The kid from Kalamazoo, born, June 26th, 1974, came out wearing pinstripes! Derek Jeter was reborn on May 29, 1995, when he debuted with the New York Yankees at 20 years old. In 1996, at Jacob’s field, he would get the start at shortstop and deliver 183 hits, along with 10hr’s, and 78 RBI’s in his first full campaign in the show, earning him Rookie of the Year. The raw but technical hitter, with a certain flare, managed over a .400 batting average through the Division and ALCS in 1996, dropping base hits on the Rangers and O’s like falling leaves in late October. He touched his destiny on October 26, 1996, when the Kalamazoo kid had a hit, run, and RBI in game six, to finish the Atlanta Braves 3-2 and become a New York Yankee World Champion.
On Tuesday, Jeter was overwhelming voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, in Cooperstown, NY, nestled on crystal clear Otsego Lake; with a total one shy of unanimous, 396 out of 397 first place votes. His teammate, Mariano Rivera, pulled a perfect score. It must have been the “Enter Sandman” entrance that made Mo larger than life. The feeling and emotion felt by the fan base at closing time (Mo), were often reproduced in a classic, JD, running to the right, stabbing a grounder with eyes, catching air with his Jordan’s, and heaving a strike to O’Neil, Giambi, or Teixeira, against the grain, but he made it so fluid. His controlled, but at times deliberate bat toss was a trademark I admired. Something everyone can admire are his career stats, the Yankee’s all-time hits leader retired with 3,465 career hits, the sixth most in the history of Major League Baseball. His 3,000th hit was a homer off southpaw David Price, JD has flair for the dramatic!
Who can forget the 2001 season, everyone in the country was with New York. Mike Piazza hit a go-ahead, two run home run in the eighth inning to propel the Mets to a 3-2 victory in the first professional sporting event in New York after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. But, before President George W. Bush walked to the mound at Yankee Stadium wearing a bulletproof vest before Game 3 of the 2001 World Series, there was “the Flip” in Oakland by Jeter in the ALDS, game 3, with Yanks down 0-2 in the best of 5. The Moose, Mike Mussina, gives a up a double down the first base side in the dated Coliseum to Oakland’s Terrance Long, Giambi, rumbling toward home as the throw from right fielder, Shane Spencer, is missed by 2 men; but then Jeter races across the diamond, chalk from his cleats dashes the first base line, with a soft flip to catcher, Posada, and tags out Jason in a split second. Derek’s play in the post season would dazzle us even though his comments after were modest, “I’ve never been one to sit down and sing my own praises, I’m happy it was a big moment for us,” JD said.
Derek was a work and show horse, a Clydesdale, for the Evil Empire’s dynasty. DJ was a part of 7 American League pennants and 5 World Series Championships, while keeping his nose clean in the City that never sleeps. That didn’t mean he didn’t embrace his position as a Yankee he did, overwhelmingly, played the part, why? He was born to play ball.
I remember reading his autobiography, (Great Read) and his parents asking him what he wanted to be when he grew up. He’d say play ball and so he did over everything. He did it through Michigan winters, always picking up the bat feeling a comfortable grip, and tossing a fresh seamed Rawlings ball that cracks a glove in the cold, when others were busy with typical teenage life. His folks pushed him hard and supported his efforts with undaunted faith. They took it serious. The late Boss must have beloved that 6th overall pick in the 1992 draft. My Indians took Paul Shuey with the number 2 overall, tough luck Tribe.
Derek’s career numbers include 1,311 RBI, 260 HR, and a batting average of .310. For a shortstop the Captain, led Yankee teams in an era dominated by steroids. His reputation crossed over to pop culture with his high profile girlfriends like, Mariah Carey and Tyra Banks. He even welcomed a troubled A-rod and his massive 250 million deal to the team with class and embrace as leader does, to play 3rd. And, not once did he mess up, while dominating play at short and leading Yankee teams into the past reincarnations of the ghosts, in a stadium built by Ruth. The 6ht overall pick and 6th overall hits leader, was always focused on becoming a Yankee, letting his 4th grade teacher in on his vision, leaders hold it. He was everything a Yankee, a ball player, and human aspires to be. Who was the Mets fan who didn’t vote him in?
BOO THAT MAN!
BOOOOOOOOO
