The MLB All-Star Game for 2014 will be the 15th and final, for Yankees team captain and perennial All-Star Derek Jeter. Jeter was drafted by the Yankees right out of high school in 1992.
He made his debut in the majors in 1995 and in 1996 became the Yankees starting shortstop and won the AL ‘Rookie of the Year’ Award. Derek has had one of the most stellar careers of any professional athlete of our time.
Before this year’s baseball season got underway, Derek Jeter announced that this would be his last season in Yankee stripes. After leading the team for most of two decades, Derek Jeter is retiring, in style, going out on top. But then Jeter has always been the smart one. After missing most of the 2013 season due to an injury, Derek knew it was time to move on.
Jeter played 2,645 games for the Yankees, got 3,363 hits during 10,786 at bats. He also stole 349 bases, in his younger days. Derek Jeter never played one game of professional baseball for any team other than the New York Yankees.
He became a central figure during the years of the Yankees great success in the late ‘90’s. He became just the 28th player in the history of Major League Baseball to reach 3,000 hits. Oh yeah, 5 ‘Golden Glove’ Awards and 5 ‘Silver Slugger’ Awards.
“Captain Clutch” and “Mr. November” they used to call him, for Derek Jeter seemed to always play his best baseball when the tight post season games came around. He still holds a .351 batting average in World Series play.
But Derek Jeter is much more than just awards and statistics. He has been under media scrutiny since he joined the Yankee organization. He has been much in the limelight seen in the company of movie stars, famous singers and the like.
But Jeter has always kept his cool and to this day opponents and teammates alike will all tell you that he is one of the most consummate professionals they have had the pleasure to play with, or against. Jeter was always a gentleman as witnessed by being named the Sports Illustrated’s “Sportsman of the Year” and receiving the Sporting News “Good Guy in Sports” Award.
So now Derek Jeter will be starting at shortstop for the American League when they take the field in mid July at Minnesota’s Target Field. Remember that the starting position players are selected by the fans while the rest of the rosters are voted on by players and then selected by the All-Star team managers.
So, Good Luck, Derek! It’s been a pleasure!
