The Captain

While watching the All Star game last night, there was obviously a lot of attention on Derek Jeter.  He got an ovation before his first at bat, when he exited the game, and with each of his hits.  During his first at bat, there was a very clear voice that was shouting, "Overrated!"  The question is...is he?

Usually, I wouldn't let a Yankee take up an entire blog post, but this is no regular Yankee.  This is Jeter.  He spent most of his childhood in Michigan and graduated high school in Kalamazoo.  Although he was a Jersey boy who loved the Yankees, he's given a lot back to the Kalamazoo community.  His Turn 2 Foundation works to get kids and teens involved so they turn to better influences and lives.  Anyone who invests in a community who helped him develop as a person is someone that I can respect.  It also has departments in Florida and New York, helping inner city kids in multiple states.

Nowadays, you don't see many franchise players.  You see fewer who signed right out of high school.  You see fewer still who spend their entire career with the Yankees.  Baseball players are traded more frequently than the cards that hold their likeness.  Off season, mid season, trade deadline, designation, release...transactions happen everyday.  For one player to stay with one team for his entire career (1992-2014) with the Yankees is amazing.  Yankee fans are demanding and the organization responds by trying to construct a championship team every year.  Jeter fit the bill every year, making himself valuable to a team looking for a World Series title.  He was a shortstop for his entire career, a demanding position that requires agility, strength, and leadership.  Most guys don't make it their whole career at shortstop.

Jeter helped his team to win five World Series championships, becoming the MVP of the WS in 2000.  He made appearances in 14 All Star games (out of 20 seasons...that's 70% of the time).  He has five Gold Gloves and Silver Sluggers and was the Rookie of the year in 1996.  He probably has multiple houses just to keep all his awards.

What's more, Jeter has been the captain of the Yankees since 2003.  That's not a title that is given out freely and not very many MLB teams advertise an official "captain."  Jeter's name is synonymous with the Yankees and it's hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.

Do we even have to talk about his numbers?  His career batting average is .311 with over 3,400 hits and 258 home runs.  Not only are his numbers great, but he's consistent.  He doesn't have one fantastic year and a bunch of fair ones.  No, he seems to have a great season every year.

There's no doubt that he will be elected to the Hall of Fame, it's only a matter of if it's the first year or second year of eligibility.  His number (2 for those new to baseball) is sure to be retired with many other single digits at Yankee Stadium.  Every stadium he's visited this year has celebrated him as if he was their own.  He's not just a New York figure or a baseball figure...he's a sports figure with the likes of Tiger, Jordan, and Namath.  He's also not bad to look at (see here) and has dated some pretty high profile women.

So, is he overrated?  No, he's not.  Did Derek prove that guy wrong?  Ya, by hitting a double immediately.  Wainwright might have admitted to serving Jeter a lollipop, but it's still a way to go out.  Congrats, Cap.  You will be missed by this Tigress.