VIDEO: Mariano Rivera Gave Paul O'Neill a Taste of His Iconic Cutter at Yankees Old Timers' Day
By Michael Luciano
Those who remember the juggernaut that was the late 90s New York Yankees were treated to a nice moment on their annual Old Timers' Day, as Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera made his debut in the classic exhibition game. Pitching against Yankees legend and former right fielder Paul O'Neill, Rivera showed that he's can still make the cutter move wherever he wants, as O'Neill could only manage to chop into a double play.
You hear that scream from O'Neill at the end there? That's the sound that most batters would be suppressing after whiffing on a Mo cutter during his playing days.
Evan at age 49, Rivera can still get hitters to bounce into double plays.
The Yankees' annual Old Timers' Day was expectedly full of pinstripes legends from yesteryear, including Ron Guidry, Jesse Barfield, and Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson.
This year's version, however, placed a major emphasis on those teams who won four straight championships to close out the last millenium. That would explain the presence of Bernie Williams, David Wells, and, of course, Rivera and O'Neill.
Even with him pushing 50, Rivera looks like he could jog out of that Yankees bullpen as Enter Sandman echoes throughout Yankee Stadium and get some hitters out.