What Will We Do Without Number 42?

I've written a number of posts about my love of baseball, most recently this post about Jackie Robinson, #42. Yesterday the last player still wearing the number 42 announced he would retire at the end of this season. It's Mariano Rivera who has been the reliever for the Yankees for almost twenty years and one of my -- and Pepe's -- favorite players. Number 42 was retired in 1997, except for those players who were actively playing. "Mo's" retirement permanently retires this great number.

Mariano Rivera is the player for the Yankees that pitches the last few innings, and has pitched extraordinarily. He has been a twelve time all-star, with outstanding pitching statistics. What's even more impressive, especially in this era where so many of our heroes are often day tainted with misconduct, there hasn't been a whiff of scandal. He's not in the gossip pages off the field. Though there were three different Yankee uniforms to pick from, when I chose a baseball uniform for Pepe there was was no choice but to dress Pepe in #42.

  Pepe soberly considers next season's chances for the Yankees. 

Homage to Mariano Rivera, #42

The weather was glorious in New York this weekend and I did a fair amount of running around. I was out and about so much yesterday that I missed Pink Saturday. I went to Bible Study in the afternoon and had a ticket in the evening for a concert. It was a big-band program of music by Julie Styne, and featured songs from "Funny Girl," "Gypsy" and "Bells are Ringing." The talent was terrific and the music, of course, was wonderful. With the cold weather we've had I haven't been doing that much in the evenings and it was a lot of fun to be out on a Saturday night.  

The week ahead looks full of work, work, work. But I've taken some pictures I hope to share and I'm snapping away for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. I've got a theme in mind and I've had a good time getting prepared for next month's blogging. Anyone else joining me?

Wishes for a sweet week!