Legendary New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter has announced that 2014 will be his final season in the Bronx, according to reports. After battling myriad injuries that branched out from a broken ankle suffered in the 2012 ALCS vs. the Detroit Tigers, the aging Captain is following in Mariano Rivera's footsteps.
Last year Rivera cleared the air prior to the season beginning, and said 2013 would be the last season of his storied career. Jeter posted the news on his personal Facebook page.
"I could not be more sure. I know it in my heart. The 2014 Season will be my last year playing professional baseball," Jeter wrote. "For the last 20 years I;ve been completely focused on tow goals; playing my best and helping the Yankees win. That means that for 365 days a year my every thought and action were geared toward that goal. It's now time for something new."
Jeter has a .312 career batting average, 256 home runs, 13 All-Star game appearances, five Gold Glove awards, and five World Series titles heading into the 2014 campaign. Prior to his miserable and injury-ravaged 2013 season Jeter resembled his prime form in 2012.
That year, Jeter posted a .316 average with 15 home runs and 58 RBI, finished seventh in MVP voting and took home the Silver Slugger award. The upcoming season will be the 20th of Jeter's career.
Jeter's not legendary because of his fantastic regular season statistics though. He made his bones in Yankees lore for his postseason exploits, which earned him the nicknames "Captain Clutch," and "Mr. November."
Jeter is a career .308 hitter in the playoffs with 20 homers and 18 stolen bases in 33 total series. He has been to seven World Series, winning five.
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