Derek Jeter celebrates his 40th birthday today. And, the last 20 of those years, he's been a New York Yankee. How many times have we seen him adjust his batting gloves?
Or, below, how many times have we seen him involved in some brief pre-game ceremony honoring a fan?
20 years of excellence and consistency. Always appearing to be the man of the moment, looking sharp, prepared and focused -- even when the national anthem plays.
20 years of that calm reassuring presence at shortstop. Consistent and Smooth.
It's easy just to spout a lot of numbers, but you've already read enough of them. I'd rather use today's photos to represent his calm confidence, the on-field leadership emblematic of being the Yankee captain.
Yankee fans always feel better about their chances in a game when they see number-two at shortstop or in the starting lineup. While teammates have come and gone (such as the ex-teammate now playing for Seattle), Jeter has represented his era brilliantly.
Playing his first games in Don Mattingly's final season 1995, he took over at shortstop the following April, belting an opening day home run against the Indians -- and riding the wave en route to the Yankees first championship in 18 years. The cheers and the acclaim haven't stopped. Jeter has his moments -- "the flip" in the ALDS against Oakland... running into the stands to catch a pop-up against the Red Sox, the day he reached 3000 hits... the lead-off home run in game four of the 2000 World Series...
Or maybe a different Jeter moment stands out for you. When the Yankees drafted him with their first round pick (6th overall) in 1992, they hoped the kid who'd rooted for the Yanks since boyhood visits to his grandparents in New Jersey would be good.
No one could have imagined he'd be the backbone of the next Yankee dynasty or that he and his number-two would come to be thought of in the same special light as 3, 4, 5 and 7.
As luck would have it, Jeter turns 40 today, while the Yankees have a day off. His first game as a 40-year old will be tomorrow night against the arch-rival Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. We'll see if Derek's next moment takes place then... Enjoy these final 80 games or so, the last half-season of a magical career. Despite arriving what represents the beginning of middle age, don't you expect Jeter to get a grip on another magical moment or two?
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