At Yankee Stadium on Friday night, Derek Jeter passed Lou Gehrig and became the all-time hit leader in Yankee history. His 2, 722 hits in a Yankee uniform was done with class and professionalism. I am in no way a Yankee fan but I am also not a Yankee hater either. I respect them as an organization and love their history...one that is unbridled by any other organization.
I really enjoy reading biographies on baseball players. I have read about Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Joe DiMaggio, and am currently reading about Leroy "Satchel" Paige. But one of the best biographies I have read is of Lou Gehrig called "The Luckiest Man". Lou was an incredible figure in baseball history as well as a great family man. Though I obviously wasn't around during Lou's playing days, since reading his biography Lou Gehrig has become one of my favorite baseball players in baseball history (if you are allowed to have a favorite player of whom you've never seen play).
When Derek Jeter came to the Major Leagues in 1996 he quickly caught my attention. Growing up I always had a fond liking of shortstops and 2nd basemen. One of my favorite ballplayers growing up was Ryne Sandberg and his doubleplay mate Shawon Dunston. As a shortstop myself, it was only natural for me to take a liking to Derek Jeter. In high school I bought a #2 Yankee jersey (which I wish I still had) and began following Jeter as a player. I have been impressed with his style of play throughout his career. He has always been solid statiscally and has always proven himself to be a guy who hustled and played as team player. I respect that in a baseball player above anything else.
So as Derek Jeter stands alone atop a great list of New York Yankees as the all-time hit leader, I cannot think of anyone more worthy of passing a worthy man himself, who said while facing his dying ailment, "Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth"
I really enjoy reading biographies on baseball players. I have read about Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Joe DiMaggio, and am currently reading about Leroy "Satchel" Paige. But one of the best biographies I have read is of Lou Gehrig called "The Luckiest Man". Lou was an incredible figure in baseball history as well as a great family man. Though I obviously wasn't around during Lou's playing days, since reading his biography Lou Gehrig has become one of my favorite baseball players in baseball history (if you are allowed to have a favorite player of whom you've never seen play).
When Derek Jeter came to the Major Leagues in 1996 he quickly caught my attention. Growing up I always had a fond liking of shortstops and 2nd basemen. One of my favorite ballplayers growing up was Ryne Sandberg and his doubleplay mate Shawon Dunston. As a shortstop myself, it was only natural for me to take a liking to Derek Jeter. In high school I bought a #2 Yankee jersey (which I wish I still had) and began following Jeter as a player. I have been impressed with his style of play throughout his career. He has always been solid statiscally and has always proven himself to be a guy who hustled and played as team player. I respect that in a baseball player above anything else.
So as Derek Jeter stands alone atop a great list of New York Yankees as the all-time hit leader, I cannot think of anyone more worthy of passing a worthy man himself, who said while facing his dying ailment, "Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth"
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