It has become a season of love for Mariano Rivera, who'll turn 44 in November. A veteran of 19 Major League seasons, the longtime New York Yankees closer was in his final days being an active baseball player.

His longevity and humble personality are rare among professional athletes. Whether you aren't you believe closers are overrated, Rivera's power to be on the MLB The Show 18 Stubs list of best from the ninth inning over thirty years is astounding.

While looking back at Rivera's career this month it donned on me that the best-hander has pitched across many in the major milestones within my own life. Many people in the Jordan generation can probably draw a similar Rivera parallels.

Rivera debuted to the Yankees on May 23, 1995. He lasted under four innings contrary to the California Angels, allowing five runs while striking out five and walking three. He would continue to appear in 19 games that season -- nine being a reliever.

As Rivera was getting his feet wet in the Major League level, I was turning 10. He made his final appearance to be a starter on Sept. 5 from the Seattle Mariners, just a couple of days after the started your fifth grade.

Rivera may be genuine within his faith throughout his career. In 1998, when he helped the Yankees win their second World Series in several years, I made my Confirmation under an hour drive clear of Yankee Stadium.

Just a couple of years later, Rivera was included in one with the most memorable moments in baseball history as being the Yankees helped New York along with the rest on the United States heal the wounds created on Sept. 11, 2001. A scary and ominous time for that entire country, it hit near home in Southwestern Connecticut.

No one from the tri-state area will forget watching the Yankees beat the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners on their way for the World Series resistant to the Arizona Diamondbacks. In what Sports Illustrated voted because best Postseason Game of that decade, Rivera blew the save and Luis Gonzalez hit a soft single over an outstretched Derek Jeter to drive from the winning, title-clinching run.

Rivera pitched 141 playoff innings during his career, a mind-blowing number, particularly when you consider he allowed just 11 earned runs over those 96 appearances.

In 2003, 12 months I graduated secondary school, Rivera had his best season thus far. He compiled 40 saves over 64 appearances, pitching into a 1.66 ERA. He struck out 63 batters inside of 71 innings and broke countless bats.

The Yankees went along to yet another World Series that October, my first full month clear of home just as one undergraduate in Massachusetts, facing the upstart Florida Marlins. The Marlins knocked from the Yankees, but Rivera wasn’t to blame. He pitched four innings against Miami, striking out four, walking none and allowing just two hits. He still did not surrender 1 run.

Rivera allowed four runs in over 36 career innings, compiling a 0.99 ERA within the Fall Classic. He was 2-1 with 11 saves in 24 appearances.

It might have qualified like a good season for the majority of relievers, but Rivera posted a 3.15 ERA -- his highest over the full season -- in 2007. I graduated college that spring, making what was obviously a very good year in my opinion a "down" year for your Mo.

Rivera won his fifth, and final, World Series because Yankees topped the Philadelphia Phillies in '09. That September, I moved into my first house with my MLB 18 Stubs long-time girlfriend. The year Rivera got one for his thumb; my partner got one for my child ring finger.

This season is a memorable one for Rivera and also the growing Perna family. As Rivera has visited ballparks across Major League Baseball, he may be showered with gifts when he hangs up his famous cutter.

On the identical day that Rivera reached his 15th 30-save season this July, my significant other and I learned that people are expecting twin boys. As his Hall of Fame career comes to a end, two more baseball fans are about to enter in the world. I can only hope these are one day competent to connect with this type of respected athlete since they mature through life’s many phases.