When did the give gifts to players thing start?

[gowazzu02]

Last year Rivera got something from basically every team, there was a feature on mlb tonight and they mentioned get your gifts ready for jeter....

my question is why?

Has that happened to other players before? Or do we as other mlb teams just "owe it to the yankee stars?"

 

[Lemon Harang Pie]

Last year Rivera got something from basically every team, there was a feature on mlb tonight and they mentioned get your gifts ready for jeter....

my question is why?

Has that happened to other players before? Or do we as other mlb teams just "owe it to the yankee stars?"

I find the whole farewell tour annoying.

It's right up there with guys retiring, then coming back, then retiring, then coming back, then ...

Just quietly go.

 

[Sportsguy9695]

I agree Im not sure where giving guys gifts came from. but I think it is a nice touch

 

[OutlawImmortal]

To remind everyone how rich baseball owners are.

 

[broncosmitty]

Reminds me of the good old days when CBB coaches stayed at a school for two decades+. Don't remember any athlete getting the treatment before Rivera.

 

[gowazzu02]

Reminds me of the good old days when CBB coaches stayed at a school for two decades+. Don't remember any athlete getting the treatment before Rivera.

Of course they stayed their whole career, they didnt have the yankees throwing the brinks truck at them signing them away from their original team.

 

[gvsulaker82]

I find the whole farewell tour annoying.

It's right up there with guys retiring, then coming back, then retiring, then coming back, then ...

Just quietly go.

Yeah dont get me wrong...I respect both jeter and mariano but theres a reason they told the world before the season started, their ego. Deep down the want and love the attention of an entire year of being worshipped essentially. I would retire at the end of the season but I am not good at saying goodbyes.

 

[steveringo]

Mo deserved them all. He was truly the best ever at his position, and he played for a long time.....

Jeter won't get many gifts. I suspect his final series in Boston will be very special and they'll hook him up with some schwag... Other teams, not so much.... He survived playing in NY for a long time, but was he ever the best short stop in the game? Not really.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

Not sure when it started, but I recall Kareem Adbul-Jabbar getting a big send-off season worth of gifts from the rest of the NBA.

Agree with Steve, it's different when you're one of the best ever in your sport or at your position, but it shouldn't be for everybody.