Mariano Rivera delivers pizza to A's employee before Yankees game in Oakland

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OAKLAND -- Mariano Rivera's "Mo-ment of Thanks" tour has taken place behind the scenes at several ballparks around the Majors this season, bringing visits to areas that the Yankees closer normally doesn't see.
Rivera discovered on Wednesday that gaining access to the less-traveled areas of a ballpark is much easier while carrying a piping-hot pizza pie.
The retiring hurler surprised long-time Athletics employee Julie Vasconcellos before Wednesday's game at the O.co Coliseum, delivering an early dinner to her mail-room office. They spent about 30 minutes together before Rivera took the field for batting practice with his teammates.
"This is my way to say thank you, thank you for what you do," Rivera told Vasconcellos, according to The Associated Press. "Twenty-five years, Julie, that's great! You're special, Julie, that's what it is. People here love you."
Rivera has said that he wants to take the opportunity to thank diehard fans and long-time club employees at each of the Yankees' road stops this season.
Vasconcellos, the A's office services coordinator, has worked for the club since 1989 and is involved in aspects of the organization ranging from the front office to the mail needs of the home and visiting clubhouses.
"Oh, my heart's going to town, oh my God," Vasconcellos told the AP. "I'm shaking. ... Oh, this is too funny, thank you."

Rivera, in his gray Yankees uniform before Wednesday night's game against the A's, entered the room where Vasconcellos works as A's personnel told her she had a new trainee on her hands.
"Whew, this is really something," Vasconcellos said. "In grammar school, we could only get the Yankees on our PA system. I grew up here, but there was no Oakland team yet."
These two, strangers turned friends, do share one thing in common: pending retirement.
"I love my job, but I hope to retire soon," Vasconcellos said.
"I'm done, Julie," Rivera replied with a smile.


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