Before game in Boston Rivera met with Red Sox fans who lost legs in Boston Marathon bombings in April

7/20/13, "Fenway Stands and Cheers for Yankees’ Rivera," NY Times, David Waldstein

"A few hours before he came into Saturday’s game and earned his 31st save, the 639th of his career, Rivera had an emotional meeting with Red Sox fans and longtime employees of Fenway Park as part of his farewell tour of major league cities. 

Rivera met in a luxury suite with 10 people, several of whom were wearing Red Sox paraphernalia. The group included two brothers, J. P. and Paul Norden from Stoneham, Mass.; each lost a leg in the Boston Marathon bombings in April. 

Rivera choked up when talking to 13-year-old Harry Clark, a David Ortiz fan from nearby Wellesley, who is visually impaired from a brain tumor, and Fernando Morales, 19, of Norwood, who has Ewing’s sarcoma, a type of bone cancer. 

“It was wonderful,” Rivera said. “There was a kid, Fernando, who has cancer and is going through the therapy and he shared his story. He wanted to play soccer and baseball but he couldn’t. But he’s not giving up.” 

Also present were Ken Greenwood, who is in his 46th season as an usher at Fenway, and John Basmanian, a ticket-window representative for 46 years. 

Fans at the meetings in each city have been overwhelmed by Rivera’s graciousness, but he said that he appreciates them even more. “I get more out of it because of the stories and the inspiration,” he said."

7/20/13, "Mariano Rivera got a standing ovation at Fenway Park in Boston," USA Today, Matt Eppers. photo USA Today. final 5-2 Yankees

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