THE CLOSER

Mariano Rivera is remembered not only as the greatest relief pitcher in history but also as a humble, soft-spoken, and deeply religious man. That’s why it takes some time to get used to Michael Kay as the narrator of Rivera’s memoir: The New York Yankees television announcer has a brash tone, a Bronx accent, and a fast-talking delivery that is ill-suited to the author's demeanor. But once you settle in, the audiobook is an engrossing listen for baseball fans. Kay’s narration is strongest when he tells stories from the clubhouse and the field; he sounds less comfortable when recounting Rivera’s childhood growing up poor in a family of fishermen in Panama and his spiritual journey as a born-again Christian. D.B © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2014]