Last week, an era of baseball ended as one of the greats retired after a legendary 19-year career. With a .310 batting average, 3,465 hits, 260 homeruns and 1,311 RBIs, the 14-time All-Star, 5-time World Champion and 5-time Gold Glove winner, New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter said goodbye to baseball.
On Sept. 25, Jeter played in his last Major League Baseball game at Yankee Stadium. A game where a walk-off single in the bottom of the 9th, hit by none other than Jeter himself, scored Antoan Richardson from second base and gave New York a 6-5 victory in Jeter’s final home game. This provided fans with something to talk about for years to come: Jeter’s farewell walk-off. How fitting for a man of his stature. You couldn’t write a better ending to this story.
Jeter announced at the beginning of the 2014 season he would be retiring after the conclusion of the season. I couldn’t believe it, The Captain, what would baseball do without him?
The league has treated Jeter’s last seaon as a farewell tour, giving him gifts of gratitude throughout the year. A kayak, bucket of Maryland crabs, naval hat and other gifts helped them display their respect for Jeter and his mark on baseball.
Since ’95, Jeter has been known as the new kid, the up and comer, and with his .321 batting average in five world series appearances, Jeter is also known as Mr. November and Captain Clutch. I think above all of the nicknames and championships, people will remember Jeter as a true spokesperson for the game, a cavalier of toughness and grit that made baseball better.
Jeter is known throughout the league as someone who made the game something bigger, a player who gave it his all and nothing less and a man who was determined to represent the game he loved with the utmost respect. I mean, why else would they shower him with gifts and acknowledgment on his final 162-game career victory lap?
Because of what he means not only to the game of baseball and the players in his era, but also the players who grew up idolizing him as a Yankee, now hope to treat the game as The Captain did.
The game will miss you, Jeter. So as I say my goodbye, let me tip my hat to you, Captain, and give you the honorable send off you deserve.
#RE2PECT
