Mariano Rivera's Old Timers Day started off great. He smacked a single off of Andy Pettitte. But the New York Yankees' Hall of Fame closer ended the day with much worse news. He had torn his Achilles, ...

1 minute read NEW YORK - APRIL 21: Mariano Rivera #42 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Oakland Athletics on April 21, 2009 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City.

The Yankees didn’t even wait until Rivera’s final game to retire his No. 42 — he was the last player in the major leagues to wear that number, grandfathered to him when No. 42 was retired in ...

Rivera started his walk back toward the dugout. He doffed his cap to his left, then his right. He sidestepped his way around the No. 42 spray-painted into the grass, taking with him a vestige of ...

Rivera offered a big smile when he heard that one. "That's his opinion," Rivera said. "But unfortunately, he's not the manager." Francona, Papelbon's manager, is. And we'll see what he decides to do.

The Yankees continued to churn out All-Star closers after Rivera retired in 2013. There was Andrew Miller in 2016, Aroldis Chapman in 2018, 2019 and 2021, and then Holmes in 2023.

Rivera, sidelined by a muscle strain near his right elbow, is scheduled for another bullpen session Tuesday and could be pitching in games by the end of next week, Yankees Manager Joe Torre said.

Rivera, who has spent his entire 13-year career with the Yankees, posted a 3-4 record with 30 saves in 67 appearances last season and holds the club record for saves with 443.