Watch Mariano Rivera’s emotional farewell to Yankee Stadium

The greatest closer in baseball history, Mariano Rivera, pitched his final game at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, and it turned into one of the most emotional moments in baseball history.

Even though they were trailing, Yankees Manager Joe Girardi brought Rivera into the game in the eighth inning so he could get one more turn on the home mound. Girardi also had a plan in mind.

With two out in the ninth, Yankees Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte came out to the mound to take Rivera out of the game and give the fans a chance to give him one last ovation.

When Rivera saw his two teammates, who were on the team when Rivera joined the Yankees in 1995, he broke into a smile. He handed the ball to Pettitte, then broke down, crying while giving Pettitte a long hug, his head buried in Pettitte’s shoulder.

Then, still crying, Rivera hugged Jeter and walked off the mound to a massive ovation.

It’s a wonderful moment in what has too often become a cynical sport. You can watch it all in the video above.

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