Called the greatest closer in baseball history, Rivera pitched his final game at Yankee Stadium in September. The 13-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion started to cry when Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte, who won four World Series titles with Rivera from 1996 to 2000, went to the mound to remove Rivera from his last game. The crowd then erupted in a thunderous ovation celebrating Rivera’s 19 years in Major League Baseball. (Kathy Willens / Associated Press)
The L.A. landmark opened in 1952 as the Statler Hotel and attracted such luminaries as President John F. Kennedy and Pope John Paul II. It was demolished earlier this year to make way for a 73-story Korean Air skyscraper, which is expected to open by 2017 and become the tallest building west of the Mississippi. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
A major employer in Long Beach for decades, the aerospace giant said it will close its sprawling plant and eliminate thousands of assembly-line jobs where the hulking C-17 cargo plane is built. The announcement came just a week after Boeing delivered its 223rd and final C-17 to the Air Force. In its heyday, the plant produced some of the world’s most popular airliners, including the DC-3, DC-8 and MD-80. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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Pope Benedict XVI shocked the world when he decided to resign in February. The first pontiff to step down in six centuries, Benedict said, “God told me to.” The 86-year-old pope emeritus blamed his ill health, stating that his strength had deteriorated “to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.” (Domenico Stinellis / Associated Press)
The Los Angeles mayor left in June after eight years in office. Though crime decreased during his tenure, some say he delivered less than he promised. Since his departure, he has taken on an assortment of new roles including being a part-time professor at USC, an advisor to the global PR firm Edelman and two other new gigs with Herbalife Ltd. and Banc of California. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
A few weeks after canceling an upcoming tour due to “creative differences,” the trio -- Nick, Joe and Kevin -- called it quits in October. The stars, who gained fame appearing in Disney TV shows and films, say they will pursue other projects in music and acting. (Rob Kim / Getty Images)
