Mariano Rivera is to be named Man of the Year by the New York Board of Rabbis and will be given a tour of Israel after the “two holy seasons” — baseball season and the Jewish High Holidays.
The Yankee pitching great, a Pentecostal Christian, threw a pre-Super Bowl party and charity auction for his North Avenue Church in New Rochelle at Siro’s on Second Avenue, where he dined with guests including Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president of the rabbi board.
Potasnik said the organization would give Rivera its prestigious award for his philanthropic work after the “two holy seasons” wrap, when the rabbi will escort Rivera on a guided, 10-day tour of Israel.
Through his church, Rivera does extensive relief work in his native Panama.
Speaking to guests about reporting for spring training, Rivera — who played in just nine games last season before tearing his right ACL — said, “You bet I’m ready to go.”
He also addressed what lies ahead for his beleaguered squad, hampered by injuries to stars from Derek Jeter to Alex Rodriguez.
“We need a lot of prayer, and I pray a lot,” Mariano was overheard saying to a guest. “Our biggest competition is ourselves . . . You have to shed that ego at the door and all push for the same goal.” Of last year, he admitted, “The hitting wasn’t there, but pitching is the name of the game.”
And it seems like he’s bulking up for the season. The 6-foot-2 righty sat for one private dinner with friends at Siro’s before the event officially began — and then sat for another dinner there immediately after.
Said a spy, “Mariano ate seared tuna with salad, then crab cakes and lobster tortilla,” then hit the next meal and downed “Caesar salad, meatballs, flank steak and molten chocolate lava cake.”
But while the new Yankee Stadium may be plush with upgraded amenities for players, he still misses the old ballpark. “We want our old stadium back,” Rivera quipped. “The other stadium was better.” (The new park’s been called one of the league’s friendliest for hitters.)