What is a legend? According to one description, it’s defined as “a famous or important person who is known for doing something extremely well, especially in a particular field; a professional”. In any sport, the truly incredible ones do more than just play better than the rest; they find ways to succeed that redefine the game. Those players have an instinct for success and an unyielding hunger for winning. A legend is a player who plays the game the way it’s supposed to be played. One who’s idolized by generations both before and after his time. It’s a player that reminds us why we love the game. That player is Derek Jeter.
As the leaves change color, the air becomes colder, and the calendar flips to October, it’s hard not to be romantic about baseball. It’s even harder not to be romantic about Derek Jeter’s final season.
Number 2’s impact on the game goes far beyond the stats. There’s more to Derek Jeter than the 5 World Series Championships, 14 All-Star Selections, 5 Gold Gloves, the first Yankee to reach 3,000 hits; not to mention doing so all at one club. As an athlete, Derek Jeter embodies the American image of sports. Derek Jeter has represented not only the New York Yankees and Major League Baseball, but all of major league sports the way that an athlete should.
One of Jeter’s greatest attributes is one that cannot be calculated into a statistic or acknowledged by a reward; that’s class. Aside from his unblemished legal record, Derek Jeter carries himself with an unprecedented amount of class. He holds himself to a standard that many players in today’s sports world don’t. The iconic name on the front of his jersey serves as an uphold; a reason so many remember the name on the back.
“He is a great example, not only to young kids coming into this organization, but he’s a great example to major league players coming to this organization,” said Hal Steinbrenner of the Yankees organization. “They look at him and I think, pretty quickly, they get ‘This is the way I need to act.’”
Aside from demonstrating a central leadership role on the field, Derek Jeter has played the game in a way that brings the best out of the players around him. His unyielding hunger for victory gives those around him the ability to succeed in the same way.
“Derek makes his team go,” explained Alex Rodriquez. “What happens out there begins with him.”
“This guy is amazing, and he makes the players around him so much better,” said MLB analyst Kevin Millar.
His humility along with his respect for the game has continually gained Jeter the admiration of his opposition as well as his team.
“He has played on the brightest stage in baseball for basically two decades and has represented the game of baseball probably as well as almost anyone who has ever played the game, in the history of the game,” said Tigers manager Brad Ausmus. “And he’s as classy a guy as tough a competitor as I have ever seen. He deserves all the praise that he’s getting.”
“You knew from the start there was something special about him,” said former Yankee manager Joe Torre. “The way he carried himself, the way he played the game. He’s just all about winning.”
There are countless stories of Jeter treating young, up-and-coming players with respect and approval, giving them a feeling of acceptance.
Troy Tulowitzski is just one of those players.
“As a kid, sitting down watching TV with your dad, you always see the Yankees in the playoffs,” said the Colorado Rockies shortstop. “And with the Yankees in the playoffs, you see a guy wearing number 2 that always got the big hit.”
“I have always tried to treat people with respect, because I want to be treated with respect,” Jeter said. “When I came up, I was never treated like a rookie. I was on a team that was going to the World Series for the first time in quite some time. People knew that I had a responsibility and therefore, they treated me as an equal. I’ve always tried to treat people the same way.”
Tulowitzski, along with many other players, wear the number 2 because of the impact Derek Jeter has made on their careers growing up.
Mentally, Derek Jeter is every sports psychologist’s poster-child. Jeter has a mentality that is unbreakable. Watch any tape of his approach in the batter’s box: focused, relaxed, complete concentration. His approach to every swing, every ball, whether spring training or Game 7, is composed. He plays the game as if he’s meant to be on that field, and there’s no doubt he is.
Mr. November, in many people’s mind, defined Yankee baseball for the last two decades. Jeter’s winning mindset and team-orientated attitude helped the Yankees to 5 World Series titles. Any player who spends his entire career, especially one 20-years long, entirely at one club, is destined to be revered. But for Derek Jeter, it’s more than that.
“Derek has always played with a relentless, team-first attitude,” explained Yankees owner Hank Steinbrenner. “And that mindset has helped sustain this organization’s objective of fielding championship-caliber teams year after year.”
“The guy is baseball in New York,” said Twins manager Ron Gardenshire.
Take a look at the recent Derek Jeter Gatorade tribute. With, who else but, Frank Sinatra playing, the video shows Jeter taking the “scenic route” to Yankee Stadium on gameday and the New Yorkers he encounters. The encounters range from young fans exuberated over autographed baseballs, to nervous women shaking the Captain’s hand, to a bartender’s elation when Jeter walks through the bar. Regardless of whether the video was staged or not, and I like to believe it wasn’t, the commercial is a very accurate depiction of the city’s captivating adoration for Jeter.
Whether it’s on billboards, in Time Square, the front of the sports page, or just passing Yankee Stadium, the city is constantly reminded by the iconic #2. Simply put, Derek Jeter encompasses the New York State of Mind.
Yankee great George Steinbrenner said it best, “For those of you who say today’s game can’t produce legendary players, I have two words: Derek Jeter.”
As I sit here tonight, I watch number 2 in pinstripes step up to bat to take the plate one last time in the house that he, himself built, I can only think of one word.
The announcer said, “Well the script is there, the last page is in Derek’s hand.” A moment of complete exhilaration and absolute magic overcomes the entire stadium and all who look onto it. The pitcher winds up, throws. A swing, the ball’s sent deep into right. Richardson goes home, safe at the plate. “Derek Jeter ends his final game with a walk-off single! Derek Jeter; where a fantasy becomes reality. Did you have any doubt?”
Legend.
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