MLB Profile: Derek Jeter - Everyone’s hero - Part-2
Jeter had entered his name in the Major’s leader even in his first year, getting a Rookie of the Year award in 1996 when the Yankees snatched their first World Series since 1978. He maintained his performance in the next year, scoring .291 averages with
70 RBIs, 116 runs and 10 homers.
In 1998, when the Yankees again became the World Series champions, Jeter’s performance kept on stumbling in the entire season. He made .324 with league and career high 127 runs in the regular season but dropped to .176 in the division and League championship
series. However, just like a legendary player he made a perfect rebound in the World Series, taking the Yankees to 4-0 win over San Diego Padres with his .353 averages.
His journey to be one of the best shortstop in the history of the MLB continued in the 1999, as he played a vital role in the Yankees’ another World Series win. His .455 averages in the American League Division Series was one of the best of the season, .350
in the American League Championship Series and .353 in the World Series were also among the chart leader performances in 1999.
He also faced few confrontations with his team-mate Chad Curtis, but he managed to settle the things in a better way, which ultimately forced Curtis to apologise in the later part of the 1999 season.
In 1999 post season, the Yankees offered Jeter $118.5-million seven-year contract, but the things could not get settled and therefore Jeter had to sign a $10-million one year contract. He acted as per the expectation of his fans, and led the Yankees to another
series win in the 2000, scoring .409 against the New York Mets. He commenced two homers, two doubles and one triple to become the first player to win MVP in both All-Star and World Series. He also won the most prestigious award in the Yankees-Babe Ruth Award.
As his contract was about to end before the 2001, the Yankees realised the danger of losing the Jeter and they signed him for ten years with $189-million contract. Jeter played a good season, earning seventh place in the American League with 191 hits and
ninth with .311 averages and sixteenth with .377 OBP.
He did not stop his new creation and earned a name of “Mr. November” from his bullpen, after he launched a tiebreaker homer in the tenth inning off the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Byung-Hyun Kim. The game was played in November because of 9/11 attacks but the
Yankees lost to D-backs in seven games, dropping their fourth straight World Series win.
Jeter went on disabled for six weeks and missed 36 games, losing his own record of playing more than 148 games in all prior seven seasons. However, when he returned Steinbrenner nominated him captain, filling the vacant seat since the retirement of Don Mattingly
in 1995. After becoming a captain, Jeter initially exhibited, his worst ever performance scoring only .189 but later made a stormy rebound touching .400 in the month of June. This made him a player of the week.
Jeter again improved his record according to his class and made his name enter into the American League leaders in runs in 2005. He secured second position with 122 runs and third position with 202 hits. In 2006, he scored 214 hits and .343 averages with
career’s second highest .417 OBP.
As he was moving towards his most hits, he made 179 in 2008, 212 in 2009 and 179 in 2010 to get nearer to his 3000 mark. He completed his mark in 2011 when he launched a home-run off the Tampa Bay Rays’ David Price in the third inning of the afternoon outing
on July 9, 2011.
Throughout his career Jeter did not let his averages go under .300 mark except the year 2002 when he made .297, the lowest ever of his career.
Jeter continues with his great form and is looking at his current health and sharpness as no one can predict how many records he will post until he decides to call it a day from baseball.
Tags: