Derek Jeter is retiring and that's a big deal to everyone right now, except Derek Jeter.
"I have feelings," Jeter said. "I'm not emotionally stunted. There's feelings there. I think I was just pretty good at hiding my emotions throughout the years. I try to have the same demeanor each and every day. But it's different. It's not the end of the season yet. We still have a long way to go."
Jeter, 39, is entering his 20th Major League season (all with the Yankees). He is the greatest shortstop in the history of the Yankees. Other then Honus Wagner, Jeter is the greatest shortstop in Major League history.
Talks of Jeter being overrated are absurd. He has 3316 career hits, (No. 10 in MLB history) five World Series championships, a World Series MVP and clutch postseason moments, among other honors. He is not a compiler, but rather a consistent legend. Omar Vizquel, an eleven-time gold glove award winner and owner of 2877 career hits, is a compiler. Vizquel, who played with six teams over his 24-year career, stayed around well past his prime. His final five season (from 2008-2012) were average, if not below average. He hit .252 and averaged one home run and 16 RBI in those five seasons. That's how Vizquel finished his career with 2877 hits. He stayed longer than he should have.
Jeter is not average. He is amazing. Take 2013 out of the equation and consider that a fluke season or product of age. From 2009-2012, Jeter hit .304 and averaged 192 hits and 100 runs a season. These are statistics for a man at the twilight of his career. The "Jeter haters" are going to say he was never as good as Alex Rodriguez or Miguel Tejada. Unlike Rodriguez and Tejada, Jeter never took steroids. Jeter never disgraced the game. He lived as an icon, but remained humble. That's why he's a legend.
Look beyond the statistics as well. Jeter is a humble, hard working man. Former Yankees bat boy Luigi Castillo, aka "Squeegee" is testament to that. Squeegee, who served as a Yankees bat boy from 1998-2005, has nothing but fond memories of the Yankee Captain.
"Jeter is what he leads by; example," said Squeegee. "He is a positive role model for kids and plays baseball the right way. He is still the face of New York and a hero to kids everywhere."
Castillo also recalled how Jeter gave him the nickname Squeegee in the first place.
"It was my first year with the Yankees and Jeter comes up to me," said Squeegee. "He asked what was my name and I told him 'Luigi'. He said I looked a Squeegee and from then on the name stuck. I consider it a honor and it is one of my favorite memories as a Yankee bat boy.
Jeter played in the height of the steroid era; the height of utmost turmoil in baseball history. Name one bad thing Jeter has ever done (beating the Mets in the 2000 World Series is not an answer). Fans could think for a millennium and not come up with answer. That's because Jeter is man who comes around once in a millennium. We will never see another athlete represent New York the way Jeter has.
"There's other things I want to do. I look forward to doing other things" said Jeter. "This is a difficult job. I put everything into it each and every year. It's a 12-month job. It's not a six-month season. This is 12 months. And I look forward to doing other things (however) not yet, but the idea of doing other things is something I look forward to."
Jeter is absolutely right. He has one more season yet to come. He has one more season to amaze fans in the stands. He has one more season to inspire generations. He has one more season to win a World Series title.
And we have more seasons to witness the greatest shortstop in modern baseball history.
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