The recap of Derek Jeter’s last performance.
______
Last night, the stage was perfectly set: tie game in the home half of the ninth, runner in scoring position.
The finest Yankee of this generation stepped up to the plate for the last time. First pitch, a quick lash of the bat and the ball shot through the hole between first and second base.
A mighty throw from the right fielder was a hair too late, and the Yankees gave Derek Jeter the send-off he deserved.
I’ve never been a Yankee fan, but I’ve always admired Derek Jeter. He debuted 20 seasons ago — an eternity in today’s sports world. His first year was the return of baseball after the players’ strike cancelled the 1994 World Series and stripped the sport of its premier status in America.
Through the controversies of banned substances and the overall grind of 162-game season after 162-game season, #2 in Yankee pinstripes has constantly delivered consistent excellence, while always respecting the game.
Although his individual honors are numerous, he’ll be most remembered, as he would have it, for winning five World Series and restoring the Yankees to greatness.
When he announced that 2014 would be his final season, the campaign became another farewell tour, much like what happened for Mariano Rivera last year. Advertising campaigns for Jeter followed us everywhere, especially in NYC, where there was widespread demand for #RE2PECT to the Yankee shortstop.
Jeter’s career was certainly admirable, but his on-field performance began to slip as he inched toward the age of 40. While we clapped and stood in appreciation, much of it was with askance looks and perfunctory hollowness. That all changed last night.
What A Career
Jeter’s career began in 1995, which was the beginning of baseball’s “steroid era.” Baseball players grew into bodies that looked more appropriate for pro wrestlers, and they sent homers out of parks in droves. Jeter remained long and lean, with movie star looks and a focus to get on base, with hits and walks.
While he peaked at 24 home runs in the ‘99 season, he had seven seasons with 200+ hits and finished his career with a .377 on-base percentage.
Shortstop in the American League was perhaps the most talent-deep position in the 1990s. Jeter made his debut after Baltimore’s Cal Ripken reached the level of “that unreachable star” by establishing the new games-played record, overtaking Yankee great Lou Gehrig.
Cleveland had the unreal Omar Vizquel, who won nine straight Gold Gloves while making “SportsCenter” highlights every freaking morning. Even Alex Rodriguez took the award twice before Jeter won in 2004, the year A-Rod moved to third when he joined the Yankees.
So many great years and so many great moments — what was his secret? He went out every day and had fun.
Hall of Fame catcher Roy Campanella once said,
You gotta be a man to play baseball for a living, but you gotta have a lot of little boy in you, too.
There was joy in his swings and strides, yet he never really showed too much emotion on the field. In an era when showboating and primal instincts make sports like blockbuster movies, Jeter never showed up the game or his opponents.
Can anyone remember seeing Derek Jeter argue with an ump or blow up on a teammate? Few modern athletes can say they played with grace, but Jeter sure did.
Baseball is the first American spectator sport, this nation’s longtime passion. It is also the one sport where consistent effort and results often trump superior, but fleeting efforts.
What makes Jeter special is his overall game, where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, year after year.
October became the greatest stage in Jeter’s career, as he excelled in the postseason. He started his career by making the World Series in five of his first six full seasons, winning four times and delivering in those games.
Jeter’s greatest defensive gem, the shovel throw to get Jason Giambi in Oakland, came in the 2001 postseason. Even when Arizona came back to win the emotional 2001 Series, Jeter got it done at Yankee Stadium and earned the nickname “Mr. November.”
He spurred the 2009 run and looked very happy for his teammate, A-Rod, who finally won a world championship.
The Moment
I was at work on Thursday night with a dead cell phone and didn’t give Jeter’s final game much thought. Once I got home and threw my phone on the charger, I received updates of the night’s proceedings, while watching the Giants finish pummeling the Redskins.
I jumped on Facebook to find the video of Jeter, and it was entrancing. I have to give it to Michael Kay, the Yankees television voice, for largely remaining quiet after the run crossed the plate, honoring the moment and allowing us to soak it in.
The fans, who paid all that money to be there, and all of Jeter’s teammates — even the vanquished Orioles — all stood to honor the great player in his moment. Jeter took the time to thank his teammates, coaches and managers, before they insisted that he take a victory lap.
The moment was a showering of gratitude for the gracious captain and his years of faithful service, and for setting the major league record for most games played at one position for one franchise.
For me, the highlight was seeing Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Rivera standing by the dugout, cheering on the last active member of the Core Four.
Last night was a great return to the reason why so many of us fall in love with baseball as kids. The sport is based on the success against long odds and expected failure; it’s a game where anything can happen and no lead is truly safe.
For a guy who played the game right and never allowed controversy to trip him up, it was a fitting ending to a Hall of Fame career. Thank you, Derek Jeter. Hats off for all you have done.
________
About the author
Marco Cerino works in sports and is a man of many talents and passions. He enjoys walking around cities, drinking craft beers, and watching his Philadelphia sports teams. A 2007 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, he hopes to better understand humanity everyday and that his enjoyment of learning never wanes.
________
This article originally appeared on Elite Daily.
Derek Jeter was his generation’s Joe Dimaggio. Someone who’s persona and popularity transcended just fans of baseball. No one will be able to figure out how many casual or even non fans (especially female) attended Yankee games just to witness #2 in action. As a little league coach trying to teach youngsters the proper way to play the game, it was easy to point to #2 and say “watch him”. Several years ago Sports Illustrated magazine polled all the players in MLB asking them to rate the best players in each position. Jeter only received 17% of the vote, but… Read more »