired at age 43, as the 13-time All-Star posted a 2.11 ERA with 44 saves in 2013.

Rivera became the first player in history to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame unanimously, and even the staunchest Red Sox fan in the world can't argue with that decision. That's just the player he was.