Derek Jeter
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The Yankees of this era will be remembered as Derek Jeter’s team. Yankee dynasties are defined by star players. There were the Yankees of Ruth and Gehrig in the 1920s and 1930s, the Yankees of Joe DiMaggio (1940s), of Mickey Mantle (1950s and 60s), of Reggie Jackson and Thurman Munson (1970s).
Then there are today’s Yankees. Since 1996, they have won four World Series, six American League pennants and played in the postseason 11 straight seasons, a franchise record. Jeter has been with the team through the whole run.
He was named team captain in 2003, and any doubts that this was Jeter’s team were erased when reigning AL MVP Alex Rodriguez came to the club and moved from short to third base.
Jeter made his debut in 1995. He was named as the club’s starting shortstop in spring training in 1996. He went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award and the Yankees won their first World Series since 1978. The Yankees won three of the next four series and went to the Fall Classic in 2001 and 2003.
Jeter was one of several offensive-minded shortstops -- including Rodriguez, Miguel Tejada and Nomar Garciaparra -- who burst on the scene in late 1990s.
Although Jeter has won three consecutive Gold Gloves, some say he lacks the range of top fielding shortstops. He’s shown a flair dramatic, such as his well-known no-look, shovel-pass relay to nail Oakland’s Jason Giambi at home plate in the 2001 AL Division Series.
Jeter’s leadership came under question in 2006 when he was criticized for not doing more for Rodriguez when Yankees fans were booing A-Rod. Fast friends before they were teammates, Jeter’s relationship with Rodriguez has cooled.
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Jeter on the Web
New York Yankees official Derek Jeter page
Web page for Jeter on Yankees site; statistics, bio, photo gallery
Derek Jeter's official site
DerekJeter.com; web page with bio, information on his foundation, photos and video highlights
A video tribute to the Yankees captain
Fan site ultimateyankees.com produced this feature, set to Bob Seger’s “Like a Rock”
Who's Derek Jeter dating?
Who’s Dates Who page with photos of famous babes romantically linked to Jeter.
Derek Jeter's monologue from Saturday night live
A transcript from when Jeter hosted the show in 2001; don’t quit your day job, Derek.
Latest on Jeter
Jeter was having another solid season in 2007, batting well over .300 as the Yankees fought for a wild card spot.
News and Commentary
CBS News profile of 'clean living superstar'
Transcript and video clips from 2005 “60 Minutes” segment on Jeter
A-Rod, Jeter talk about their friendship
Before the 2004 season, Baseball America resurrected this Q&A from 1997
Kalamazoo Kid: Yanks star still cares about hometown
Jeter wrote an essay about growing up in Michigan for SI in 2004
Jeter Says
On New York Fans:
"When you play in New York, you realize that the fans are intelligent; they know the game; and if you play the game hard and show respect for the game, they'll show respect for you."
On his approach:
“You gotta have fun. Regardless of how you look at it, we're playing a game. It's a business, it's our job, but I don't think you can do well unless you're having fun.”
On being a Yankee:
“God, I hope I wear this jersey forever."
“In a perfect world, we’d all be Yankees.”