Derek Jeter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| New York Yankees — No. 2 | |
| Shortstop | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Major League Baseball debut | |
|---|---|
| May 29, 1995 for the New York Yankees | |
Derek Sanderson Jeter (born June 26 1974) is a 7-time All-Star shortstop for the New York Yankees, and the team's leader and captain.
He has won the American League Rookie of the Year Award, the All-Star and World Series MVP Awards and three Gold Glove Awards.
With a .317 batting average, Jeter ranks 6th highest in lifetime batting average of all active baseball players. He has been in the top 7 in the American League in both hits and runs scored for 9 of the past 10 years. So far in the 2000s he is 2nd in the major leagues in hits (927), 6th in runs (551), and 15th in batting average (.311).
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[edit] Early life
Derek Jeter was born in Pequannock, New Jersey, to Charles and Dorothy Jeter. The family lived in North Arlington, New Jersey until he was 4, then moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan, when he was 5.
Jeter was a star baseball player at Kalamazoo Central High School, where he also played basketball, earning an All-State honorable mention. After batting .557 as a sophomore, Jeter hit .508 (30-59) with 4 HR, 23 RBIs, 21 BB, and only strikeout his junior year. He got on base 63.7 percent of the time. Jeter collected many awards at season's end, including the Kalamazoo Area B'nai B'rith Award for Scholar Athlete, the 1992 High School Player of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association, the 1992 Gatorade High School Player of the Year Award, and USA Today's High School Player of the Year.
Although Jeter received a baseball scholarship to attend the University of Michigan, he was drafted by the New York Yankees with the 6th overall pick of the 1992 amateur draft and chose to go pro. Jeter has said though that he will eventually go back to college and earn a degree.
Jeter spent 4 years in the minor leagues, beginning in the Rookie League before advancing to Class A. He spent 2 years there (his first year wasn't the best by the look of his stats), collecting various awards, including Most Outstanding Major League Prospect of the South Atlantic League in 1993<ref>Nick Acocella (2001-10-13). Jeter always in position to win. ESPN Classic.</ref> and Best Defensive BUGG Shortstop. Jeter was also voted by Baseball America as the South Atlantic League's Best Defensive Shortstop, Most Exciting Player and Best Infield Arm.
In 1994 he was named the Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America, The Sporting News, USA Today Baseball Weekly, and Topps/NAPBL after hitting .344 with 5 HR, 68 RBIs and 50 stolen bases combined at Triple-A Columbus, Double-A Albany, and Class-A Tampa. He was also named the MVP of the Florida State League.
[edit] Professional career
Jeter has played a key role in the Yankees' success since 1996. Jeter is one of four current veterans (the others are Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams, and Mariano Rivera) who came up through the Yankees organization, and has played his entire professional career with the Yankees.
Jeter, Nomar Garciaparra, and Alex Rodriguez were considered the top three shortstops in the game during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Jeter is the only one of the three who is still playing shortstop and still remaining on his original team.
On May 29, 1995, Jeter made his debut in the Major Leagues against the Seattle Mariners in the Seattle Kingdome. He got his first major league hit the following day off of veteran pitcher Tim Belcher, and started 13 games before being sent back down to the minors.
He returned on Opening Day of the 1996 season as the starting shortstop and hit his first major-league home run on that day. He played his way to a successful rookie season, hitting for a .314 batting average, 10 home runs, and 78 runs batted in and subsequently earning Rookie of the Year honors.
In 1999 Jeter led the AL in hits (219), and was 2nd in the league in batting average (.349) and runs (134).
In 2000, Jeter became the first player ever to win the All-Star Game MVP award and the World Series MVP Award in the same year.
The beginning of the 2004 season saw Jeter mired in a mysterious slump; on May 25, he was hitting only .189. This included a career-long 0-for-32 skid in April. In June, however, Jeter caught fire. He hit nearly .400 for the month and set a personal best with 9 home runs. He finished the season with a respectable .292 average and 23 home runs, the 2nd most of his career.
In 2005 he was 2nd in the AL in runs (122), and 3rd in the league in at bats (654) and hits (202).
In 2006 Jeter was 2nd in the league in batting average (.343) and runs scored (118), and 3rd in hits (214). He finished second in American League MVP voting to Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins (320 points to 306 points).
As of 2006, Jeter has a career .314 postseason batting average with 17 home runs and 48 RBIs as well as reaching base in 105 of 119 postseason games. He has a record 150 career postseason hits, and also holds records for most postseason singles (108), at-bats (478), runs scored (85) and strikeouts (92). On August 22nd, 2006, Jeter became the all-time Yankee leader with his 1,570th single.
