No matter how you look at it, Derek Jeter will go down as one of, if not the best shortstops to ever play the game. Without a doubt, he is one of the most respected players to ever step foot on a major league field. It has been said countless times throughout his final season in the MLB that he is a perfect embodiment of what it looks like to be a professional on and off the field. It does not matter who you ask, almost everyone would say he is a true gentleman, and one of the best to play the game. He plays the game the right way, day in and day out. He's always the first one on the field, and the last one off, and it's been that way for 20 years.
Every superstar is in the media almost every day, and something bad is bound to be said about them at some point, right? Wrong. When it comes to Jeter, he has never made headlines for a negative reason. Across the MLB, every player says he is someone they admire; his own competitors try to emulate his game and the way he goes about his business. You should not have to tell others how great you, because they'll tell you themselves, and that certainly happened with Jeter. Countless players, fans, coaches, and teammates gave their regards to Jeter throughout his final season. At every stop at every stadium, crowds welcomed him with warm ovations and teams with various gifts. That alone, says it all.
His accomplishments speak for themselves. He has five World Series rings to go along with 3,000 hits, 14 All-Star appearances, and the Yankee leader in several other categories. The man is a legend and will deservedly hold his place in Cooperstown amongst the best of the best. Throughout his career, Jeter touched the lives of countless people, whether they are a regular person or an aspiring athlete. It is not necessarily his play itself that inspires people, it is the way he goes about his job. Young ball players from all over the world aspire to be like him. They look up to the way he plays the game, and try to model their game after him. After the 9/11 attacks, he not only rejuvenated the city of New York, but the entire country, just by playing his game and being himself.
The Sox vs. Yankees will always be the greatest rivalry in sports, and even Red Sox fans hate to see the guy go. It's not until you are at Fenway Park during his last career at bat listening to the crowd (which was seemingly a vast majority Yankees fans) chant "De-rek Je-ter, De-rek Je-ter" that you realize his career is over. While he has sprinted out to take his position at shortstop at Yankee stadium for the last time, his legacy is certainly one that will have an everlasting affect on baseball forever.
