Playing With Purpose: Mariano Rivera

He’s a Hall of Famer in every possible way—and Playing with Purpose: Mariano Rivera is an easy-to-read, color-illustrated biography of the baseball’s all-time saves leader. What’s really cool is that when his storied career with the New York Yankees ends, Mariano Rivera plans to save souls in the ministry! Part of Barbour’s exciting “Playing with Purpose” series, this account covers Mariano Rivera’s life from his earliest days in Panama to his multiple World Series appearances and titles (even the 1999 MVP award),  all the way through the 2012 Major League season. It’s a story of sports and faith for all ages.

Jesse Florea has worked at Focus on the Family for more than eighteen years. He is currently the editorial director for youth magazines, overseeing Focus on the Family Clubhouse (for ages eight to twelve) and Clubhouse Jr. (for three- to seven-year-olds). An avid sports fan, Jesse has written thousands of sports-related articles and co-authored One Year Devos for Sports Fans and One-Year Sports Devotions for Kids. Jesse lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado with his wife, Stephanie, and two teenagers.

Mike Yorkey is a former editor of Focus on the Family magazine who has also written for sports magazines such as Skiing, Tennis Week, and Racquet. A graduate of the University of Oregon's school of journalism, Mike has recently coauthored a World War II-era novel entitled The Swiss Courier. He and his wife, Nicole, are parents of two adult children, and live in Encinitas, California.