[edit] Clutch play
Jeter is often considered to be one of the most clutch players in all of Major League Baseball, especially in the postseason<ref>Tom Robinson (2001-10-05). Yanks' Jeter shows again he's the real Mr. October. The Virginian-Pilot.</ref><ref>Nick Acocella. The Hunt for Mr. October. MSNBC.</ref><ref>Ronald Blum (2001-10-04). October is Jeter's time. Associated press.</ref>; he has a .314 career postseason batting average, as well as a .370 career American League Division Series batting average in 46 games, 150 career postseason hits, and 85 career postseason runs scored.
On October 3, 2006, Jeter became the 6th player in Major Leagues history to have 5 hits in a playoff game, leading the Yankees to an 8-4 Game 1 victory over the Detroit Tigers. Jeter hit two doubles and a homerun, and scored three runs.
[edit] The Flip
Jeter has made a series of spectacular plays both in the field and at the bat, especially in the 2001 postseason. Perhaps the most memorable of which took place in Game 4 of the 2001 American League Division Series vs. the Oakland Athletics. With Jeremy Giambi on first-base, Oakland right-fielder Terrence Long hit a double off of Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina into the right-field corner. As Giambi rounded third and headed for home, Yankees right-fielder Shane Spencer retrieved the ball and made a wild throw intended for Yankees catcher Jorge Posada. Instead, the errant throw missed the cutoff man Tino Martinez and dribbled up the first baseline, where Jeter came out of nowhere to grab the ball and flip it to Posada, just barely beating Giambi to the plate. Facing elimination, the Yankees went on to win the game 1-0, as well as the series. Here is FOX announcer Thom Brennaman's famous call:
Downstairs and down the right-field line. Giambi on his way to third, and they're gonna wave him around! The throw misses the cutoff man--shovel to the plate! Out at the plate! Derek Jeter with one of the most unbelievable plays you will ever see by a shortstop!<ref>Jeter's "The Flip". iFilm (2006-08-15).</ref>
Later in that same postseason, after hitting a game-ending homerun off of Byung-Hyun Kim in Game 4 of the 2001 World Series, the first Major League Baseball game ever to be played in November, Jeter was given by many the nickname of "Mr. November."
The play was later voted #7 in Baseball Weekly's 10 Most Amazing Plays of all-time.<ref>Baseball's most amazing plays. USA Today (2002-07-24).</ref>
[edit] The Dive
Another perhaps even more spectacular play was made by Jeter during a July 1, 2004, game against the rival Boston Red Sox. In the top of the 12th inning, with the score tied at 3, the Red Sox had the bases loaded with 2 outs and right fielder Trot Nixon up at bat. Nixon hit a pop fly down the left field line, which looked like it would land right in between Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and left fielder Ruben Sierra for a 2-run single, when Jeter came out of nowhere and made a sprinting over-the-shoulder catch before his momentum sent him diving into the left field seats, leaving him with a bruised and bloody face. The Yankees went on to win the game in the bottom of the 13th inning on the strength of a ground-rule double from backup catcher John Flaherty, and complete a 3-game sweep of the Red Sox.<ref>Nobody performs under pressure like The Captain -- Derek Jeter. Sports Illustrated (2004-07-09).</ref>
[edit] Awards
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[edit] Yankee captain
The Yankees named Jeter the 11th captain in Yankees history on June 3, 2003, after nearly 10 years without one. He was the first official captain of the team since Don Mattingly retired in 1995. He is in the 6th year of a 10-year contract and made $20.6 million for the 2006 season.
