President Biden has relieved Yankees Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera

Then-President Donald Trump plays catch with former New York Yankees Hall of Fame pitcher Mariano Rivera as he greets youth baseball players on the South Lawn of the White House to mark Opening Day for Major League Baseball in July 2020.
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Mariano Rivera has been relieved.

The Hall of Fame closer for the New York Yankees no longer is serving as a co-chair of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition, though he remains a member of the council, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services confirmed.

The two other co-chairs — former NFL running back Herschel Walker, who is running for U.S. Senate in Georgia, and beach volleyball player Misty May-Treanor, also reappointed by former President Donald Trump in December 2020 on his way out of office — no longer sit on the council.

Trump first announced the three athletes as co-chairs in May 2018 during a student field day at the White House that they all attended.

President Joe Biden instead chose as co-chairs chef/restaurant owner Jose Andres and Washington Mystics basketball player Elena Delle Donne, a former WNBA Most Valuable Player and Olympic gold medalist. They need to complete an ethics review before they can join the council.

Delle Donne is a native of Biden’s home state of Delaware and played college basketball at the president’s alma mater, the University of Delaware.

Andres threw out the first pitch before Game 5 of the 2019 World Series with Trump in the stands at Nationals Park. Andres’ World Central Kitchen is feeding Ukrainians during the Russian invasion as well as refugees fleeing the war.

Trump in 2019 honored Rivera with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, saying he possibly was “the greatest pitcher in the history of baseball.”

Walker, who played for the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants, along with the Trump-owned New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League, was asked to leave the council after announcing his candidacy in the Republican primary. May-Trainor, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, resigned.

Another council member, celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz, also was asked to give up his seat after he entered the Republican primary in the U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania.

Other members of the council include New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, famed college football coach Urban Meyer, and former Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon. All were reappointed by Trump in 2020 after he lost re-election.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant.

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