Sad news about former Yankee closer (and World Champ) John Wetteland

As Andrew covered in great and inspiring detail, Yankees fans everywhere have been spoiled by Mariano Rivera's efficient, dominating, and reassuring greatness. But things weren't always this way in the Bronx. Back in 1996, when the Core Four won their first title, Rivera was the setup guy to John Wetteland.

I was only 12 years old during that season, but three things stood out about our closer that year.

1. Nobody had a more disgusting hat. He never changed or washed it all season. It was completely covered with rings of sweat, smudges of dirt, and probably tobacco and snot stains too.

2. Nobody made your blood pressure spike quite so dramatically. If you take a look at Wetteland's stats in 1996, he actually had a pretty good year: led the league in saves (43) and made the AL All-Star team. But look closer. He gave up 9 HR in 63.2 IP (contrast that to Mo in 2008, for example: 4 HR in 70.2 IP). 54 hits in 63.2 IP which led to a relatively high WHIP of 1.18 (compared to Rivera's 0.67 in '08). Anyway, the point is...Wetteland didn't have a lot of 1-2-3 innings. Every save was an adventure. Looking back, it felt like the tying run was always on 2nd base. He got the job done, but not without giving you a heart attack first.

3. Finally, my favorite memory of Wetteland: seeing him at the center of that iconic photo as the Yankees rushed the field after the final out of the 1996 World Series. There are a few iconic last outs that stand out to me: Yogi Berra wrapping his legs around Don Larsen after his WS perfect game, Jesse Orosco throwing his glove in the air and pounding the ground after the 1986 WS, and seeing Jim Abbott's stump, which nobody thought was even capable of pitching in the big leagues, after his no-hitter. But I love that photo of Wetteland, who was mobbed by a team that was down 0-2 after dropping the first two games at Yankee Stadium, and should not have come back to beat the heavily favored Braves with three straight being played in Atlanta. The players did not initially fall to the ground. Instead, after Charlies Hayes caught the final out, Wetteland thrust his hand in the air - with his index finger permanently declaring "We're #1" - while his teammates mobbed him. As the pile grew, all you could see was that "#1" sticking out, never wavering. Unforgettable.

As exciting as that was, we now have some very sad news about what has happened to Wetteland. Currently the bullpen coach for the Seattle Mariners, it appears that he has some mental health issues and may be suicidal. The facts are limited at this point, but on behalf of Yankees fans everywhere, we wish you the best, John Wetteland. Here's to a successful comeback.