Derek Jeter Number 2

     I am a New York Yankees fan. Unabashed since the mid-to-late 1950's. My allegiance started with the good squads of the 1950's and early 1960's. The bad times that followed. Then the revival in the mid 1970's. To somewhat leaner times. Through to now, which might be the emergence of a new group of Yankee stars.

     But the period from 1995 until 2014 stands out above and beyond all of the other eras.
Sure, I idolized Mickey Mantle. Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford were deserved Hall of Fame inductees. Thurman Munson died way too soon and Reggie Jackson was indeed the straw that stirred the drink. And there were Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, Paul O'Neill and Jorge Posada. Alex Rodriguez, too. I marveled at their play day after day.

     As much as I have liked every other Yankee to wear the famed pinstriped jersey, one stands out from the rest. Derek Jeter. The Captain. Number 2.

     Whenever I think of Derek Jeter, my mind automatically fixates on the mellifluous, booming voice of the legendary, long-time Yankee Stadium public address announcer, Bob Sheppard, as he introduced the Yankees' shortstop.  Jeter loved that intro so much that when Sheppard no longer could handle the mike, he still introduced Number 2 to a whole legion of adoring fans based on Derek's wishes. Which kept a link to the past glory of the Yankees alive for another generation to embody.

     On Sunday, the Yankees retired the Number 2 jersey. It now stands proudly in Monument Park in the new Yankee Stadium, along with all of the other retired numbers. So many great Yankees' players have had their jerseys retired that, with Number 2 now out of circulation,  no single digit number will ever be worn again. This is the result of 27 World Championships, far and away the most in MLB history. Another is inevitable; just it is unknown when that might occur. I digress because the Yankees are synonymous with winning, and Derek Jeter epitomizes winning.

     Derek Jeter grew on me with his first game as the full time starter in 1996. It was opening day in then Jacobs Field, the home of the Cleveland Indians. Batting ninth, the 21 year old rookie shortstop hit a hanging slider over the left field wall for a home run, off of aging veteran Indians pitcher, Dennis Martinez. Add in a stellar catch in short left field and he was on his way to garnering American League Rookie of the Year honors.

     Jeter batted .314 in 1996, along with hitting 10 homers and driving in 78 runs. He was not cocky; instead he was confident beyond his years. The addition of this young shortstop to the veteran chemistry on the Yankees led them to win the 1996 World Series in a tremendous comeback against an Atlanta Braves team which boasted three Hall of Fame pitchers.

     The Yankees may not have made the 1996 World Series but for another signature Jeter moment. In Game 1 of the A.L.C.S., he hit a high a high fly ball to the right field wall of Yankee Stadium in the 8th inning. Baltimore Orioles right fielder Tony Tarasco was camped under it, ready to make the catch. Except that a boy from New Jersey,  Jeffrey Maier was his name, stuck his glove over the wall in an attempt to catch the ball. To the dismay of Tarasco and the Orioles, the ball was ruled to be a home run and not fan interference and, naturally, the Yankees won the game due to the heroics of Jeter. And by the way, Jeter bated .417 in that A.L.C.S.

     Being in the playoffs and winning world titles is not an easy thing. It is a cauldron of pressure. Yet in the Jeter years, he played in 16 A.L.D.S., 10 A.L.C.S. and 7 World Series, with his Yankees teams capturing 5 Series wins. During the post-season, he batted .321 overall, collecting an astounding 200 hits.

     Still, it is not simply an accumulation of regular season and post-season hits that made him famous. It was how he played the game and his penchant for being in the right place at the absolute right time.

     In 2000, the city of New York was in a frenzy, at least baseball-wise. Both of its teams, the Yankees and the Mets, made it to the World Series. Game 1 in Shea Stadium was tension-packed. Leading off the game was Derek Jeter. On the first pitch of the game he smacked a home run over the left field wall. Even though a lot more baseball had to be played, it was game, set and match for the Yankees. The Mets were crushed , four games to one. The World Series M.V.P. was Derek Jeter.

     Let's check into Oakland for Game 3 of the 2001 A.L.D.S. The A's Jeremy Giambi was on first base when Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina gave up a double to right field to Terrence Long. Right fielder Shane Spencer overthrew the cut off man and Giambi rushed towards home plate. Out of nowhere, Derek Jeter appeared on the first base side of the field, far removed from his shortstop position. He grabbed the ball and seemingly in one motion flipped it to catcher Jorge Posada who applied the tag to Giambi. Giambi was called out on an unbelievable play. When asked later how he could be so instinctively at the right place for this incredible, game-saving feat to occur, Jeter merely said that the team practiced this during spring training. Sure.

     The Yankees drew the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2001 World Series. While the Yankees would lose the Series in Game 7 in Arizona in a heart-wrenching way, Derek Jeter provided another highlight. On October 31st, Game 4 in New York went into extra innings. The clock had struck midnight and the World Series was being played in November for the first time. It is the 11th inning and Jeter stepped up to the plate, whereupon he deposited a home run over the right field wall to end the game.

     In a town where the New York press gives names to its baseball heroes, Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson was dubbed Mr. October for his home runs in the post-season. Since the game had traveled into a new month, Derek Jeter became known as Mr. November for this game-winning home run.

