The American League East is stacked in 2014, and Derek Jeter is no spring chicken. However, he is still the unquestioned leader of the New York Yankees, setting the tone near the top of the Bronx Bombers' batting order for nearly two decades.
As Jeets gears up for his final home opener, the Yankees have title expectations after replacing star second baseman Robinson Cano with a slew of upgrades in other places. Still, it all could revolve around Jeter. Here's a look at how he did in the home opener for each of his five championship seasons.
1996 vs. Kansas City Royals (1-for-3, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 CS)
Jeter had a modest opener in 1996, his first full season in the big leagues. From '96 on, Jeter became the leader of the team despite his precocious age, and he helped snap a three-game losing streak in the early goings of this year. He wound up hitting .314 that year with 10 home runs and 78 RBI. He'd go on to far better things, but it was a brilliant beginning for a once-in-a-generation leader.
1998 vs. Oakland Athletics (0-for-5, 1 BB, 1 R)
Jeter didn't do much in this one, which was an absolute slugfest won by the Yankees. Jeter walked and scored a run, but did very little else in this 17-13 war. He had zero strikeouts in six appearances, so part of Jeter's off day might've been luck-that said, just his presence alone spurred the Bombers' to another home opening win. At least that's what the Yankees fans would like to think.
That year was Jeter's true breakthrough as a baseball rock star. He batted .324 with 19 home runs and 84 RBI, stole 30 bases, and finished in the Top 3 of MVP voting. Oh yeah, the Yanks won a then-AL record 114 games and Jeter's second World Series.
1999 vs. Detroit Tigers (0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 R)
Another relatively quiet game from the Captain, who displayed patience and baserunning in a 12-3 victory. This game was one productive game of many that season-one of the finest in his illustrious career. His contributions were somewhat overlooked in MVP voting thanks to bloated numbers in the era, but Jeter batted .349, with a career-high 24 home runs and 102 RBI, another career-best. Jeter touched home plate 134 times, another career-high, and yet finished just sixth in MVP voting.
It was no matter; his finest offensive campaign resulted in his third championship, and third in four years.
2000 vs. Texas Rangers (1-for-5, 1 RBI, 1 R, 2 K)
Another tame effort from the Captain with a familiar result-an 8-6 victory for the home crowd. Jeter's power dropped in 2000, but he still hit .339 with 15 home runs and 22 stolen bases. It was another fantastic year by Jeter who suffered in perception against players in the Steroid Era that posted bigger power numbers. Despite that, his all-around game landed him 10th in MVP voting, which wasn't too shabby.
2009 vs. Cleveland Indians (1-for-3, 1 BB)
The Yankees last won a title in 1999, and for the first time in all Jeter's home openers in years they took home the crown, the Yanks were dropped 9-2 by the Indians. Jeter was once again unexceptional, picking up a hit and a walk but not having a great impact.
This year was pretty much the final campaign of Jeter's career where he was a truly dominant figure on the field. He finished the 2009 season with a .334 average, 18 home runs and 30 stolen bases. He also was the rock that served as the foundation for a club that underwent a sea change following a 2008 season with no postseason.
That year the Yankees added an ace in CC Sabathia, and a first baseman in Mark Teixeira that have been cornerstone pieces of the team ever since.
All in all, Jeter's 4-1 in his five home openers during which the Yankees went all the way. So if he goes out there, has a decent game, and the Yanks head home winners-get excited Evil Empire!
The Yankees' home opener will get underway at 1:05 p.m. ET.
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