Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter
A man in a grey baseball uniform with a navy helmet prepares to swing at a pitch
Jeter in 2017
Shortstop
Born: (1974-06-26) June 26, 1974 (age 49)
Pequannock Township, New Jersey, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 29, 1995, for the New York Yankees
Last MLB appearance
September 28, 2014, for the New York Yankees
MLB statistics
Batting average.310
Hits3,465
Home runs260
Runs batted in1,311
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Member of the National
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction2020
Vote99.7% (first ballot)

Derek Sanderson Jeter (/ˈtər/ JEE-tər; born June 26, 1974) is an American former professional baseball shortstop, businessman, and baseball executive. As a player, Jeter spent his entire 20-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the New York Yankees. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2020; he received 396 of 397 possible votes (99.75%), the second-highest percentage in MLB history (behind only teammate Mariano Rivera) and the highest by a position player. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) and part owner of the league's Miami Marlins from September 2017 to February 2022.

A five-time World Series champion with the Yankees, Jeter is regarded as a central contributor to the franchise's dynasty during the late 1990s and early 2000s for his hitting, base-running, fielding, and leadership. He is the Yankees' all-time career leader in hits (3,465), doubles (544), games played (2,747), stolen bases (358), times on base (4,716), plate appearances (12,602) and at bats (11,195).[1] His accolades include 14 All-Star selections, five Gold Glove Awards, five Silver Slugger Awards, two Hank Aaron Awards, and a 2009 Roberto Clemente Award. Jeter was the 28th player to reach 3,000 hits and finished his career ranked sixth in MLB history in career hits and first among shortstops. In 2017, the Yankees retired his uniform number 2.

The Yankees drafted Jeter out of high school in 1992, and he debuted in the major leagues at age 20 in 1995. The following year, he became the Yankees' starting shortstop, won the Rookie of the Year Award, and helped the team win the 1996 World Series over the Atlanta Braves. Jeter continued to excel during the team's championship seasons of 1998–2000; he finished third in voting for the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in 1998, recorded multiple career-high numbers in 1999, and won both the All-Star Game MVP and World Series MVP Awards in 2000. He consistently placed among the AL leaders in hits and runs scored for most of his career, and served as the Yankees' team captain from 2003 until his retirement in 2014. Throughout his career, Jeter contributed reliably to the Yankees' franchise successes. He holds many postseason records, and has a .321 batting average in the World Series. Jeter has earned the nicknames "Captain Clutch" and "Mr. November" due to his outstanding play in the postseason.

Jeter is one of the most heavily marketed athletes of his generation and is involved in numerous product endorsements. As a celebrity, his personal life and relationships with other celebrities have drawn the attention of the media.[2]

  1. ^ "Derek Jeter Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  2. ^ Bryant, Howard (May 7, 2013). "New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter's greatness goes beyond the numbers". ESPN The Magazine. ESPN. Retrieved August 19, 2014.