[edit] Criticisms
Jeter's defense has been criticized throughout his career.<ref>Gary Huckabay (1998-04-13). A Subjective Look at Defense. Baseball Prospectus.</ref><ref>Gary Huckabay (2000-08-02). Catching the Damn Ball. Baseball Prospectus.</ref> For years statistical analysts have pointed out that he makes fewer plays than most shortstops.<ref>Rob Neyer (2001-02-07). From the archives: Assessing Jeter's defense. ESPN.com.</ref><ref>Rob Neyer (2002-08-08). Don't believe that Jeter's defense has improved. ESPN.com.</ref> At this point, according to most defense metrics, it's virtually indisputable that on a day-to-day basis, he's a below-average defender, despite the fact that he has won 3 Gold Glove awards.<ref>Jon Weisman (2006-02-03). A glove affair. SI.com.</ref><ref>Brad Marchand (2006-11-02). American Gold. About.com.</ref> The book The Fielding Bible by John Dewan contains an essay by Bill James that explains why Astros shortstop Adam Everett is far superior to Jeter defensively. James writes that, in the past three years (2003-2005), Jeter was "probably the least effective defensive player in the major leagues, at any position."<ref>Dewan, John (2006). The Fielding Bible. ACTA Sports. ISBN 0-87946-297-3.</ref>
He has also been often cited as the most overrated player in Major League Baseball, by critics and by other players.<ref>Jeff Merron. The List: Most overrated athletes. ESPN.com.</ref><ref>SI Players Poll. Sports Illustrated (2005-05-02).</ref>
[edit] Personal life
Jeter's personal life has been a favorite topic in gossip columns and celebrity magazines since his rookie year in 1996. Jeter had a high-profile relationship with pop diva Mariah Carey from 1997 to 1998. Jeter has also dated former Miss Universe Lara Dutta and actress Jordana Brewster, and had an on-and-off relationship with television personality Vanessa Minillo from 2003 until early 2006.<ref>Jason McIntyre (2005-02-14). Derek Jeter: All-Star ladies' man. ESPN.com.</ref> Most recently, Jeter has been linked to actress Jessica Biel.<ref>Biel Dating Jeter?. San Francisco Chronicle (2006-11-16).</ref><ref>The Women of Derek Jeter. ESPN.com (2006-11-18).</ref>
[edit] Turn 2 Foundation
Jeter began the Turn 2 Foundation, a charity organization, in 1996. The Foundation was established to help children and teenagers avoid drug and alcohol addiction, and to reward those who show high academic achievement. The organization's name was chosen, besides the baseball reference to a double play (and Jeter's uniform number), to demonstrate the goal of giving youths a place to "turn to", besides drugs and alcohol.<ref>Turn 2 Foundation Mission Statement.</ref>
[edit] World Baseball Classic
Derek was the starting shortstop for the USA team in the first ever World Baseball Classic. Jeter hit .450 (9/20) for Team USA and scored 5 runs in 6 games. Only Ken Griffey, Jr. (.524) and Cuba's Yoandy Garlobo (.480) had a higher batting average with a minimum of 20 at bats.<ref name="WBCStats">World Baseball Classic Statistics. World Baseball Classic (2006-03-21).</ref> Jeter's exploits earned him recognition as the shortstop selection on the All-Tournament Team. <ref name="WBCAllTourneyTeam">World Baseball Classic All-Tournament Team. Associated Press (2006-03-21).</ref>
[edit] Quotes
- "If you're going to play at all, you're out to win. Baseball, board games, playing Jeopardy, I hate to lose." - Derek Jeter
- "This kid, right now, the tougher the situation, the more fire he gets in his eyes. You don't teach that." - Joe Torre
- "You gotta have fun. Regardless of how you look at it, we're playing a game. It's a business, it's our job, but I don't think you can do well unless you're having fun." - Derek Jeter
- "Hanging out with him sucks because all the women flock to him. Let's see, he's been on the cover of GQ, is rich and famous, hits for average and power, and is a helluva nice guy." - Tim Raines
- "He's a hunk, and I don't even like that word. Women like guys who have a big presence but sort of play it down. It's very appealing." - Kim Basinger
- "He's a natural. Young. Handsome. He can play his ass off, playing shortstop for the Yankees. What more do you want? The fact that he's here in the greatest sports town-greatest city in the world-makes it that much better." - Spike Lee
- "He's basically shy. And I know most people don't see him that way. He's so fluid among people. He knows what he is as far as the matinee idol stuff, and he wears it well. He has no pretenses. He's real. He enjoys himself and makes it easy for others to enjoy him." - Joe Torre
- "He's rather unique for a young man in the 1990s. Endowed as he is with all that talent, all that money and such impeccable manners-that makes him an anachronism. In this era of boorish athletes, obnoxious fans, greedy owners and shattered myths, here's a hero who's actually polite, and that has to have come from good parenting. You can't compare him to Joe DiMaggio, for DiMaggio didn't have bad manners — he had no manners. Where have you gone, man with manners? Here you are, Derek Jeter." - Sportswriter Gay Talese
- "Jeter is a six-tool player. I've never eaten with him so I can't tell you if he has good table manners, but I would imagine he has those too." - Rangers manager Johnny Oates (1999)
- "When he was in eighth grade and was about to switch from parochial school to a public school, we sent him over to the Y to play basketball against older kids as a way of toughening him up. He went, but he took his mother with him." - Charles Jeter (Derek Jeter's father)
[edit] Trivia
- Derek Jeter went 155 plate appearances with the bases loaded before he hit his first grand slam on June 18, 2005.
- Hit his first Major League home run on Opening Day of 1996 off Cleveland Indians pitcher Dennis Martinez at Jacobs Field.
