NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced on Friday, Oct. 25, a “shock drop” of 25 limited edition Rivera Avenue street signs ahead of the New York Yankees’ World Series appearance against the former Brooklyn Dodgers. The intersection of River Avenue and 161^st Street, which is next to Yankee Stadium, is co-named Rivera Avenue for New York Yankees legend Mariano Rivera.

 

DOT officials said the authentic New York City street signs are hand-made at the DOT Sign Shop, which produces over 70,000 street signs each year. They said the signs are available for purchase online for $75 each and are available one per customer. They said all signs will be sold via the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services’ CityStore, the Official Store of the City of New York, and proceeds will benefit the city’s general fund.

 

“There is nothing better than October baseball in The Bronx, and as New Yorkers cheer on the Yankees, a few lucky fans will be able to celebrate with an authentic Rivera Avenue street sign,” said Rodriguez. “Today we continue to honor not only the best closer in baseball history, but also the spirit of the Bronx. I hope fans nab one of these quicker than Anthony Volpe can steal a base, and don’t strikeout at the CityStore,” the commissioner added.

 

For his part, NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Louis A. Molina, said the Bronx Bombers hold a special place in the heart of the City and their championship mettle, grit, and perseverance embodies the essence of what it means to be a New Yorker. “This October, as we cheer them on to bring home another pennant, we invite you to bring home a piece of their history with the latest sign release featuring Rivera Avenue – an ode to the Yankees legend Mariano Rivera,” Molina said. “As a native Bronxite, I’m especially excited to rally behind the home team, and I’m rooting for you too as you race to secure one of these limited–edition signs from our CityStore.”

 

Rivera Avenue, located at 161st Street and River Avenue outside Yankee Stadium, commemorates the legendary life-long Yankee and feared closer who helped the organization win five World Series. Known for entering the field from the bullpen to Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” Rivera was often “lights out” in closing the final innings of a game for the Yankees.

 

He was awarded the 1999 World Series MVP and is Major League Baseball’s career leader in saves and games finished. Rivera was a unanimous, first-ballot Baseball Hall of Fame inductee in 2019. Originally from Panama, Rivera continues to reside in the New York City area.

 

DOT officials said monthly sign drops from DOT feature signs for iconic New York City streets, commemorations of famous New Yorkers, celebrations of special occasions, and other custom releases. DOT began its monthly drops this past June, with the release of Christopher Street/Stonewall Place street signs to commemorate Pride Month.

 

Last month, DOT released ‘Christopher “Notorious B.I.G” Wallace Way’ street signs to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the rap legend’s landmark album Ready to Die. Last week, DOT released ‘Stan Lee Way’ in honor of the comic book legend, just as comic fans descended on New York City. DOT officials said signs in all drops this year sold out within hours of their release.

 

The New York City DOT Sign Shop is located in Maspeth, Queens and City officials said it manufactures over 70,000 signs each year, with a  team of 32 Sign Shop employees hand-making the street signs, highway signs, directional signs, parking signs, and more. They said there are about one million DOT signs in use across the 6,000 miles of streets in New York City and the monthly sign drops are the latest iteration of sales that have historically been available from the Sign Shop.

 

CityStore is the official store of The City of New York. City officials said CityStore is operated by NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services, and 100% of sales benefit The City of New York.

 

They said CityStore is similar to a museum store, which complements the museum by highlighting the treasures within while serving as a stand-alone retail entity for gifts, collectables and research materials. They said just as a museum store is a revenue source for the museum and reinforces and protects the integrity of the museum brand, CityStore is the “museum store” for the entire City of New York.

 

Click here to read our recent story on the co-naming of a street honoring filmmaker George Romero in Parkchester, and here to read our recent story about the unveiling of Nicholas Otoniel Feliz Dominici Way in Kingsbridge Heights, in memory of one-year-old Nicholas Feliz Dominici who tragically died on Sept. 15, 2023 from fentanyl poisoning at now-closed El Divino Niño daycare center.