Mariano Rivera. Panama’s legendary Hall of  Famer whose baseball career began in the streets of  El Tamarindo in Puerto Caimito in La Chorrera where he played barefoot and with a bat with a cardboard handle is Panama’ latest Sports Ambassador.

His new title, granted by President Laurentino Cortizo, adds him to a select group of local athletes who like  Roberto “Hands of Stone  Durán, Irving Saladino, César Barría, Alonso Edward, Celestino Caballero, and Rod Carew.

Rivera became the first player to be unanimously elected ton the Major Leagues Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, and the second Panamanian to be immortalized after the election of fellow countryman Rod Carew in 1991.

Rivera, retired from the Majors in 2013, leaving behind a trail of records, among them, the 652 saves making him the best closer of all time. He has five World Series champion rings with the New York Yankees, where he played his 19 seasons in the majors.

Rivera joins a small list of Panamanian athletes who have been honored with this appointment, which was formalized in January 2006

The distinction called Cultural and Sports Merit Decoration of the Republic of Panama aims to recognize the merits and efforts of those citizens who, by outstanding performances, have extolled the country's image through culture or sport.

According to the sixth article of the decree that grants the title of sports ambassador of the Republic of Panama, this “will be strictly personal, so it is not transferable. It will not confer special rights, such as economic remuneration or diplomatic or official passports. ”

Also on the list of ambassadors, provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are Carew (2008), a member of the Hall of Fame; Caballero (2009), former world boxing champion; Saladino (2008), Olympic champion, and Edward the fastest man in Panama, (2009). Durán was the first to get it in 2007.