I think Mariano Rivera's status in the hobby will only grow over time. That might just be me, but the closer as a position will only rise in cache. I think the closer could one day become the highest regarded and most respected player on a team. That said, no one will ever be better than Rivera. As a new wave of collectors enter the hobby who never saw baseball during a time when there wasn't a closer, they will probably hold Rivera in an elite class.
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