- Recorded his 2,000th career hit with an infield single on May 26, 2006 off Kansas City Royals pitcher Scott Elarton, becoming the eighth Yankee to reach the milestone.
- Currently the second-longest-serving Yankee position player, behind Bernie Williams.
- In 2005, The Sporting News published an update of their 1999 book Baseball's 100 Greatest Players. Jeter was not originally selected, but was ranked at #97 in the updated edition, based on higher career statistical totals.
- Was the first hitter to get a hit in the month of November, a walk-off home run off Byung-Hyun Kim to end Game 4 of the 2001 World Series. He was given the nickname "Mr. November" as a takeoff on Reggie Jackson's nickname, "Mr. October".
- Was named to the World Baseball Classic all-tournament as the best shortstop.<ref>Alyson Footer (2006-03-21). Ichiro leads All-Tourney team. MLB.com.</ref>
- Receives $18.9 million a year in salary, and is the second highest paid endorser in baseball.<ref>Derek Jeter, The Top 100 Celebrities. Forbes.</ref> In 2005, Jeter made $6 million in endorsements.
- Ranked as the "most marketable player in baseball" in a 2005 Sports Business Journal survey.<ref>Mark Feinsand (2005-04-06). Sports Business Daily-Most Marketable players in MLB. MLB.com.</ref>
- Ranked 38th (tied with Julia Roberts) in Forbes' 2005 list of "Top 100 Celebrities".
- Was the cover athlete for Take Two's MLB 2K5 and MLB 2K6 and Acclaim Entertainment's All-Star Baseball series of video games.
- Appeared on "The Abstinence", an episode of the television series Seinfeld along with teammate Bernie Williams.
- Hosted Saturday Night Live in 2001 and dressed up as a woman in one skit with former Yankees David Cone, and David Wells. He played Alfonso Soriano's wife, "Candice Soriano".
- Was the subject of a 2005 segment on the TV news magazine 60 Minutes.<ref>Ed Bradley (2005-09-25). Derek Jeter: The Captain. CBS News.</ref>
- Was voted the most overrated player in MLB in a Sports Illustrated survey of 470 major leaguers in 2006. Ironically, he was also voted MLB's best shorstop in a 2005 Sports Illustrated players' poll.<ref>SI Players Poll. Sports Illustrated (2005-05-02).</ref>
- Has appeared in national ad campaigns for Nike, Gatorade, Fleet Bank, Discover Card, Florsheim, VISA (with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner), Skippy Peanut Butter, Ford Motors, XM Satellite Radio, and Ford Mustang (in 2006, with Spike Lee).
- Endorses a cologne named Driven made by Avon.<ref>Jeter cologne not for those who think Yankees stink. Associated Press (2005-08-01).</ref>
- Holds the record for most singles all-time by a Yankee.
- Is Bob Dylan's favorite baseball player.<ref>Jonathan Lethem (2005-08-21). The Genius of Bob Dylan. Rolling Stone.</ref>
- Is a "huge supporter" of the University of Michigan Wolverines<ref>Jeter Fan e-mail. MLB.com (2005-08-11).</ref> and often attends the annual Michigan-Ohio State football game.<ref>Big game, big names. Associated Press (2005-11-15).</ref>
[edit] See also
[edit] References
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[edit] External links
- Derek Jeter's official web site
- Derek Jeter at ESPN.com
- An Inside Look at Derek Jeter from InsideTheYankees.com
- Yankees.com player page
- Baseball Almanac page
- Baseball Library page
- Baseball-Reference.com - career statistics and analysis
- Corrected Yankee Captains chronology
- Derek Jeter Quotations
| Preceded by: Marty Cordova | American League Rookie of the Year 1996 | Succeeded by: Nomar Garciaparra |
| Preceded by: Albert Belle | American League Player of the Month August, 1998 | Succeeded by: Albert Belle |
| Preceded by: Pedro Martinez | Major League Baseball All-Star Game Most Valuable Player 2000 | Succeeded by: Cal Ripken, Jr. |
| Preceded by: Mariano Rivera | World Series MVP 2000 | Succeeded by: Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling |
| Preceded by: Mariano Rivera | Babe Ruth Award 2000 | Succeeded by: Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling |
| Preceded by: David Ortiz | American League Hank Aaron Award 2006 | Succeeded by: incumbent |
| Preceded by: Miguel Tejada | American League Silver Slugger Award 2006 | Succeeded by: incumbent |
| Preceded by: Don Mattingly | New York Yankees team captain 2003 – present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by: Alex Rodriguez | American League Gold Glove Award 2004 – present | Incumbent |
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