Mariano Rivera and Edgar Martinez headlined the 2019 Baseball Hall of Fame Class enshrined in Cooperstown yesterday.
Rivera is the first unanimous Hall of Fame inductee after saving 652 games over his career, which is tops in big league history. He also joins Rod Carew as the only Panama natives in the Hall.
Martinez was a two-time AL batting champ during his tenure as a designated hitter for the Mariners from 1987 to 2004. A seven-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger Award winner, he spent his entire 18-year career in Seattle.
The class also features pitchers Mike Mussina and the late Roy Halladay. Halladay was killed in a plane crash in November 2017 – he was just 40-years-old. His widow, Brandy, delivered the speech and fought back tears as she spoke.
A five-time All-Star and seven-time Gold Glove winner, Mussina thanked his wife and family, his mom, dad and brother Mark, and the coaches who guided his career through the years.
Harold Baines and Lee Smith were also selected via the Today's Game Era Ballot.
The late Frank Robinson and Willie McCovey were honored with a moment of silence before Mussina was introduced. The two Hall of Famers died since last year's induction ceremony.
Source: WKTV
Photo Credit: Getty Images