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The big screen at Yankee Stadium congratulates New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera after he recorded his 602nd career save. AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek

WATCH: Rivera makes history with 602nd career save

The legendary closer saw out the final inning of the Yankees’ 6-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins yesterday.

NOW THAT SAVE number 602 is behind him, Mariano Rivera is happy to step back out of the spotlight and work on another big number: six.

Despite five World Series championships in 17 seasons with the New York Yankees, Rivera has never come to enjoy individual attention.

“You know me, I’m not like that,” Rivera said. “I like to be under the radar, do my job.”

There was no chance of that yesterday afternoon, when the smallest crowd in the three-year history of Yankee Stadium nearly drowned out Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” as Rivera came in for the ninth inning.

They hollered with every pitch — and there weren’t many of them. Rivera retired the Twins’ Trevor Plouffe, Michael Cuddyer and Chris Parmelee to end the Yankees’ 6-4 win over Minnesota and break Trevor Hoffman’s mark.

Rivera even broke a bat for good measure — sawing off Parmelee and sending the rookie back to the dugout for another piece of wood.

Parmelee lasted only one more pitch. Plate umpire John Hirschbeck rung him up, and catcher Russell Martin came out to the mound, gently placed the ball in Rivera’s glove, then gave him a big hug.

Rivera stayed and accepted congratulations — Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and finally Derek Jeter came over before the bullpen and bench got there. The Twins watched from their dugout.

Rivera tried to walk off the field with the rest of the Yankees, but longtime teammate Jorge Posada pushed him, laughing, onto the mound, where fans cheered him once again.

Never comfortable in the spotlight, Rivera didn’t know quite what to do.

He proved equal to the moment yet again. Rivera smiled, blew a kiss to the crowd, and then doffed his cap as cheers washed over him.

“For the first time in my career, I’m on the mound alone,” Rivera said.

It was priceless. I didn’t know it could be like that.

– Rick Freeman

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    Mute Griska
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    Aug 10th 2015, 3:22 PM

    Cab driver in Cork told me that when Keane signed for Man Utd, his dad came out of the toilet in the local pub with his lad in his hand saying, “Bet ye never thought this was worth 3 million pound”. I hope it’s a true story.

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    Mute Fiach Moriarty
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    Aug 10th 2015, 4:26 PM

    My favourite Keane quote is when his wife asked him how come he has his kids names tattooed on his arm but not hers. His reply was ‘I’ll never divorce them but I might divorce you’ :)

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    Mute Bantersaurus Rex
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    Aug 10th 2015, 7:59 PM

    Not to be pedantic but I think it was ‘they’ll always be my kids…’

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    Mute Fiach Moriarty
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    Aug 10th 2015, 8:11 PM

    Dead right. I knew I was close

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    Mute Mart,,
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    Aug 10th 2015, 3:32 PM

    Happy Birthday Keano .

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    Mute Padraig Corcoran
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    Aug 10th 2015, 4:42 PM

    Mick McCarty “Where’s your respect?”
    Roy “Where’s your first touch?”.

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    Mute Frank Donovan
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    Aug 10th 2015, 5:42 PM

    Video footage Football Gold…Keano love him hate him…still a LEGEND.

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    Mute Emmet Fleming
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    Aug 10th 2015, 4:41 PM

    10 and 17 get my vote! Brill

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    Mute MARK O 'LEARY
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    Aug 10th 2015, 5:45 PM

    “The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men……..”

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    Mute Ted Logan
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    Aug 10th 2015, 8:29 PM

    Langer

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    Mute MARK O 'LEARY
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    Aug 10th 2015, 8:37 PM

    Bogus dude!

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    Mute Ted Logan
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    Aug 10th 2015, 8:48 PM

    Dude, I’ll send the evil robot us’s around to you.

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    Mute Shane Flanagan
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    Aug 10th 2015, 9:09 PM

    13 14 and 20. Ya won’t beat a bit of Irish humour!

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    Mute James Murphy
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    Aug 12th 2015, 10:22 AM

    love them all, vintage Keano !!!

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    Mute John O'Shea
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    Aug 12th 2015, 5:39 AM

    Happy birthday to possibly the last real hardman football will see

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    Mute Robert James Behan
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    Aug 11th 2015, 9:55 AM

    “in the middle of the perk”……

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