Many know the name of Mariano Rivera. Rivera is regarded as the best closing pitcher of all time due to his amazing 19-year career with the New York Yankees. During his tenure, he managed to record the most saves of all time out of any other pitcher in MLB history, 652. Along with the most saves of all time, he also posted a career 205 ERA+, 1.000 WHIP, and a 2.21 ERA which are all amazing career stats for a relief pitcher.
Along with his astonishing baseball career, Rivera also received the commissioner’s historic achievement award for finishing with the most saves of all time. This award is very prestigious as it is not given out annually.
Off the baseball field, Rivera and his wife, Clara, are very active in their community. In 1998, M. Rivera established the Mariano Rivera Foundation which helps underprivileged children and their families. The foundation focuses on education, well-being, and health. Along with the foundation, in 2014, M. Rivera invested $3 million to renovate a 107-year-old church in New Rochelle, New York.
Many would consider the Riveras to be great human beings with all the things they do for their communities; however, there was an anonymous lawsuit filed against the Riveras alleging that they had covered up sexual abuse against a minor in relation to their church.
When questioned whether Rivera should be removed from the Hall of Fame if the accusations are true, Dani Avila, a senior at Wharton High School, said “I think it should be taken into consideration and looked into, but I think the timing has a lot to do with it.” If the MLB does decide to remove Rivera from the Hall if accusations are true, this would be the first time.
The person that alleged the Riveras covered up the abuse wished to be unnamed and is referred to as Jane Doe in all pieces about the lawsuit. Doe alleges that she was abused a total of four separate times: once at a summer camp in Gainsville, Fl connected to the Rivera’s church, once during a barbecue at the Rivera’s house, and twice on two separate occasions by the son of one of the Pastors at the Rivera’s church.
During the victim’s time at the summer camp in Gainsville, Ignite Life Church, she was abused in her dorm room and showers by an older member. The victim and her family immediately went to the church to report the problem. and Clara Rivera reportedly said it would be taken care of. However, the victim says nothing was done.
Then, in 2021 and 2022, the victim was reportedly abused by one of Rivera’s church’s workers, Ruben Tavarez Jr. Tavarez Jr. allegedly continued to contact the minor electronically and engage in graphic conversation.
In response to the lawsuit, the Riveras defended themselves saying that none of this is true and that it was just a money grab by the family. One of the lawyers representing Doe claims that even though the Riveras did not sexually abuse Doe, they had a duty to protect her, which they failed to do.
