Exit Sandman

Yesterday was a sad day in the lives of Yankees fans throughout the world.  It was a long time coming, but it was the last game for Mariano Rivera, the Yankees closer for the past 19 years.  When Julian and I realized that it would be his last game, and that it was against the Astros only 2 hours away, we knew we had to go.

So early last week, we bought tickets to the game.  I mean, what better game could there possibly be to be our son's first Yankee game?!  It was going to be perfect!

But then the Yankees got mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.  And Mo had the storybook ending at Yankees Stadium with Andy Pettite and Derek Jeter taking the ball from him as he shed tears and hugged them before leaving the mound.  How were we to know that we would never see him pitch again...

We started hearing rumors that #42 would not play in the Houston series.  And then Mo announced it himself...the picture we had in our heads of holding our son, as "Enter Sandman" played and #42 went running out to the mound for the last game of the season to cement the Yankees berth into the post season...well it was nothing but the perfect picture in our heads.

So we went to the game anyway, knowing good and well that it would be a different game than we anticipated.  No Mo, no Jeter, no Robbie, no AP, no BG, no Tex, and no, not even A-Rod...none of them were going to play in this game.  But it didn't matter, because they are still our team...they still wear the pinstripes...they're still THE New York Yankees....

And it was still going to be Alex's first Yankees game in a lifetime full of Yankees games (and Jillian's 3rd in a lifetime on Yankees games too).

Sad to see Mo go 

The Acostas at the Yankees game

Mommy and Alex

Daddy and Jilly

And even though he didn't play, Jillian and Alex will always be able to say that they saw Mariano Rivera in his last game ever.  We got there right as Mariano was giving his speech to the crowd before the game.

Good to see the smile on his face

Joe Torre was there

A gift for Mo from the Astros organization

He apologized to the crowd for choosing to not play in Houston.  He said that he wanted the farewell in Yankees Stadium to be his last memories of the game.  And from the bottom of our hearts, it made it all ok.  I mean, who are we, as fans, to say that he owed us one last jog to the mound.  It was HIS Career, HIS cutter, HIS grace under pressure, HIS love of the game, and HIS life...he lived it HIS way and left the game the way HE wanted.

The last #42 to ever play the game

And for as long as we live, we can say we were there to see one of the greats in Mariano Rivera as he gracefully bowed out of the game. 

Exit Sandman

After Mariano's speech, we dried the tears from our eyes and enjoyed the baseball game.  It was a fun atmosphere, and both of the kids did so well, especially considering it went to extra innings.  Sometimes I think we are crazy for taking a 2 1/2 year old and a not-even-2-month old to things like this, but they are great kids and it was really great for us to make memories together as a family of four!

On our way into the game

I'm pretty sure Jillian was most excited about this HUGE Mickey!  We first saw him on our way in. She asked us to go find him again on our way out so she could give him a hug and kiss goodbye!

The view from our seats

The cutest little Yankee fan

Daddy and his boy

His little pride and joy

Mo in the dugout, enjoying the game

His last few moments in uniform

And though it wasn't the "perfect" ending we had envisioned, it was perfect in all the ways that matter...good ,quality family time watching America's pastime, memories made by these Yankee fans, and hearts filled as we said goodbye to Mo!