The best-of-seven playoff was contested between the Philadelphia Phillies, champions of the National League (NL) and defending World Series
![New York Yankees Mariano Rivera throws the last pitch of the 2009 World Series](https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/posts/mariano%20rivera%202001%20pitch%20650.jpg)
Mariano Rivera's Epic, Legacy-Building Failure - The Atlantic
![New York Yankees Mariano Rivera throws the last pitch of the 2009 World Series](https://www.si.com/.image/t_share/MTY4MjYxNDY4MTc2NDU4OTE3/mariano-rivera-posnanskijpg.jpg)
Joe Posnanski: Mariano Rivera's a true Yankee, almost mythical in his dominance - Sports Illustrated
![New York Yankees Mariano Rivera throws the last pitch of the 2009 World Series](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2023/03/3da00-16782934262572-1920.jpg?w=840)
MLB Twitter celebrates Mariano Rivera throwing out ceremonial first pitch ahead of WBC 2023 game: Enter Mr. Sandman
![New York Yankees Mariano Rivera throws the last pitch of the 2009 World Series](https://www.detroitnews.com/gcdn/presto/2019/01/22/PDTN/1155bb06-d7ca-401c-8fea-d9520237f5ef-rivera.jpg)
How new HOFers Mariano Rivera, Roy Halladay almost were Detroit Tigers
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Mariano Rivera - Wikipedia
![New York Yankees Mariano Rivera throws the last pitch of the 2009 World Series](https://www.denverpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/20091104_103856_yankees-1.jpg?w=640)
Yankees World Series champions – The Denver Post
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Yankee great Mariano Rivera selling N.Y. home for $3.9 mill
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Trump awards Presidential Medal of Freedom to baseball legend Mariano Rivera
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Hideki Matsui's big day leads Yankees over Phillies for 2009 title - Pinstripe Alley