Khufu

. See also. However, since his full name is Chnum-Khufu, which means Chnum is protector, it seems as if he chose to use a theophoric name referring to a more supreme god Chnum, who protected him, so it is more likely that Khufu was simply human. Some of Rivera's accomplishments include:. Some scholars believe that he was not a pharaoh, instead Khufu was a sign of the God of All Gods, or "the sun", so the Ancient Egyptians built the great pyramid in Giza to keep the worship to their god forever. However, Rivera is permitted to use the number due to a grandfather clause, and he is the last active Major League player to wear the number. But, as of yet, the pair have been refused permission by the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities to follow up their findings and, they hope, prove the room's existence. His uniform number is 42, which has been retired by all Major League Baseball teams since 1997 in honor of Jackie Robinson.

If their claim is true, the corridor is unlikely ever to have been violated and could possibly lead to a chamber containing the king's remains. As Rivera enters a game in Yankee Stadium, the song "Enter Sandman" by Metallica is played on the loudspeaker system. In August 2004 two amateur French Egyptologists, Gilles Dormion and Jean-Yves Verd'hurt, claimed that they had discovered, using ground-penetrating radar and architectural analysis, a previously unknown corridor inside the pyramid. Rivera's signature pitch is his cut fastball, or cutter, which he mixes with both a four-seam and two-seam fastball. Current consensus among Egyptologists also is that the head of the Great Sphinx at Giza is that of Khufu. He won the World Series MVP Award in 1999, when which the Yankees swept the Atlanta Braves in four games and Rivera earned two saves. The more logical and more widely accepted theory, however, suggests that the Great Pyramid of Egypt was built by hundreds of skilled workers who camped near the pyramids and worked for a salary until the construction was completed. He donated his 2001 trophy to the New York City Fire Department, and the trophy is on permanent display at the FDNY's Brooklyn headquarters.

The first theory, suggested by the Greeks, posits that slaves were forced to work until the pyramid was done. Rivera has won the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award three times, in 1999, 2001, and 2004. There are two theories surrounding the construction of the Great Pyramid. In 2005, Rivera converted 31 consecutive save opportunities, his career record, in addition to his save in the 2005 All-Star Game in Detroit. An empty sarcophagus is located in the center of the King's Chamber inside the pyramid. In 2003, he would have arguably his best postseason performance ever, when he pitched 3 shutout innings in a Game 7 victory over the powerful Boston Red Sox. His mummy has never been recovered. Since then, Rivera has been less consistent in the postseason, but Rivera's performance after blowing that save is second only to his performance before that game.

Little else remains in his memory, and only one miniature statuette of him has been discovered in the temple of Abydos and is now on display in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. Rivera's most infamous moment in the postseason occurred in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, when he blew the save in the bottom of the 9th inning despite striking out the side the previous inning. Khufu is most famous for the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza, the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing. From 1997 to 2001, Rivera converted 23 postseason saves successfully and pitched 34 consecutive scoreless innings in the postseason, both Major League records. He had a daughter named Queen Hetepheres II. Rivera's postseason dominance played a key role in the Yankees' four championships in five years in the late 1990s. Khufu had several sons, one of which, Djedefra, was his immediate successor. Rivera has been especially overpowering in the postseason, in which his lifetime ERA of 0.75 is the Major League record.

Khufu was the son of King Sneferu and, unlike his father, was remembered as a cruel and ruthless pharaoh. He has been one of the most consistent, dependable relief pitchers in the Major Leagues during his tenure as a closer for the Yankees. He was the second pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty. When Wetteland left the team following that season (in which they won the World Series), Rivera became the Yankees' closer and has remained so through 2005. He reigned from around 2589 BC to 2566 BC. Despite playing in a position that rarely gets respect, Rivera still managed to come in third for the Cy Young Award voting, behind twenty-game winners Pat Hentgen and teammate Andy Pettitte, respectively. Khufu (in Greek known as Cheops) was a Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt's Old Kingdom. During that season, if the Yankees were leading after six innings, they were nearly assured of victory due to the stellar pitching of both relievers.

In 1996, he served primarily as a set-up man for the closer John Wetteland. Born in Panama City, Panama, his rookie season in the Major Leagues was 1995, in which he made a limited number of appearances. Mariano Rivera (born November 29, 1969) is a relief pitcher for the New York Yankees, a surefire future Hall of Famer considered by many to be "The Greatest Closer of All-Time.". List of players from Panama in Major League Baseball.

Yankees' all-time leader in saves and appearances. 4-time World Series champion. 7-time All-Star. Only reliever to win ALCS (2003) and World Series MVP (1999) awards.

Most saves in World Series play (8). Recorded 11 2-inning saves in the postseason (as of 2003). Holds record for 34 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings pitched in postseason. One of only 6 pitchers to record at least 53 saves in a season.

One of only 8 pitchers to record at least 50 saves in a season. Only 3rd pitcher in history to notch 300 saves with one team. 5th all-time in career saves (371), 2nd all-time among active pitchers (as of September 1, 2005). Only 2nd closer in history to record 40 saves in 5 different seasons.

Second-best save conversion percentage of closers with at least 150 saves (87.5%) (as of 2004). Lowest career ERA of closers in top 50 of career saves (2.35) (as of 2005). Most postseason saves of all-time (25) (as of 2004). Lowest postseason ERA of all-time (0.75) (as of 2004).