Some Perspective Regarding Derek Jeter

A great player, the New York Yankees’ Derek Jeter, will play his last major league game today in Boston’s hallowed Fenway Park.

He will be cheered by fans of the rival Red Sox, whose team has won three titles to Jeter’s Yankees one since the Yankees broke the hearts of Red Sox fans again in an excruciating 7 game ALCS in 2003.

Aaron Boone, at best a journeyman player, hit a home run to clinch the series. Jeter celebrating wildly had to be a terrible sight for those Red sox fans.

However, Boone would fail in a big spot in game 4 of the 2003 World Series vs the Florida Marlins, who would go on to beat the Yankees in six games.

It must be noted here that broadcaster, Michael Kay, whom we likely must endure for one of the division series, stated the Marlins “did not belong on the same field as the Yankees,” after game three of that World Series. If they did not it was because they were better not because they were a low caliber team as Kay stated.

The next year the Red Sox overcame a (3-0) series deficit and beat the Yankees to win the ALCS and then swept the Cardinals in the World Series. It ended an 86 year World Series drought.

Lest you think this is some kind of anti Yankees rant, I note that after Mr. Jeter made an incredible play in an eventual Yankees regular season win vs the Red Sox, the Boston team announced they would pursue the wild card position as entry to the post season. They did not deserve a shot at the Yankees after finishing behind them in the 162 game regular season.

I can sight back and forth examples and would do so to gain and promote perspective.

Thinking perhaps incorrectly, I have a great deal of perspective and knowing it is just my opinion, I feel strongly the publicity surrounding Jeter and his final games has been blown way out of proportion.

Having said that, he played on 5 World Series winners, stayed home eating prepared food and surely had fun without scandal.

That does not make him Honus Wagner and certainly does not make him Babe Ruth. It does make him pretty darn good.