New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter announced today that he will retire after the 2014 season.
I guess he wants to go out with the Mariano Rivera treatment. Who can blame him?
Jeter played only 17 games in 2013 as a result of the ankle injury he sustained during the 2012 ALCS against the Detroit Tigers. In 2012, Jeter led the AL in hits with 216. Jeter will most likely see a lot of time at DH with the sure handed veteran Brendan Ryan getting the majority of playing time at short in a revamped Yankees lineup that now includes Carlos Beltran and Jacoby Ellsbury.
Coming into the 2014 season; Jeter ranks 10th on the all-time hit list with 3,316. Jeter needs only three hits to tie Paul Molitor. If Jeter were to collect 200 hits this year he would leap over Molitor, Carl Yastrzemski, Honus Wagner, Cap Anson and Tris Speaker into 5th on the all-time hit list. Now that is elite company.
But Jeter is best known for his five World Series rings which earned him the nickname Mr. November. His other accomplishments include 1996 AL Rookie of the Year, being named to 13 AL All-Star teams and earning five Gold Gloves. In 2000, Jeter became the first player to be named All-Star Game MVP and World Series MVP. Twice Jeter led the AL in hits and has collected 200 or more hits eight times.
Now Jeter has a chance to add to that stellar resume. In 2020, Jeter will be a first ballot Hall of Famer.
