Mariano Rivera: "For me, Vizquel is the Hall of Fame"

The Panamanian made the inaugural launch of the game Mexico-Venezuela

PANAMA.- Mariano Rivera he is always surprised at his election Hall of fame baseball unanimously.

The old pitcher of the New York Yankees He assured Monday that it had not occurred to him that he would become the first player in the Big Leagues to be chosen with the 425 votes of the American baseball cronists, and that the most important for him was to be next to the Latin American "patriarchs" who opened roads in the big cities.

"I tell you the truth, I did not expect it," said Rivera with a smile at a major press conference as part of the beginning of the Caribbean baseball series in his birth Panama.

"The essential is to arrive and represent Latin America, as (Dominican Juan) Marichal, Aparicio (the Venezuelan Luis) and (the Puerto Rican Roberto) Clementewho opened the court for us. Doing the same thing is exciting. "

Rivera visited on Friday Cooperstown where he will be exalted to the Museum of Immortals on July 21, and declared that he was delighted to be in a place where these "patriarchs" are.

"It's an impressive thing to play at the plate of our brother Carew," said Rivera, referring to Panamanian Rod Carew, the first Panamanian to be exalted to the Hall of Fame in 1991.

Rivera is the backup record holder in the major leagues, with 652 in 19 seasons in the New York Yankees' uniform.

Rivera made a stop in Panama to send the first pitch of the match between Mexico and Venezuela, the second day of the first day of the tournament.

Rivera spoke for more than 45 minutes during which he talked about his enthusiasm and what it meant for him and for future generations of Latin American baseball players in his Hall of Fame election.

He was notably asked when he saw the Venezuelan Omar Vizquel enter the Museum of Immortals at one point, to which he replied: "If it was for me, everyone could have come in."

Vizquel appeared this year for the second time on the ballot. Rivera highlighted the "impeccable defense" of the former Venezuelan "short-stop". "If we are going to take into account (this factor), for me, it's (a future Hall of Fame)."