Full Name : Derek Sanderson Jeter
Born : June 26, 1974
Hometown : Pequannock, New Jersey
Height : 6' 3
Weight : 195 lbs
Bats : Right
Throws : Right
Major League Baseball debut : May 29, 1995 for the New York Yankees
Primary Position : Shortstop
Honus Wagner. Barry Larkin. Cal Ripken Jr. Ozzie Smith. These are only a few of the legends that you may be familiar with due to their undisputed success in the majors. Through their profound careers, these players have all shown what it takes to be recognized as some of the greatest shortstops of all time. There is no doubt that these athletes demonstrated tremendous range on defense, exceptional skills at the plate, and durability on the field, which have given them reputations as some of the most respected players in the game. However, within the next few years we may be adding another name to the list. That name will be Derek Jeter.
It is quite obvious that this man has a devout passion for the game, and it certainly did not take him long to adjust to the big leagues. His love for baseball began at an early age, and Jeter claims he can remember as far back as when he was six years old, playing t-ball for his local in-house organization. After putting up an outstanding career at Kalamazoo Central High School, Jeter was selected as the sixth pick in the first round of the 1992 MLB draft by the New York Yankees. Just three years later, he made his MLB debut and played a total of 15 games in a Yankee uniform during the 1995 season. During his first full season in 1996, Jeter made his presence known to fans all across the country, batting .314 with 10 home runs and 78 runs batted in. He went on to win the rookie of the year award, and became the first Yankee rookie in 34 years to start regularly at shortstop.
The Yankees grew to appreciate Jeter's success so much that when superstar shortstop Alex Rodriguez came to the team in 2004, Jeter remained at shortstop while Alex shifted over to third base. This came as a surprise for many, as Rodriguez was inarguably one of the game's best players at the time, not to mention one of the most expensive. Jeter's career as a Yankee has undoubtedly brought success to organization, as it has won four World Series since acquiring him. Derek has also been a three-time gold glove award winner, seven-time all-star, and was even named captain of the Yankees in 2003. He demonstrates leadership off the field as well, as he and his father founded the Turn 2 Foundation in 1996, which is a drug and alcohol awareness group geared towards young children. His impact as a role model no doubt qualifies him as one of the most respected athletes of all-time, and his success as a player earns him a spot as one of the most talented shortstops to ever play the game.
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