A goodbye to the Captain, from Adam Al

It’s hard to believe that Derek Jeter’s career is coming to an end. It is even harder to deny Jeter’s place in baseball history.  Regardless of what others say I consider Derek Jeter the greatest Yankee of all time. 

The Yankee’s Captain will end his career with roughly 750 more hits than any other Yankee in history; he will also end his career 6th on the all-time hits list while all 5 players above him have played 2-4 more seasons. Not to mention the fact that he owns the all-time post season records for games played, at bats, plate appearances, runs scored, hits, total bases, singles, doubles and triples. Regardless of all of that Derek Jeter means much more to the game of baseball than any record or accomplishment.

He was not only the Captain of the New York Yankees but the greatest ambassador the game has ever known. In an era rampant with superstars who have fallen to PED use, Derek Jeter has been able to maintain his integrity in arguably the toughest sports market in the entire world. Think about that for a second, Derek Jeter has played for the New York Yankees for parts of 20 seasons and has never had any rumor or accusation tarnish his name or reputation. 

In today’s world of sports that is far more impressive than any record could ever be. He has served as the ultimate role model for not only children of the New York area but the entire country. 

With PEDs, domestic violence, drug use along with a blatant disregard for the law it’s a damn shame that Jeter’s way of conducting himself is such a rarity amongst athletes. You can’t help but feel that if more children had role models like Derek Jeter to emulate this world may be a better place.

I have had the pleasure of watching Derek Jeter play his entire career in pinstripes. When Derek came up in 1996 as a rookie I was a little kid who was completely infatuated with the New York Yankees. Now in 2014 as I watch Jeter close out his career I can’t help but feel a little torn up inside about it. 

On one hand I am so grateful that I got to watch him play for so many years on the other hand I feel as if a part of my childhood is coming to an end. I am now a man in my mid-twenties with a career, bills to pay and quotas to reach. Regardless of all that when I watch Derek Jeter take the field it brings me back to my childhood. 

Watching him play makes me feel like a kid from North Jersey with an undying love for the game of baseball again. On September 28th, 2014 that all ends and I can’t help but feel that the game of baseball will never be the same.

Thanks Captain.

Your biggest fan,
Adam Al