Welcome to my Derek Jeter website! if you hate him just hit the "back arrow!" but who could hate him?? Derek Jeter is the best player ever. "Good field, good hit, good guy!" said the cover of one well known sports magazine. its true! he is a great hitter in clutch positions, and he does amazing defense plays diving all over the field and in the stands for the ball. Also the magazine said Good guy, and he is one of the best behaved players. Even some of his own teammates took steroids. (Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield) Some took other drugs, such as Darryl Strawberry. He helped Strawberry get off the drugs and back into the game. That might have been inherited from his dad, who is a drug abuse counselor. Anyways, so that is all about why you should choose Derek Jeter is your favorite player.
Derek Sanderson Jeter was born June 26, 1974 in Pequannock, New Jersey. His parents were Sanderson Charles Jeter, an African-American; and Dorothy "Dot" Jeter, an Irish-American. He was the first child, then later they had Sharlee Jeter. When Derek was 5, they moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan. They lived right behind Kalamazoo Central High School, where they could climb over the fence and play baseball, play baseball, and play some more baseball. Jeter's dad was a Detroit Tigers fan, and his mom was a Yankee fan. She made Derek into one, and ever since he was 5, all he wanted to be when he grew up was the shortstop for the New York Yankees. His dad had played shortstop in college, thats why he decided that. He played Little League, and school baseball. He joined the Junior Varsity when he was old enough, but the JV coach knew he wouldnt be able to keep him in the JV. Derek moved up to Varsity, even though he was a freshman. The teams starting shortstop saw him play, and gave up his position. Jeter came in and was throwing so hard the first baseman needed to get extra padding in his glove. He dominated the school baseball team, and received the High School Player of the Year award. Out of all the 50 states, Michigan held the Player of the Year. Out of all the cities in Michigan, Kalamazoo was home to this greatly honored kid. Out of all the schools in Michigan, Derek Jeter's school was picked. Out of all the baseball players in the school---you guessed it! DEREK JETER!! He was the best player of his age in the entire country!! He played with number 13 in highschool, and in the minor leagues, he was all of the following I think. #2, 19, 24.
He got drafted in 1992, and didnt play Major League til 1995. Even then he played only about 50 games or something. He got to play that much because the Yankee shortstop was on the Disabled List. In 1996, he started the majority of the season, because he was the main shortstop. Whether he was the reason for it or not is disputable, but they won the 1996 World Series. They made it to the playoffs, but lost the ALDS in 1997. In 1998, the Yankees rallied big time! They won 125 games, and stomped on the San Diego Padres in 4 easy games. Who knows who let the Padres into the World Series. Probably the Cardinals! hahaha!! The next year they completely demolished the Atlant Braves in 4 easy games. in 2000, they took one extra game to defeat their crosstown rivals, the Mets, in what is known as the Subway Series. Jeter was the series MVP! Earlier that same year, he took All-Star MVP. In 2001, They took 5 games in the ALCS to take the Pennant by beating the Seattle Mariners. They fought to the bitter end in the World Series, but the Diamondbacks managed to take the title away from them after 7 games. in 2003, they squeezed past the hated Red Sox in 7 games. they won 2 World Series games, but dropped it to the Florida Marlins. Notice I say dropped, because thats the only way someone as high up as the Yankees can pass it to any other team. everyone else is so far down. The next part I read, I ask you to please remove your hat in sorrow. Lower the flags to half mast. In the 2004 ALCS, the Yankees smashed out a win in the first game. They smashed out a win in the second game. They smashed out a win in the third game. then, they just... fell on their face. They lost a 3-0 series lead to lose the pennant to the evil Red Sox. Partially because their star closer had a major tragedy occur. Mariano Riveras wifes cousin and brother-in-law were in a pool while cleaning it, when a suspended electrical cable fell in, and they were both killed by electrical shock. The shock caused him to blow a save in one of the games. It was only the third time in 33 chances that he did that. It was a sad day for him. The Yankees didnt make it in 05, the White Sox won. The last World Series win was 2000. Add their managers number (Joe Torre #6) and what do you get? 2006!! They're comin back! :)
Derek Jeter has made several charities. The main one is called the Turn 2 Foundation. The categories of that are: Turn 2 After School, Turn 2 Us Healthy Lifestyle, Turn 2 Proud To Be Me, and Turn 2 Youth in Action. Others are called the Jeter Meter, Jeters Leaders, Staying Smart At the Bay, Smart Moves, NYC Baseball Clinics, Kalamazoo Baseball Clinics, Holiday Kidfest, Endowed Scholarships, and baseball camps.
In high school, Derek received many baseball awards 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 Athlete of the Year and USA Today's High School Player of the Year. He also got an honorable mention All-state.
Jeter was the Yankees number one pick in 1992 (6th overall, since the Yankees picked sixth). He was the first high school player chosen that year and became the third shortstop selected in Yankees history with a first round pick. He played his first full year of pro ball in 1993, and was voted as the Most Outstanding Major League Prospect. He was picked for the Minor League All-Star Game. Baseball America voted him as the South Atlantic League's Best Defensive Shortstop, Most Exciting Player, and Best Infield Arm. He was the minor league Player of thE Year in 1994, and won the MVP for the Florida State League. On May 29, 1995, Jeter played in his first MLB game. He was alongside players like Wade Boggs and Don Mattingly. He only played because Tony Fernandez was injured.
In 1996, the Yankees made Derek their first Opening Day rookie shortstop since Tom Tresh in 1962. He responded to that by hitting an Opening Day homerun, his first homer in the Majors. He ended up the year with the AL Rookie of the Year Award. He helped the Yankees to their first World Series since 1978! Shortly afterward was when he created the Turn 2 Foundation.
Derek Jeter became Captain of the Yankees on my 12th birthday. He was the 11th Yankee to be captain, the last one was Don Mattingly in 1995. He was the first Yankee shortstop/Captain.
Jeter went to the All-Star game in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2006. Thats 7 All-Star Games!! I believe the record is 25 by Hank Aaron. Jeter has the highest All-Star Game batting average at .700. In 2000, he was named All-Star MVP and World Series MVP. It was the Yankees 4th title in Jeters 5 full Major League seasons. Oh and speaking of the All-Star Game dont you think the Yankees are due to host the Midsummer Classic? The only times they hosted it were 1939, 1960, and 1977. Some teams have had it a whole lot of times. If you think the Yankees should host an All-Star Game after all this time, send an email to me at derejketer@lycos.com with the subject Petition, and your first name and last initial. Thanks for supporting the Yankees! If we get a whole lot of names, which we can if you get all your friends to vote, then the Yankee Stadium could very well host the 2009 All Star Game, with their new stadium that will be up by then. 2007, 2008 are already held for other teams. So please, just send a email with your first name/last initial, with the subject petition to derejketer@lycos.com. Thanks again!