Derek Sanderson Jeter ( /ˈdʒiːtər/; born June 26, 1974) is an American baseball shortstop who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees. A twelve-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion, Jeter's clubhouse presence, on-field leadership, hitting ability, and baserunning have made him a central figure of the franchise during the Yankees' success of the 1990s and 2000s.[1] Due to his impact on the team, he has served as the Yankees' team captain since 2003.[2] He is regarded as a consummate professional by teammates and opponents alike,[3] and has a reputation as a reliable contributor in the postseason.[4]

Jeter was drafted out of high school by the Yankees organization in 1992, and he debuted in the Major Leagues in 1995. The following year, he became the Yankees' starting shortstop and won the Rookie of the Year Award. In addition, Jeter's achievements include four Silver Slugger Awards, five Gold Glove awards, All-Star Game MVP Award, World Series MVP Award, and membership in the 3,000 hit club.

Many players and coaches consider Jeter to be one of the best players of his generation.[5] He is the all-time hits leader among shortstops,[6] 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 (AL) leaders in hits and runs scored for the past ten years. He is the all-time Yankees hit leader, having passed Hall of Fame member Lou Gehrig in 2009.[7] Sportswriters anticipate that Jeter will be inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame following his playing career.[8]

Contents [hide]
1 Early life
2 Baseball career
2.1 Minor leagues (1992–1995)
2.2 Major leagues (1995–present)
2.2.1 1995–1998
2.2.2 1999–2002
2.2.3 2003–2007
2.2.4 2009–present
2.3 World Baseball Classic
3 Player profile
3.1 Postseason performance
3.2 Defense
4 Career highlights
4.1 Awards
5 Career statistics
5.1 Footnotes
6 Career statistical highlights
7 Milestones
8 Personal life
9 Appearances outside of baseball
9.1 Philanthropy
9.2 Endorsements
9.3 Other appearances
10 See also
11 References
12 External links

Early lifeJeter was born in Pequannock, New Jersey in 1974. His father, Sanderson Charles Jeter, Ph.D., a substance abuse counselor, is African American; his mother, Dorothy, an accountant, is Caucasian and of Irish/German descent.[9] Charles and Dorothy met while serving in the United States Army in Germany.[10][11] His father played shortstop at Fisk University in Tennessee.[12] Derek has one sister, Sharlee, who is five years younger and was a softball star in high school.[10]

Jeter with his boyhood idol Dave Winfield at Dodger Stadium, June 2010.The Jeters lived in North Arlington, New Jersey, before moving to Kalamazoo, Michigan, when he was four years old.[1] As a child, Jeter and his sister lived in Michigan during the school year and spent their summers with their grandparents in New Jersey. Jeter became a passionate fan of the Yankees, his future team, when his grandparents took him to Yankees games.[1][12] Jeter became inspired to play baseball by watching Dave Winfield play with the Yankees.[13]

In high school, Jeter was a star baseball player at Kalamazoo Central High School, where he also played basketball, earning an All-State honorable mention. In 2003, Jeter was inducted into the Kalamazoo Central High School Athletic Hall of Fame.[14]

Jeter had batting averages of .557 as a sophomore and .508 as a junior.[1] As a senior, he batted .508; had 23 runs batted in, 21 walks, four home runs, and 12 stolen bases (in 12 attempts); and struck out only once.[1]

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.[1][15]

Jeter was scouted extensively by Hal Newhouser for the Houston Astros. Newhouser advocated his selection with the first pick of the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft to Astros' management, convinced that Jeter would anchor a winning team.[16] However, the Astros passed on Jeter in the draft, choosing Cal-State Fullerton outfielder Phil Nevin. Jeter received a baseball scholarship to attend the University of Michigan, and the speculation was that he would insist on a salary bonus of $1 million or more to forgo his college scholarship and sign.[16] The Astros signed Nevin for $700,000.[16] Newhouser felt so strongly about Jeter's potential that he quit his job after the Astros passed on him.[17]

Jeter was drafted by the New York Yankees with the sixth overall pick. Though Yankee officials were concerned Jeter might attend college, scout Dick Groch insisted "the only place Derek Jeter's going is to Cooperstown."[18] Jeter chose to turn professional, signing with the Yankees for $800,000.[19]

Baseball careerMinor leagues (1992–1995)Jeter spent four years in the minor leagues, then known as the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues (NAPBL). Jeter began the 1992 season in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League before advancing to the Class-A Greensboro Hornets. Jeter struggled in 1992, batting .202.[16]

