The Closer (26 page)

Walking through Tocumen International Airport in Panama City with my plane ticket in hand, I am heading off for another season, not letting anybody know how terrified I am of flying.

I had a good year in 1992 as a starter for the Fort Lauderdale Yankees in Single-A ball—until an elbow surgery made me much more suspect than prospect.

Scott Brosius
(left)
and Jorge Posada tackle me after we sweep the Braves in 1999 to capture our third World Series title in four years.
(Jamie Squire / Getty Images)

Saluting the fans after I pick up save number 602, passing Trevor Hoffman to become baseball’s all-time leader.
(Rob Tringali / Getty Images)

Another cutter is about to be launched.
(Ronald C. Modra / Sports Imagery / Getty Images)

The last out is always the hardest one to get. Here I celebrate getting Mark Sweeney and completing our sweep of the Padres in 1998.
(Vincent Laforet / Getty Images)

Winning never gets old.
(Pool / Getty Images)

Having consistent, repeatable mechanics is a tremendous asset for a pitcher. Here I repeat mine in one of the last pitches of my career.
(Jim McIsaac / Getty Images)

About one second after my old friends Andy Pettitte and Derek Jeter came to get me with two outs in the ninth of my final game, I was sobbing in Andy’s arms. I had held in my emotions for a long, long time. I was ready to let them go.
(Al Bello / Getty Images)

Walking off the mound for the final time on September 26, 2013—with the fans standing and cheering and the Tampa Bay Rays
(background)
and the Yankees both standing, too—was one of the most powerful and emotional moments of my life.
(Jim McIsaac / Getty Images)