As a child, he grew up playing baseball with all his friends and every Christmas everyone received a baseball that would last all year. He also remembers making cardboard gloves with his friends as a child, these are memories that will last not only a lifetime, but also for his friends. “He said that even though he didn't grow up poor, no one around him was rich either” (Loveday Pg.1). Mariano dropped out of high school in the sixth grade and went to work with his father on a boat at the age of sixteen, and always had a dream of playing football professionally. Although Mariano played baseball for an amateur league team, he never dreamed of playing professionally. Mariano's talent was soon discovered by Major League scouts, and by 1990 Mariano was a free agent with the New York Yankees at age 20. (Loveday Pg.1-2) (Kirkus Pg.