Today at 11:30 p.m. on YES Network the captain of the New York Yankees, shortstop Derek Jeter, will address the media for the first time since announcing 2014 will be his last season. Live stream the press conference for free by clicking this link, or listen to it on 101.9 WFAN FM.
On Facebook Jeter announced his impending retirement in a rather lengthy statement detailing the thought process behind his decision, as well as his appreciation for the Yankees organization and their fans.
"The one thing I always said to myself was that when baseball started to feel more like a job, it would be time to move forward," Jeter said. The Captain seemed to base his decision partly on the emotional farewell tour of his beloved teammate, Mariano Rivera, last season. In his statement he added that he wanted to use 2014 "to soak in every moment of every day this year so I can remember it for the rest of my life."
If Jeter were to not have a single at-bat this season, he'd finish his career as a .312 hitter with 3,316 hits, a Rookie of the Year award, 13 All-Star Game appearances, five Gold Gloves, five Silver Slugger awards, and five World Series titles.
That last accomplishment will be his lasting legacy as an all-time great Yankee. He was the leader of this franchise upon his arrival, winning a title in his first full season in 1996. After missing out in 1997, Jeter led the Bronx Bombers to three straight championships from 1998 to 2000, winning a then-American League record 114 games in '98.
Aside from his startling career numbers over 19 seasons, Jeter's postseason exploits have earned him the nicknames "Captain Clutch," and "Mr. November." In 16 playoff campaigns and 33 series, Jeter has batted .308 with 20 home runs, 37 extra-base hits and 18 stolen bases.
Jeter's most famous playoff moment is usually boiled down to two instances though, both of which came in 2001 when the Yanks dropped the World Series in seven games to the Arizona Diamondbacks. In the ALDS Jeter saved the Yankees from elimination against Oakland with a miraculous "flip play." After a throw from right fielder Shane Spencer badly missed the cutoff man, Jeter covered it from short, fielding the ball at the first base line and flipping it home to nab Jeremy Giambi. The Yankees won the game, and the series.
Then in Game 3 of the World Series, Jeter hit a walkoff home run off D-Backs closer Byung-Hyun Kim after the clock struck midnight, marking the first home run ever hit in November.
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