Baseball Trivia question of the Month

[JimStinson]

Who was HERB RAYBOURN ? and what was his HUGE contribution to the Yankees of the 1990's ? Hint , he never played a single game
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jim@stinsonsports.com

[tjlives]

A Yankees scout that liked a beanpole shortstop's arm strength out of Panama and signed him as a pitcher.

The guy's name was Mariano Rivera or some such.

[Scott Garner]

Jim,
I'm going to guess that he had something to do with Mariano Rivera since I know he hails from Panana.

Perhaps he was an interpreter?

[JimStinson]

Good One ! The first was right, he was the Yankees international scout and a local cabbie told him about a 20 year old sensation , so he went to have a look at the OLD by Latin standards MARIANO RIVERA , and signed him up. The Yankees I'm SURE thought he was crazy, Rivera was probably 100 pounds soaking wet. A million to one shot that one
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jim@stinsonsports.com

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by JimStinson

Good One ! The first was right, he was the Yankees international scout and a local cabbie told him about a 20 year old sensation , so he went to have a look at the OLD by Latin standards MARIANO RIVERA , and signed him up. The Yankees I'm SURE thought he was crazy, Rivera was probably 100 pounds soaking wet. A million to one shot that one
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jim@stinsonsports.com

Has there ever been a better closer? I know that the rules that govern what defines what a save is has changed over the years, but I would have Mo anchor my bullpen...

[tjlives]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Has there ever been a better closer? I know that the rules that govern what defines what a save is has changed over the years, but I would have Mo anchor my bullpen...

Rivera's career ERA of 2.21 is over a half run lower than any other post-deadball pitcher ever except Hoyt Wilhelm, who he's only three tenths and change better than (minimum 1000 IP). His career postseason ERA is 0.70 over 141 innings.

I think there's a very plausible argument that in addition to being the best closer and reliever ever, Rivera's also the most effective pitcher ever on a per inning basis.

[JimStinson]

Eckersley was good, So was Sutter in his prime. But factor in brilliance , longevity, smarts, and cool under pressure , Best relief pitcher of all time

In 1988, Rivera began to play shortstop for Panamá Oeste, a local amateur baseball team. Herb Raybourn, the New York Yankees' director of Latin American operations, saw athleticism in Rivera but did not project him to be a major league shortstop. A year later, Panamá Oeste's pitcher performed so poorly that Rivera volunteered to pitch. He excelled at the position, prompting his teammates to contact Yankees scout Chico Heron. Two weeks later, Rivera was invited to a Yankees tryout camp in Panama City where Raybourn was visiting. Raybourn was surprised to find Rivera pitching at the camp, since scouts passed on him as a shortstop a year prior. Although Rivera had no formal pitching training and threw only 85–87 miles per hour (137–140 kilometres per hour), Raybourn was impressed by Rivera's athleticism and smooth, effortless pitching motion. Viewing Rivera as a raw talent, Raybourn signed the amateur free agent to a contract with a US$3,000 signing bonus ($5,337 today) on February 17, 1990
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jim@stinsonsports.com

[JimStinson]

I take that back about Eckersley ...wasn;t he the closer that was pitching to the guy on the Dodgers who came to bat with one leg in the 1988 World Series that hit a "walk off" homer off him to win the game ? Thats NOT a money pitcher. Rivera is a "money" pitcher
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jim@stinsonsports.com

[Scott Garner]

FWIW, I whole-heartedly agree with both of your assessments of Mo.

Signed for a $3,000 signing bonus? We might also want to add that he was perhaps the greatest modern signing ever(?) for the price...