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MLB, Hard Rock Cafe Jump On The Thank-You-Mariano Bandwagon

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It seems that literally everyone wants a piece of saying goodbye to Mariano Rivera.

The legendary closer, who will appear for the final time in pinstripes on Thursday night when the Yankees close out the home portion of their 2013 schedule against Tampa Bay, has been honored by the Bombers and every team they have played this season.

Now, it's the league's turn.

Major League Baseball commissioned a full-page ad in four newspapers -- USA Today, the New York Post, the New York Daily News, and Metro New York -- that appeared in Thursday's edition to bid Rivera farewell.

The league also announced that Rivera leads all jersey sales in the second half. The Mets' Matt Harvey, Yasiel Puig of the Dodgers, Manny Machado of the Orioles and Buster Posey of the Giants round out the top five.

And if that's not enough, the Hard Rock Cafe was expected to get into the Mo worship act as well on Thursday, announcing prior to the game it is retiring Metallica's "Enter Sandman" from all Hard Rock-branded restaurants, hotels and casinos worldwide -- with the exception of Hard Rock Cafe Yankee Stadium, ESPN reported.

Metallica honored Rivera on Sunday by playing its signature song from the center field seats as part of the ceremony commemorating No. 42's surefire Hall of Fame career.

The Yankees, who were eliminated from postseason contention with Wednesday night's 8-3 loss to Tampa Bay, will close out the regular season with a three-game series in Houston starting Friday.

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