Reflecting on Derek Jeter’s Induction into the Hall of Fame

Proudly wearing pinstripes, he uses his defensive prowess to patrol the left side of the infield. A ground ball hit to his right side, initially assumed by spectators to slip through the hole for a single, is suddenly cut off in shallow left field by the sprinting shortstop. He backhands the grounder and instantly leaps into the air, releasing an explosive throw that travels a mile into the mitt of the first baseman for the out. Fans and players watch in awe, knowing that this ballplayer is truly one of a kind. This signature “jump throw” is one of his many distinct attributes that represent his greatness on the diamond.

Known as “Captain Clutch” and “Mr. November,” Yankee great Derek Jeter has often been regarded as the epitome of excellence in athleticism and character amongst professional athletes. This past Tuesday, he earned what he deserved the most: an induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He earned 396 out of 397 (99.7%…wow) votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, joining fellow former teammate Mariano Rivera as the two players with the highest earned percentage of votes into the Hall.

He undoubtedly has the numbers to prove that his name belongs in Cooperstown. The captain finished his fruitful career with 3,465 hits (the sixth most in history), 1,923 scored runs (ninth most in history), 260 home runs, and an impressive .310 batting average. He also leads the entire Bronx franchise with 2,747 games played, 11,195 at-bats, 544 doubles, and 358 stolen bases. His performance, along with his leadership and teamwork, manifested great results as well. He was named an All-Star 14 times, a Gold Glove winner 5 times, both a World Series and All Star MVP in 2000, and he earned a total of 5 World Series rings. During the playoffs, when offensive output is more crucial than at any other point, he seemed to produce even greater numbers. He’s the all-time leader in postseason games played, hits, and runs scored. Most notably, his clutch walk off home run in Game 4 of the 2001 World Series earned him the nickname “Mr. November.” In addition, a defensive play in the 2001 ALDS against the Athletics, where seemingly out of nowhere, he backed up an errant throw from the outfield and “flipped” the ball to home to throw out the runner, became known as “The Flip.”

Beyond his athletic skills and consistent statistical success, he had character on the field that well represented his integrity, determination, and pure enjoyment while playing the game. Yankee fan Mr. McCrystal, a history and sociology teacher at Oratory, put it well in his own words: “His class is often talked about, but what might be most impressive is that a guy of his talent always hustled. He ran out all plays, hustled in and out of the dugout, and trained like he was the last man on the roster. As a coach, you crave the athlete who works harder than everyone else, even when they have the best talent. That is something that is both taught and inert. For Jeter, I would imagine it was a combination of a great upbringing and an inner desire to be better than everybody else.” Mr. McCrystal added that while growing up, he respected Jeter the most out of any Yankee (despite Bernie Williams being his favorite player), and he also noted that the former captain set the stage for the future stars on the team, such as current outfielder Aaron Judge. Finally, he said that regardless of whether people argue over the shortstop being “overrated” or “underrated,” he is undoubtedly considered as a “model ballplayer.”

I also gathered responses from other Yankee fans at Oratory, all of whom grew up watching him play and respected him as a player and person. Junior Connor Keaveney simply said that Jeter is “one of the greatest Yankees and shortstops of all time,” and his favorite memory of him is watching his 3000th hit be a home run. Senior Chris “KP” Lowe had similar words of his own: “I’ve always been a Yankee fan, let alone a massive Jeter fan. His dedication, class, and success in the game of baseball have landed him amongst the greats…He’s a great man who showed great sportsmanship, and he will always be one of my all time favorites.” Chris even distinctly remembers going to the game after his 3,000th hit.

Additionally, Junior Cole Weintraub, an avid Yankee fan since the age of 5, also had much to say about all that the Yankee great did for the franchise: “Derek Jeter was so fun to watch. Many may say they liked him for his grit and consistency, but I admired how clutch he was. Seeing Jeter play everyday helped me love the Yankees even more. The team could always rely on Derek, and so could the fan base.” Similar to the other students, Cole said that his favorite memory is also the captain’s 3000th hit: “As I remember, the Yankees would only play a couple more games at home before the All Star break. Getting an accomplishment like 3,000 hits is much more special at home. He had 2,998 coming into the Saturday day game. The Yankees faced off against southpaw David Price, who was a really good pitcher at the time. Jeter led off the game with a single, bringing him within one hit. That was very exciting, because he would have 3-4 more at bats to get it during that game. He came up again in the third inning. My parents and I were watching the game in the living room. Jeter smacked a shot into the left field bleachers, and we went crazy. It couldn’t have lined up any better. Not only did Jeter get to 3,000 hits in that game, he went 5-5, leading the Yankees to a 5-4 victory over the Rays. It wasn’t all about the lone accomplishment for Jeter. Winning the ballgame was much more important.”

In contrast to all the students at the school, US history teacher Mr. Horan had the opportunity to follow Jeter’s entire career from 1995 to 2014. He has always been a Yankee fan, and remembers watching some of his most memorable moments on TV, including the “Jeffrey Maier” home run against the Orioles in ’96, the aforementioned “Flip” play in the playoffs, his 3000th hit against David Price, and  his walk-off single in his final at-bat in Yankee Stadium in 2014. However, Mr. Horan has one particular favorite play that stands out, a moment that he believes well represents the captain’s character: “Still, my favorite memory of Derek, showing his drive to win, is his dive into the stands while catching a pop-up against Boston in 2004. He laid out to make the play first, and worried about his own safety afterward. He was a winner.”

For many fans, Derek Jeter has shaped some of their earliest fond memories of baseball in their childhood, and I don’t think any other player is more fitting to serve as such a role model. He was not just an ordinary star, but a respectable, class player who proved to be impactful in endless ways. Although he has been retired for several years, he still leaves a mark in the legacy of the Yanks, and his admirers will always remember what he did for the franchise. The number ‘2’ will continue to be a representation of the athletic and personal values that the Yankees’ organization, and Major League Baseball as a whole, hopes to represent through their players. As for now, the young stars in Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres, Gary Sanchez, and others will continue to work to achieve the goals that the Cap’ left behind, and hopefully bring a World Series trophy to the Bronx.