In 1993, playing in Greensboro, Jeter collected various awards, including Most Outstanding Major League Prospect of the South Atlantic League.[20] He was disappointed in himself for committing 56 errors in 1993, requiring an extra focus on his fielding.[16] Despite this, Jeter was also voted the South Atlantic League's Best Defensive Shortstop, Most Exciting Player, and Best Infield Arm by Baseball America.[15]

In 1994, Jeter played for the Class-A Advanced Tampa Yankees, the Double-A Albany-Colonie Yankees, and the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, hitting .344 with five home runs, 68 runs batted in, and 50 stolen bases combined. He was honored with the Minor League Player of the Year Award by Baseball America, The Sporting News, USA Today, and Topps/NAPBL.[15][16] He was also named the MVP of the Florida State League.[15]

The Yankees had projected Jeter as their starting shortstop for the 1995 season, but when he suffered a minor injury in the Arizona Fall League, the Yankees signed Tony Fernández to a two-year contract to play shortstop and kept Jeter in Triple-A.[21] The Yankees reportedly offered Jeter the opportunity to work out with the replacement players in Spring Training prior to the 1995 season, but he declined to cross the picket line.[22]

Major leagues (1995–present)1995–1998On May 29, 1995, Jeter made his debut in the major leagues due to injuries to Fernández and Pat Kelly.[21] Jeter batted .234 and committed two errors in 13 games before being demoted to Columbus.[23]

Despite the presence of Fernández on the roster, new Yankees manager Joe Torre announced that Jeter would be the starting shortstop in 1996.[24] He started on Opening Day of the 1996 season as the starting shortstop, the first Yankee rookie since Tom Tresh in 1962 to do so,[1] and hit his first major-league home run on that day. Jeter played his way to a successful rookie season, hitting for a .314 batting average, with 10 home runs, 104 runs scored, and 78 runs batted in. He subsequently earned Rookie of the Year honors.[25] Jeter batted .361 in the playoffs,[25] as the Yankees defeated the Atlanta Braves to win their first World Series championship since 1978.

During the 1996 American League Championship Series, Jeter was involved in what has become a memorable moment in postseason history. During game one, with the Yankees trailing the Baltimore Orioles 4–3 in the 8th inning, Jeter hit a fly ball to right field. As right fielder Tony Tarasco moved to make a play on the ball near the fence, appearing to have a chance to catch the ball, 12-year-old Jeffrey Maier reached over the wall and caught the ball, pulling it back into the stands. Despite Tarasco's protest, the umpires convened and ruled the ball a home run. Replays conclusively showed that, had Maier not interfered, the ball would have fallen in front of the fence and potentially into Tarasco's glove for an out. The Yankees went on to win in 11 innings and eventually won the series, four games to one. The ruling made for the first home run of Jeter's postseason career.[26]

In 1997, Jeter batted .291, with 10 home runs, 70 runs batted in, 116 runs and 190 hits.[25] However, the Yankees lost to the Cleveland Indians in the Division Series.

In 1998, Jeter batted .324, with a league-leading 127 runs, 19 home runs, and 84 runs batted in,[25] for a team that won 114 games during the regular season and is widely considered to be one of the greatest of all time. In the playoffs, Jeter hit only .176 in the Division and League Championship Series, but he excelled in the World Series, batting .353, as the Yankees went on to beat the San Diego Padres in four games.[25]

1999–2002In 1999, Jeter led the American League in hits (219) and was second in the league in batting average (.349) and runs scored (134).[25] Jeter, who, for part of the year, batted third in the lineup, also drove in 102 runs, becoming only the second Yankee shortstop to do so, following Lyn Lary, who drove in 107 runs in 1931.[25] His season totals in batting average, runs, hits, runs batted in, doubles (37), triples (9), home runs (24), slugging percentage (.552), and on-base percentage (.438) are all personal bests.[25] Jeter batted .455 in the 1999 American League Division Series, .350 in the 1999 American League Championship Series, and .353 in the 1999 World Series,[25] as the Yankees defeated the Braves to win another championship.

