Milestone again proves Jeter's greatness

[dejr_8]

He really is a quiet superstar.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/14400754/ns/sports-fan_zone/?ns=sports-fan_zone

On Sunday, Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees passed Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio for most hits by a shortstop. With an opposite-field double in the third inning of what would become a 10-3 loss in Seattle, the Yankees’ captain got his 2,674th hit as a shortstop. He now has 2,688 overall, including those as a designated hitter, which puts him in second place in Yankees’ history, 33 behind Lou Gehrig.

When the name Gehrig comes up, immediately the term “dignity” pops to mind. But that was a long, long time ago. A lot of dignity has gone under the bridge when it comes to the New York Yankees, thanks to the reign of the Steinbrenner family.

Now the Yankees are known more for fat payrolls and superstar egos. The fishbowl in which the Yankees operate has tinted glass to protect the privacy of its high-priced sluggers and pitchers, but even that can’t keep out the prying eyes of the press and the paparazzi. Life as a Yankee is one long performance against the harshest critics in sports.

And yet, through it all, the 35-year-old Jeter has not embarrassed the organization. He hasn’t created any scandals or made any waves. If he had problems with Alex Rodriguez, he kept them between he and A-Rod. If it took a while to adjust to the absence of Joe Torre and the presence of Joe Girardi, he did it with grace and class.

Above all else, the guy can still play baseball. If the Yankees win the World Series this year, it will be due in part to the efforts of pricey pinstripers like Mark Teixeira, C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and A-Rod.

But the consistent excellence and leadership of Jeter can’t be underestimated. He has kept the Yankees ahead of the pack while keeping his own head above the muck. That might be his greatest achievement of all.

 

[Ariel8676]

Yup that's my boy!!! Congrats DJ...

 

[BunsenH]

Being a Red Sox fan, my praise for any Yankee is rare.

However, Derek Jeter is a class act and deserves congratulations for this and his other accomplishments. I hope that he is around for many years to come.

(Damn, that hurt.)

 

[luvmarypoppins]

He is super nice in person too. He even held the door open for me and the ds at our hotel when we were coming back from the pool. Nicely gave ds an autograph by the pool when we were really not suupose to bother him. Can you tell I am a die hard yankees fan???