Baseball's most treasured relief pitcher Mariano Rivera's emotional exit was a night that will go down in Yankees' history, where all players wore more than just their signature pinstripes, but their hearts on their sleeves.

It was a ninth inning to remember. As Rivera played out his final game, his old pals Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte came from the dugout to remove him with two outs in the ninth inning of a 4-0 loss to Tampa Bay.

The sold-out crowd roared, chanting "Mariano" and gave Rivera a touching, four minute ovation. The 44-year-old, Panamanian native's cup was running over with emotion, followed by tears, a loveable bear-hugfest, a last tip of the hat and a wave goodbye.

"I was bombarded with emotions and feeling that I couldn't describe," Rivera said at the end the game. "Everything hit at that time. I knew that was the last time. Period. I never felt like that before."

A sportscaster at Thursday night's send-off game hit the nail on the head, saying, "He (Rivera) is going to be one tough act to follow."

According to the Associated Press, "The three players have known each other since they were in the minors in the early 1990s, and all three came up to the Yankees for the first time in 1995."

The sea of emotions will be sure to continue as Pettitte will also retire at the end of the season on Sunday, Sept. 29.

Rivera may be in for a treat in his native Panama as well. The Yankees are considering playing an exhibition in Panama to the honor legendary pitcher, The New York Post reported. "Rivera is said to be thrilled at the possibility of his pinstriped pals taking the field in Panama in early spring, just months after his retirement," sources told The Post. "It's unclear if he'll take the mound himself. Officials from the Yankees, Major League Baseball, the MLB players' union and the Panamanian government are involved in delicate discussions to pull off the unusual tribute."

It certainly would be an incredible tribute in his native country to come full circle at the culmination of his successful career.

"The oldest player in the major leagues, Rivera posted 314 of his record 652 saves at home during a 19-year big league career, and 18 of his record 42 postseason saves were at the old and new Yankee Stadium. He helped the Yankees to five World Series titles, getting the final out in four of them," according to the AP.