Jeter making a play against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium.During the 1999 season, Jeter had a confrontation with teammate Chad Curtis. Curtis, an outspoken Christian, approached him about discussing his faith, but Jeter declined. When Curtis approached Jeter again, he became offended.[16] Later in the season, a mid-game bench-clearing brawl with the Seattle Mariners occurred. After the brawl ended, Jeter was seen engaged in friendly chatter with his good friend Alex Rodriguez, who then played for the Mariners. Upon returning to the dugout, Curtis chastised Jeter for being friendly with an opponent during a bench-clearing brawl, which violated an unwritten rule of baseball. After the game, Curtis approached Jeter in the clubhouse, with beat writers present. Jeter commented that this was not an appropriate time for a confrontation. Curtis later apologized.[16]

During the 1999–2000 offseason, the Yankees negotiated with Jeter, tentatively agreeing to a $118.5 million, seven-year contract.[27] Yankee owner George Steinbrenner did not want to set a salary record, delaying until the acceptance of a $143 million, eight-year contract extension between the Detroit Tigers and Juan González. When that proposed deal fell through, Jeter's tentative deal fell through, and he agreed to a one-year deal for $10 million.[27]

Jeter batted .339, with 15 home runs, 73 runs batted in, 119 runs scored, and 22 stolen bases in 2000.[25] He batted only .211 in the Division Series but rebounded to bat .318 against the Seattle Mariners in the Championship Series and .409, with two home runs, a triple, and two doubles in a five-game series against the New York Mets in the World Series,[25] the first Subway Series since 1956.

In 2000, Jeter became the first player to win the MVP award for both the All-Star Game and the World Series in the same year. He also became the first Yankee since Yogi Berra, in 1959, to hit a home run in the All-Star Game.[25]

Before the 2001 season, with one year remaining until he would become eligible for free agency, Jeter signed a $189 million, ten-year contract to remain with the Yankees, making him the second highest paid athlete, trailing only Rodriguez.[27] Rodriguez signed his deal earlier than Jeter, setting a higher market for Jeter's negotiations.[27]

During the season, Jeter batted .311, with 21 home runs, 74 runs batted in, 110 runs scored, and 27 stolen bases.[25] Jeter made a notable defensive play in Game 3 of the 2001 American League Division Series against the Oakland Athletics. With Jeremy Giambi on first base, Oakland right fielder Terrence Long hit a double off Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina into the right-field corner. As Giambi rounded third base and headed for home, Yankees right fielder Shane Spencer retrieved the ball and made a wild throw that missed cutoff man Tino Martinez and dribbled down the first-base line. Jeter came from shortstop to grab the ball and flipped it to catcher Jorge Posada, who tagged Giambi on the leg just before he crossed home plate for the out. Facing elimination, the Yankees went on to win the game, as well as the series. The play, known as "The Flip,"[1] was later voted seventh in Baseball Weekly's 10 Most Amazing Plays of all time,[28] and also won the 2002 Best Play ESPY Award.

After the September 11 terrorist attacks, the baseball season was put on hold. As a result, the start of the playoffs was delayed, and game 4 of the 2001 World Series was played on October 31. The game went into the tenth inning tied at 3–3. At midnight, the scoreboard in center field read "Attention Fans, Welcome to NOVEMBER BASEBALL." This was the first time that any non-exhibition MLB game had been played in the month of November.[1] Moments after this message was displayed on the board, Jeter hit a home run off of Byung-Hyun Kim. The Yankees flashed the words "Mr. November," a reference to Reggie Jackson's nickname, "Mr. October," on the scoreboard.[1] Jeter was 3 for 12 (.250) in November baseball that season, as the Yankees lost the World Series in seven games to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In 2002, Jeter batted .297, with 18 home runs, 75 runs batted in, 124 runs scored, 191 hits, and a career-best 32 stolen bases. He led the majors in stolen base percentage (91.4%), getting caught only three times.[25]

2003–2007
Jeter connects for a hit against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.In 2003, Jeter dislocated his left shoulder on Opening Day when he collided with Blue Jays catcher Ken Huckaby at third base.[29] Jeter, who had never played fewer than 148 games in the prior seven full seasons, was subsequently on the disabled list for six weeks, missing 36 games.[30] Jeter returned to bat .324, losing the batting title to Bill Mueller, who batted .326.

Steinbrenner named Jeter the 11th recognized captain in Yankees history on June 3, 2003, following eight seasons without a captain after the retirement of Don Mattingly in 1995.[2] Dispute over the true count has been noted.[31]

The beginning of the 2004 season saw Jeter mired in a slump; on May 25, he was hitting only .189. This included a personal career record 0-for-32 skid in April.[25] In June, Jeter broke out of his slump. He hit nearly .400 for the month and set a personal best with 9 home runs. He finished the season with a .292 average; 23 home runs, the second most of his career; 78 runs batted in; 111 runs scored; and a career-best 44 doubles, which broke a Yankee single-season record for doubles by a shortstop, besting Tony Kubek's 38 in 1961.[25]

