Metallica Plays Mariano Rivera Day at Yankee Stadium
by Elle Brown
The New York Yankees retired Rivera's No. 42 at a ceremony in Yankee Stadium yesterday. The number, also worn by Jackie Robinson, was retired throughout the major leagues in 1997 on the 50th anniversary of the day the Brooklyn Dodgers second baseman broke baseball's color barrier. However, players like Rivera, wearing 42 at the time were grandfathered.
Rivera commented, "It is a great pleasure and honor for me to be the last player to ever wear number 42." Rivera said during the 50-minute ceremonies before the last regular-season day home game of his 19-season career.
Metallica’s James Hetfield used a special pinstriped guitar pick with Rivera’s No. 42 on it and the whole band wore Yankee pinstripe jerseys with the Metallica logo across the front. As the first chords of "Enter Sandman," rang out, the bullpen door swung open. The song is known at Yankee Stadium at Rivera's signature entrance music and for more than a decade indicating the end of the game for New York's opponent. It was being played live by heavy metal group #Metallica performing from a stage on the field. James Hetfield, lead singer, cried out, "For you Mariano" as Rivera slowly walked to the infield.
Following the dedication, Metallica band members presented Rivera with a giant speaker they brought out from the home dugout with Rivera's No. 42, the name Metallica, and "Sandman" on the front. It was signed by the band's members as well — Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo.
This was definitely one baseball game I would have loved to have attended. I like sports. I specifically root for the Yankees and the Mets. My boys and I also watch football. You'll find us every Sunday feasting and watching the Giants and the Jets and when I can get the game, I like the 49ers.
But, Metallica was my favorite band. I grew up at the perfect time to be a hot, metal chick. The concert ticket pictured here is mine. It's from an '86 Damage Inc. / Master of Puppets show that never happened.
I was 14 years old; a freshman in high school. One of my friends was going to cut school to get in line at Jack's Music Shop in Red Bank to buy a block of Metallica tickets for the upcoming tour. I made sure he had my $20.
This was back when you had to go to a Ticketmaster location to buy tickets. Endorphins rushing all around, the clerk handed you the tickets, right then and there! You walked out of the store with an envelope of tickets to what for you was the 'show of the century'. It was such a satisfying buying experience.
Tickets were accessible to kids who saved their birthday money or allowance or worked. We all had part time jobs back then. This ticket was $18.50. I had already planned how I was going to tell my parents that I was sleeping over a friend's house that night so I could hop a train with all my friends to the Felt Forum - a little venue that held about 5,000 people, now called The Theater at Madison Square Garden, which had the most intimate rock concerts - you had to be there...
However, there was a tragic tour bus accident in Sweden that would stop this tour. Cliff Burton, bassist, was killed. That day at school, kids were grief stricken. Some were crying, some were angry, some shut everyone out, others consoled. It felt like the day Randy Rhoads died in a plane crash all over again. For me and my friends, it was 'the day the music died'. RIP Cliff Burton February 10, 1962 - September 27, 1986.
#yankeestadium, #metallica, #cliffburton, #yankees, #marianorivera, #entersandman, #exitsandman
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Elle Brown
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