It’s the end of an era. The Captain officially played his last home game as a member of the New York Yankees on Thursday. Derek Jeter, 40, ended the game as he started: with an bang.
With an ending that felt like it was scripted in Hollywood, the New York Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles 6-5 behind Jeter’s walkoff single in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Jeter finished the game 2-for-5 with three RBIs, one run scored and over 50,000 fans watching live as he walked off Yankee Stadium victorious for the final time.
He has been a Yankee mainstay since he was a baby-faced 21-year-old and played 15 games in the 1995 season. Jeter will likely finish sixth all-time in hits with close to 3,500 and five World Series championships.
Jeter ended up playing 157 games in his second season, won his first World Series championship and was named Rookie of the Year. Just a few years later, the Yankees won back-to-back World Series championships, and Jeter was in top form.
His offensive production from the shortstop position set the standard in the MLB, and his athletic defense proved the Captain could do it all. His 1999-2000 season was one of his best and saw Jeter hit .349 with 24 home runs, 102 RBIs and 19 stolen bases.
Off the field, Jeter has been the standard young ballplayers were supposed to emulate. He has been described universally as a role model and someone who transcends an era.
Despite having legendary offensive players like Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Yogi Berra and Reggie Jackson play for New York, Jeter is among the Yankees’ all-time leaders in hits, batting average, RBIs, doubles, triples, at-bats and stolen bases.
Jeter is the closest thing to an institution that the game has seen in the past 20 years. Numerous commercials were made to commemorate his retirement with slogans like Re2pect headlining.
The Yankees have been officially eliminated from playoff contention this year, so we won’t get another chance to see Mr. November go for one final run. However, New York ends its season with a three-game road series against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
In a perfect twist of fate, Jeter will finish his career against the Yanks’ archrival and gets a chance to burn the Red Sox one last time.
Cherish these last few games, because there will never be another Derek Jeter.
_______________
Follow Roberto Payne on Twitter @*HouseofPayne555*