     July 1, 2004, Yankee Stadium. the arch rival Boston Red Sox are in town. Yankees-Red Sox games are always played at a higher, more intense level than other regular season games. A pop up was hit down the left field line. The only player capable of making the catch was Derek Jeter, running full tilt from his shortstop spot. Jeter indeed made the catch and his momentum caused him to dive headlong into the nearby stands. He came up bloodied and shaken up, continuing to hold the ball in his glove as the umpire recorded the out. The play kept Boston from taking the lead. New York won the game in 13 innings, in no small part due to Derek Jeter. Another incredible fielding play. By no one else--except Derek Jeter.

     September 11, 2009. 8 years after the attacks on this country which destroyed the World Trade Center towers, significantly damaged the Pentagon and led to a plane crashing into a field in Pennsylvania, killing the heroic passengers as well as the terrorists. Emotions are always raw in New York on September 11, the result of the devastation in lower Manhattan.

     On this night, Derek Jeter, drove a third inning pitch from Baltimore pitcher Chris Tillman into the outfield for career hit 2722. With that single, he became the Yankees' all-time hits leader, surpassing Lou Gehrig, who had held the record for 72 years. That night became another part of the healing from the horrible events of 8 years earlier. As only Derek Jeter could do.

     In 2009, batting a robust .409, Jeter and his teammates won the fifth and final ring in his illustrious career. When the Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1, this would be Derek Jeter's final World Series. He continued to play in the post-season through 2012, never again reaching the goal that every Yankees' team seeks to attain.

     July 9, 2011. the Yankees were hosting the Tampa Bay Rays on a Saturday afternoon. Derek Jeter was two hits away from the milestone of 3,000 career hits. The Rays threw star left-handed pitcher David Price at the Yankees. A capacity crowd was on hand in the new Yankee Stadium.

     In the first inning, Jeter stroked a single off of Price. Now at bat in the third inning, Jeter created history with an exclamation mark, mashing a long home run into the left field stands. Not only did Derek Jeter collect his 3,000 hit that day; he went 5-5 in the Yankees' victory. Another signature moment for the Yankees' captain.

     Now it is September 25, 2014. Derek Jeter's final home game as a Yankee. Bottom of the 9th inning, up stepped Jeter to the plate against the the team he liked to torment, the Baltimore Orioles. In what turned out to be his lat at bat at home, in Hollywood fashion Derek Jeter lashed a single to right field, driving in the winning run in a walk off, 6-5 victory. A valedictory moment in an extraordinary career which will obviously land him in the Hall of Fame on the first ballot.

     Twenty years as only a New York Yankee. 3465 hits, historically placing him sixth all time. A lifetime .310 batting average. 13 All Star appearances. Although no American League M.V.P. awards, he would gladly trade that for the 5 World Series titles. Derek Jeter and his number 2 jersey are iconic.

     It was the way he comported himself. The stance. The wave of his hand until he was ready to hit. His unique crouching on deck. Being the first out of the dugout to greet a teammate. The ever-present smile. His leaping throws from shortstop which rarely were errant and usually beat the runner to the bag, thus earning him 5 Gold Gloves. He won 5 Silver Slugger awards for the best batting average at his position. Jeter amassed 11,195 at bats, seventh in MLB history. Rarely injured. Never in trouble on or off of the field. Female fans swooned over him. Yankee Stadium crowds called out his name numerous times. Part of the Core 4--along with  Pettitte,  Rivera and  Posada. Host of Saturday Night Live. The charitable endeavors of the Jeter Turn2 Foundation. Dating models and TV stars. His chiding President George W. Bush before throwing out the symbolic first pitch for Game 3 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium, mere days after the 2011 attack, warning the leader of the Free World to throw from the mound and not to bounce the toss or "they'll boo you."

     This, my friends, is Derek Jeter, A kid born in Pequannock, New Jersey to a mixed race couple, who were highly-educated and very supportive parents. He was raised a Yankees' fan from his summers in New Jersey with his maternal grandparents. A star athlete in Kalamazoo, Michigan who was sought after by his beloved Michigan Wolverines. Friends with the likes of mega star Michael Jordan, both having their own brand of Nike footwear. Worshiped by so many athletes around the country and the world who emulated his mannerisms. As well as adored by countless fans and even those who casually observe baseball.

     Derek Jeter lived the dream and embodied the best of it. Even today, he believes he simply was a ballplayer. To us who have watched him, Derek Jeter was so much more. He has deservedly earned his place in Yankees lore and in MLB annals. For years it was predestined that number 2 would be enshrined on the wall of Yankee Stadium, joining Babe Ruth, Gehrig, Mantle, Ford, Berra, Rivera among the others who have made Yankees baseball history.

     Take a moment to savor the ceremony and to reflect on his legacy. Read his article in the Players Tribune, his forum for athletes to express themselves in words. Watch the moving Budweiser commercial which debuted to coincide with the retirement of number 2. http://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/watch-budweisers-stirring-tribute-to-derek-jeter-as-the-yankees-retire-his-number/

     Most of all, be glad that you were able to see this night and every night that Derek Jeter played for the New York Yankees. He was truly a generational ballplayer. One of the all-time greats.

     Derek Jeter is my favorite all-time Yankee. No question. No doubts. I think you can easily tell this by the tenor of this article.

     Best of all, we get to revisit Derek Jeter and his meaning to baseball in 2020 as he is inducted with the baseball immortals in Cooperstown. I wish we didn't have to wait.