A worthy tribute to a great player. There are so few players who spend a career with a team, like Jeter with the Yankees. Two decades with the Bronx Bombers and plenty of great memories watching his amazing play sure justify retirement of #2 in my estimation. Congrats to Mr. Jeter & to the Yankees.
1
Three cheers for Derek Jeter! Sure thing. But one, must resort to boyish good looks, flashy fielding and umpteen plate as appearances to figure out why his star shines so much brighter in the public and sportswriter's eye than that of Jorge Posada who has an OPS notably higher than Jeter's and finer postseason stats and highlights.
Too many numbers are retired. Jeter well deserves his special place. Joe Torre? As a player he was a Brave, Cardinal, Met. As a manager, a Met, Brave, Cardinal, Yankee, Dodger. Billy Martin? Must I go on!? Reverence is lost in this constant Yankee self-promotion. It's as if the team is owned by Trump!
1
Jeter is best, like DiMag before him, at protecting his own legacy. Petty. Vindictive.
"Team-first" guy as long as he hits lead-off and plays short, even when no longer contributing. Captain of Sado and the clique. Sells out every teammate he didn't like personally; protects those he did. Utters generic condescending banalities and watches reporters use them to elevate him as though he's Gehrig. Then opens a website designed to skirt the press that protected him.
Great on the field, hypocrite off.
Oh yeah, he fits in perfectly as an owner.
"Team-first" guy as long as he hits lead-off and plays short, even when no longer contributing. Captain of Sado and the clique. Sells out every teammate he didn't like personally; protects those he did. Utters generic condescending banalities and watches reporters use them to elevate him as though he's Gehrig. Then opens a website designed to skirt the press that protected him.
Great on the field, hypocrite off.
Oh yeah, he fits in perfectly as an owner.
2
Integrity instead of scandal. Performance rather than boasting. Analysis rather than excuses. Team leadership rather than hotdogging. Liked and respected by fans, teammates and opponents alike. Traits not common among highly paid sports stars. He deserves all the honors that can be bestowed on him.
1
I prefer the old days when Yankee greats were given a number of years in retirement before their numbers were retired and they were honored with plaques in monument park at the Stadium. Let the legend grow and the memories be enhanced by time. It makes for a more special ceremony when the time comes. And it magnifies the career achievements of those being honored.
2
Can I amplify on this? After the first HOF election in 1936 (Cobb, Ruth, Wagner, Johnson, Mathewson) and until 1962, no player was elected to the HOF in his first year of eligibility. That includes Joe DiMaggio, who didn't get in until his third year. Even after '62 there were players whose failure to get in their first time on the ballot now seems inexplicable, like Yogi (3-time MVP, 10 rings, etc.). There were probably several reasons for this pattern, but among them -- and part of having to
wait 5 years to be on the ballot -- is surely this idea that recognizing and celebrating truly historic achievement takes enough hindsight and distance.
For the post-retirement celebration to be this automatic seems to cheapen it. On the other hand, ever since Gehrig, it's more and more become SOP, everyone expects it, and it's built into the marketing machine.
What bothers me the most, though, is Steinbrenner having the biggest display -- give the guy credit, they won 7 WS under him, he belongs in there, but hey, more prominent than the players? More prominent than the Babe? Really?
wait 5 years to be on the ballot -- is surely this idea that recognizing and celebrating truly historic achievement takes enough hindsight and distance.
For the post-retirement celebration to be this automatic seems to cheapen it. On the other hand, ever since Gehrig, it's more and more become SOP, everyone expects it, and it's built into the marketing machine.
What bothers me the most, though, is Steinbrenner having the biggest display -- give the guy credit, they won 7 WS under him, he belongs in there, but hey, more prominent than the players? More prominent than the Babe? Really?
1
Undeniably a pro's pro. One in a lifetime.
6
To the many fans who endured George Steinbrenner, his inclusion here taints the glory that this weekend's number retirement of Derek Jeter should be. Though they certainly had a conjoined history, Derek exemplified will, talent and grace while Steinbrenner's legacy is of a wannabe athlete, soldier and mensch's inelegance. Luckily, Mr. Jeter's legacy will last forever just as no amount of spin can elevate his boss from buffoon. Thank you Captain our captain ...
3
All sports and all of us would be better off if they had more players comport themselves as did Mr. Jeter. Honors are well deserved.
6
He will always be a true Yankee.
3
A one long year goodbye wasn't enough? And Jeter insisted on Mother's Day thereby ruining the day for all our mothers we would've taken to the game BUT are now effectively priced out. Thanks a lot Jeter!
2
A plaque and retired number hardly seems like enough to honor one of the truly great sportsmen of a generation. The Yankees should build a temple shrine in Derek Jeter's name. Maybe a few of them.
Besides being a great player, Jeter was loyal, a gentleman, a sportsman, an ambassador and all around great guy. You would be hard pressed to find any fan of any team anywhere who would say something negative about him.
Besides being a great player, Jeter was loyal, a gentleman, a sportsman, an ambassador and all around great guy. You would be hard pressed to find any fan of any team anywhere who would say something negative about him.
5