After 20 years in professional baseball alongside Rivera and Jorge Posada as members of the "Core Four" that were the key to so much Yankee success, Pettitte and Jeter both stressed how odd and empty it will be to see the Yankees without Rivera.
Rivera, shortstop Derek Jeter, starting pitcher Andy Pettitte and since-retired catcher Jorge Posada formed the "Core Four, " a group of home-grown players that powered the modern Yankee dynasty.