MLB Playoffs

Mariano Rivera to receive commissioner's award before World Series Game 2

Yankees legend Mariano Rivera will naturally receive an honor from baseball prior to a World Series game involving the Red Sox.

By Bryan Kilpatrick@purplerowBK Oct 23, 2013, 8:48pm EDT

Recently retired New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera will receive the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award before Game 2 of the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday, Major League Baseball announced.

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Bud Selig will present the award to Rivera at a press conference scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Rivera, who will be accompanied by his wife and two children, per MLB's press release, will then be honored on the field as part of the pregame ceremonies.

Ken Griffey Jr. was the last player to receive the award, which was created as a means of recognizing the historical significance of figures within the game. The longtime Seattle Mariners star was honored in 2011.

Rivera notched 44 saves and posted a 2.11 ERA in 2013, his final big-league season. The 43-year-old native of Panama is MLB's all-time leader in saves, games finished and ERA+.