Rivera makes 1,000th appearance as Yankee

Mariano Rivera remembers it like it was yesterday: the three-run home run to Jim Edmonds, the walk to Tim Salmon, and his premature exit after just 3 1/3 innings at Anaheim Stadium.

His introduction to the big leagues was anything but memorable.

"I lost my first game there, but I was excited," said Rivera, who was shelled by the California Angels in his first start as a Yankee on May 23, 1995. He gave up eight hits and five earned runs in a 10-0 loss.

"After that, it's been a ride."

That ride has lasted almost 17 years and has included five world championships, 11 All-Star selections and the major-league record for postseason saves (42). Rivera reached another milestone Wednesday, becoming the first pitcher in history to record 1,000 appearances with one team and the 15th player to do so.

"You have to love what you do. And I do," said Rivera, who pitched a scoreless ninth in Wednesday's 7-3 win over Toronto. "I'm proud of what I do and who I represent and proud of how I do it."

Manager Joe Girardi fondly remembers meeting Rivera, then a skinny, unknown kid, for the first time in 1996 after Girardi was traded from Colorado to the Yankees. But one look at his fastball made Girardi a believer.

"The stuff was electric and he was throwing 97, throwing it wherever he wanted to, he could elevate," Girardi said. "And I was like, 'I've never even heard of him . . . this kid is special.' "

Few closers have been as dominant as Rivera, who has the most saves in American League history (572) and second-most behind Trevor Hoffman (601).

"I don't want to jinx it, but he's just amazing," general manager Brian Cashman said. " You're at a loss for words for someone who . . . has done it all. And all he's doing is setting the bar higher for no one to ever match."

And to think, the 41-year-old Rivera -- the oldest Yankee to record a save -- has compiled his impressive stats with just one pitch: a devastating cutter.

"It just tells you how great he is at his trade," Girardi said. "He's really never fooled people. Mo has said, here it is, it's going to cut, it's going to sink, and I'm going to throw it where I want, try to do something with it. I can't think of any pitcher that's really ever done that."