Jeter stands spotless

Our View

When Derek Jeter was six years old, he walked into his parents’ bedroom and declared that he was going to be the shortstop for the New York Yankees.

Three thousand four hundred sixty-five hits, 14 All-star appearances, five time silver sluggers, five gold gloves, a rookie of the year, a World Series MVP, five World Series championships and 20 big league seasons later, Jeter has retired as not only the shortstop of the New York Yankees, but as arguably the greatest shortstop to ever play America’s pastime.

The Yankees are the most successful franchise in the history of North America with 27 championships. Since their first championship in 1923, the Yankees have won, on average, a championship every four years. Since 2000, they have had the highest payroll in baseball every year but one. A poll by Next Impulse Sports concluded that the Yankees are the most hated baseball team on the face of the earth.

It would only be imaginable that the face of the most hated franchise in the world would also be disliked, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Bleacher Report ranked Jeter as the sixth most beloved player in the history of baseball and his jersey is the highest selling baseball jersey of all time. He is the world’s most famous baseball player on the world’s most hated baseball team, and he deserves every bit of praise and credit he receives.

In the era of performance enhancing drugs, oversized contracts, egotistical players and avaricious owners, Jeter remained a hero. He was clean and humble all while remaining successful in a city that has chewed up and spit out athletes and celebrities of all kinds.

Jeter, a true role model, will always be one of the greatest baseball players the world has ever seen, on and off the field.