Revel in New York
A look at the city through its people
Derek Jeter
Derek Sanderson Jeter
Born: June 26, 1974
Major League Baseball - Shortstop
Career statistics (through 2009)
Batting average - .317
Hits - 2747
Runs - 1574
Home runs - 224
Runs batted in - 1068
On-base plus slugging - .847
Derek Jeter was born in Pequannock, N.J. After spending the early years of his life growing up less than 30 miles away from Yankee Stadium, Derek moved with his family to Kalamazoo, Mich., where he began playing T-ball at the age of 5. Thanks to the influence of his grandmother, he grew up a Yankees fan and idolized outfielder Dave Winfield. Derek would regularly return to New Jersey during the summer to visit his grandparents and attend Yankees games.
He is a Major League Baseball shortstop who has played his entire career (1995–present) for the New York Yankees. He has served as the Yankees' team captain since 2003. Jeter's presence in the Yankees' lineup, highlighted by his hitting prowess, played an instrumental role in the team's late 1990s dynasty, which won four World Series championships.
Jeter debuted in the Major Leagues in 1995, and the following year, he won the Rookie of the Year Award and helped the Yankees win the 1996 World Series. Jeter was also a member of the championship-winning team in 1998, 1999, and 2000. In 2000, Jeter became the only player to win both the All-Star Game MVP Award and the World Series MVP Award in the same year. He has been selected as an All-Star ten times, and he has won the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards on three occasions. He is regarded as a consummate professional, by teammates and opponents alike, and has a reputation as a reliable contributor in the postseason.
During his rookie season Derek established the Turn 2 Foundation to promote healthy lifestyles amongst youth. While sharing a pizza in a Detroit hotel room, Derek announced to his father that he was ready to start his own foundation. Then and there, they laid the plans for the Turn 2 Foundation. The foundation was created with the goal of motivating young people to "turn to" healthy lifestyles and "turn away" from drugs and alcohol. Turn 2 has since awarded more than $10 million in grants to youth programs in West Michigan, New York City and the Tampa-St. Petersburg area.
Jeter is considered to be one of the best players of his generation. He is the all-time hits leader among shortstops and his .317 career batting average through the 2009 season ranks as the fifth-highest among active players. He has been among the American League leaders in hits and runs scored for the past ten years. He is the all-time Yankees hit leader, passing Hall of Fame member Lou Gehrig in 2009.
Source: mlb.com, wikipedia.org
Posted by BronxYankeeGal
Derek Jeter Inspired Me To Start Collecting Baseball Cards
Ok I admit I am a bit obsessed with Derek so I might be justa little bit biased, but I think he is the best baseball player ever. I have had a crush on him since I was 8 and I first started watching baseball with my dad in 1997. I got so into Derek and the Yankees that I decided to get into one of my nerdier but most fun pursuits - collecting baseball cards. I have built a collection of 451 Derek Jeter cards and also have a signed baseball and game-used glove of his. By the time he retires I think he will be considered the greatest baseball player of the last 20 years.