During a July 1, 2004, game against the rival Boston Red Sox, with the score tied at 3 in the top of the 12th inning, the Red Sox had runners on second and third with 2 outs and right fielder Trot Nixon up at bat. Nixon hit a pop fly down the left field line. Jeter ran from his position at shortstop and made an over-the-shoulder catch. In dramatic fashion, he launched himself over the third-base side railing, landing three rows into the left-field seats, and lacerating his chin and bruising his face in the process. Jeter was later taken out of the game. This catch ended the inning, and later the Yankees went on to win the game in the bottom of the 13th inning.[32] For the play, Jeter was awarded Play Of The Year in the This Year In Baseball awards competition, as voted on by fans at MLB.com.[33]

On June 18, 2005, against the Chicago Cubs, Jeter hit his first and only grand slam, after 10 years in the major leagues. At one point, Jeter had the most at bats of any active player not to have hit a grand slam.[34] In 2005, Jeter was second in the AL in both runs scored (122) and batting average on balls in play (.394),[35] and was third in the league in both at bats (654) and hits (202). Jeter won his second consecutive Gold Glove in 2005, as his low range factor rose to 4.76 and ranked second among AL shortstops.

In 2006, Jeter was second in the AL in both batting average (.343) and runs scored (118); was third in hits (214), stolen base success percentage (87.2), and batting average with runners in scoring position (.381); and was fifth in infield hits (26).[36] He finished second in American League Most Valuable Player Award voting to Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins (320 points to 306 points). Jeter finished in the top 10 in the MVP balloting 6 times in his 11 full seasons through 2006 (including also a third-place finish in 1998).[25]

Jeter prepares to bat at Oriole Park in 2007.In 2007, Jeter was third in the AL in hits (203), his sixth season, and third consecutive season, with 200 hits, tying Lou Gehrig. He was also fourth in both at-bats (639) and plate appearances (714), sixth in times on base (276), and ninth in batting average (.322).[25] In the field, he was involved in a career-high 104 double plays.[25]

In 2008, Jeter's slugging percentage was .410, his lowest since 1997.[25] One possible cause was a prolonged slump that he suffered after being hit by a pitch on his wrist.[37] Before the injury, Jeter was hitting .324 with a .774 on-base plus slugging (OPS). After the injury, his batting average dipped to as low as .269 by the end of the month.[25] His offense took an upward turn after May as he hit .322 with a .824 OPS after June 1.[25] Jeter was elected to his ninth All-Star game as the starting shortstop.

Jeter tied Lou Gehrig for the most hits at Yankee Stadium (1,269) with a home run off Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price on September 14, 2008. On September 16, he went on to break the record off of Chicago White Sox pitcher Gavin Floyd. Following the final game in Yankee Stadium history, Jeter made an impromptu on-field speech, thanking the Yankees fans for their support and asking them to pass on their memories from the venue while making new memories at the new Yankee Stadium.

2009–present
Jeter receives his 2009 World Series Championship ringIn 2009, Jeter was named eighth on the Sporting News' list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball by a panel of 100 baseball people, composed of members of the Baseball Hall of Fame and winners of major baseball awards.[38]

For the 2009 season, Yankees manager Joe Girardi switched Jeter and Johnny Damon in the batting order, with Damon moving to second and Jeter becoming the leadoff hitter, based on the rationale that Jeter has a higher on base percentage than Damon, but grounds into double plays more often.[39] Jeter batted .334 (third in the AL), with a .406 on-base percentage, 18 home runs, 30 stolen bases (caught only 5 times), 107 runs scored (in the top 10 in MLB), and 212 hits (second in MLB).[25]

On August 16, 2009, against the Seattle Mariners, Jeter doubled down the right-field line for his 2,675th hit as a shortstop, breaking Luis Aparicio's previous record for the most hits by a shortstop in major league history.[40] Jeter became the all-time hits leader as a member of the Yankees (2,722), passing Lou Gehrig on September 11, 2009. The hit was a single off Baltimore Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman in the third inning.[7]

In the 2009 postseason, Jeter batted .355, including .407 in the 2009 World Series,[25] as he won his fifth World Series championship. He was named Sportsman of the Year for 2009 by Sports Illustrated.[41] Jeter also finished third in the AL MVP voting, behind the Minnesota's Joe Mauer and teammate Mark Teixeira.

The 2010 season was statistically Jeter's worst in many respects.[42] The Yankee captain batted .270 with a .340 OBP and .370 SLG and an Adjusted OPS of 90, his first full season with an OPS+ below 100. However, Jeter did bat .342 in his last 79 at-bats after making adjustments to his swing.[43] Following the season, Jeter won his fifth Gold Glove award.[44] He committed six errors during the season, his lowest total in 15 full seasons.[45] Jeter finished the season 36th on the all time hits list, just one behind Al Simmons.

