As you all know I am a die-hard NY Yankee fan. I was heart-broken to have missed Saturday’s historic event. My subscription to YES is in serious doubt, because if you live outside the NY metropolitan area like I do you do not get non- TNT, MLB, ESPN, FOX network games. I digress however, Derek Jeter achieved a feat that no other Yankee has ever achieved. Not Babe Ruth, Joe D, Roger Maris, Lou Gehrig or any other legend of pinstripes has ever had-3,000 hits.
The late “Boss” Steinbrenner knew what he was doing back in 2003 when he named Jeter the captain of the Yankees. He was the first captain named in 8 years when he took the mantle. At the time of the appointment the “Boss” said, “I have always been very, very careful about giving such a responsibility (Captain of the New York Yankees) to one of my players, but I can not think of a single player that I have ever had who is more deserving of this honor than Derek Jeter. He is a young man of great character and has shown great leadership qualities. He believes, as I do, what General (Douglas) MacArthur said, that ‘there is no substitute for victory.’ To him, and to me, it’s second only to breathing.” Throughout his career Derek Jeter has more lived up to that quote and his responsibility as the “Captain.” It was fitting that he would achieve his 3,000 hit on a home run, that he would go 5 for 5 also but, deep down I am sure Jeter is happier that the team won the game Saturday. He will be even happier if the Yankees win their 28th championship and he earns his 6th ring. Congratulations to a hometown kid (by way of Michigan), “the Captain” Derek Jeter!