Legendary Yankees captain Derek Jeter went 5-5 and recorded his 3,000th career hit with a third inning home run to lead New York to a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays Saturday afternoon in the Bronx.
Jeter, the 28th player in baseball history to reach the 3,000 hit plateau and, at 37 years and 13 days old, the fourth youngest to do so, even managed to slap the game-winning single in the eight inning.
"If I had tried to write it and given it to somebody, I wouldn't have even bought it, to be quite honest with you," Jeter said to ESPN.com. "It is just one of those special days. I've been lying to you guys for a long time saying I wasn't nervous and there is no pressure. There was a lot of pressure to do it here."
Jeter, a twelve-time All Star selection who Sports Illustrated named their 2009 Sportsman of the Year, made his Major League debut as a shortstop in 1995.
The following season, Jeter captured the Rookie of the Year Award and helped the Yankees win their first World Series championship since the 1978 season.
The 1996 campaign ultimately proved to jumpstart the team’s late-1990s dynasty that saw the Bombers triumph in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
Despite the five crowns and innumerous accolades amassed playing in the media capital of the world, Derek Jeter has always remained the personification of class and professionalism on the diamond and the definition of a role model off the field.
Jeter, the only ballplayer to win both the All-Star Game and World Series MVP in the same year in 2000, has also scored with more women than Warren Beatty, George Clooney and Dylan McKay combined.
Excluding Michael Jordan, it is fair to proclaim that Derek Jeter is the most famous athlete of the past quarter-century.
Nevertheless, Jeter is so humble, diligent, team-oriented and genuinely likable that it’s somewhat difficult to comprehend his legacy and place it in perspective.
"I don't think you could have scripted it any better,'' said Yankees Manager Joe Girardi. “This one is already movie-ready.''
A twitter account (http://tweeting.com/guide-to-derek-jeters-quest-for-3000-hits-on-twitter), titled Guide to Derek Jeter’s Quest for 3000 Hits, was established in May.
Since that time, the account has accumulated approximately 11,000 followers.
Considering Jeter is now officially the first Yankee in team history to tally 3,000 hits, one can expect the account will soon be deleted.
Life is constantly in motion and public figures, and particular moments, come and go like pigeons in a storm.
Uniquely, Derek Jeter is a “movie-ready” immortal and July 9, 2011 was “just one of those special days” that will forever live in baseball lore.
Keywords: Derek Jeter, New York Yankees