After the 2010 season, Jeter became a free agent for the first time in his career. He reached an agreement with the Yankees on a three-year contract with an option for a fourth year.[46] The deal was finalized on December 7.[47] Jeter spent the offseason making adjustments in his swing.[48]

On May 28, 2011, Jeter broke Rickey Henderson's franchise record for stolen bases when he stole his 327th base against the Mariners.[49]

On June 13, 2011, Jeter sustained a right calf strain injury and went on the 15-day disabled list, only his fifth trip to the list since he began his career with the New York Yankees and his first since 2003.[50] The Yankees were 14–4 in Jeter's absence.[51] He was voted to start the 2011 All-Star Game,[51] but he ultimately did not attend the game, citing a need to rest from the emotional and physical pressures of the chase for his 3,000th hit, and that he wished to play it safe after his recent DL stint.[52]

Jeter crosses home plate after recording his 3000th hit, his teammates waiting to congratulate him.On July 9, 2011, he recorded his 3,000th career hit, a home run in the third inning of an afternoon game against David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays. Jeter finished the day with five hits in five at bats, the second player to do so the day of achieving the 3,000th hit (the first was Craig Biggio).[53] The last of Jeter's five hits proved to be the game-winning hit. He is the only member of the 3,000 hit club to record all of his hits with the New York Yankees, and one of only two players (the other being Wade Boggs) to hit a home run for his 3,000th hit.[54] Jeter is the second player to reach 3,000 hits as a shortstop (the first was Honus Wagner).[55] Only Ty Cobb, Hank Aaron and Robin Yount were younger than Jeter on the day of their 3,000th hit.[55] Major League Baseball and HBO produced Deter Jeter 3K, a documentary that profiles his path to 3,000 hits which originally aired on July 28, 2011.[56]

Since coming off the disabled list on July 4, Jeter has increased his batting average to .298 for the season.[57] On September 14, Jeter recorded his 150th hit, giving him 16 consecutive seasons with 150 hits, tying him Pete Rose for second, one behind Hank Aaron for the MLB record.[58]

World Baseball ClassicJeter was the starting shortstop for Team USA in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. He hit .450 (9-for-20) and scored five runs in six games. Only Ken Griffey, Jr. (.524) and Yoandy Garlobo (.480) had a higher batting average with a minimum of 20 at bats.[59] Jeter's play earned him recognition as the shortstop selection on the All-Tournament Team.[60]

Jeter started at shortstop for Team USA in the 2009 World Baseball Classic as well. At the start of the tournament, he was named captain of Team USA by manager Davey Johnson.[61] With Team USA, Jeter faced the Yankees at Steinbrenner Field in an exhibition game, the first time he played against the Yankees.[62]

Player profileJeter is considered to be one of the most consistent baseball players of all time. Jeter has only played fewer than 148 games a season once in his career, when he dislocated his left shoulder on Opening Day, 2003. He has an average of 194 hits, 118 runs scored and 23 stolen bases per year over the course of 152 games played.[63]

Though Jeter is a right-handed hitter, his signature inside-out swing, also called the "Jeterian Swing", has driven a large portion of hits up the middle, to center and right field, a trend that has remained consistent throughout his career. He has more home runs to the opposite field (86) than to center or to left, using his swing to take advantage of the short right-field fences at both the old and new Yankee Stadiums.[64]

Postseason performance
Jeter at shortstop in 2007.Jeter is noted for his postseason performances, and has earned the titles of "Captain Clutch", and "Mr. November" due to his postseason heroics.[4][65][66][67] He has a career .309 postseason batting average, and a .351 batting average in the World Series. Except for 2008, the Yankees have been to the postseason every year since Jeter joined the team. Jeter owns MLB postseason records for games played (147), at-bats (559), plate appearances (679), hits (185), doubles (30), runs scored (101), total bases and strikeouts (117). Jeter is also second in triples (4), third in home runs (20), fourth in runs batted in (57), and sixth in base on balls (63) and stolen bases (17).[25]

DefenseDespite winning five Gold Glove awards, Jeter's defense has been the subject of criticism from a number of sabermetricians, including Rob Neyer and the publication Baseball Prospectus.[68][69][70][71] The book The Fielding Bible by John Dewan contains an essay by Bill James in which he concludes that Jeter "was probably the most ineffective defensive player in the major leagues, at any position."[69] A 2008 study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that, from 2002 through 2005, Jeter was the worst defensive shortstop in the Major Leagues.[72] Jeter responded to this criticism by saying "I play in New York, man. Criticism is part of the game, you take criticism as a challenge."[73] The controversy over Jeter's fielding has become a flash point for the debate over whether the analyses