I Remember: A Tribute To Derek Jeter

Game 1 1996 ALCS, A scrawny shortstop steps to the plate, he hits a fly ball deep to right field, a 12 year old kid reaches over the wall and grabs it out of thin air, it gets called a homerun! Yankees take game 1! I remember the first time I saw Derek Jeter play ball. I was sitting in the living room of my dad’s house, just me, my dad and Uncle Vin. I have no idea what I’m watching or who I’m rooting for. I’m 7 years old and the next thing I know I’m jumping up and down screaming about something called a homerun(yes I know he should have been called out) hit by this young kid and his name was Derek Jeter. ” I’m going to be just like him when I grow up” I yelled at my dad. That didn’t turn out quite as planned but I tell you what, just watching him the next 20 years was amazing in itself. I remember every inside out swing slapping the other way to right field like a priceless work of art on display. I remember every play in the hole at short that seemed impossible for any human to be able to reach and like a superhero, this guy snatches it backhanded and in one swift poetic motion, jump throws it to first like it was shot out of a cannon well ahead of the runner. I remember Derek leading the greatest team of all time, the 1998 Yankees to an unprecedented run and World Series title. I remember in 2000, this same kid won All Star game MVP and World Series MVP in the same season, something the game had never seen before at that time. I remember the days at school where he was all anyone was talking about. Not just the baseball kids or sports enthusiasts, everyone! The girls swooned over him, the guys wanted to be him, he was a freaking God! I remember feeling like a god every time i put on my pinstriped #2 Yankee jersey. I remember the flip play in Oakland and the diving catch in the stands against Boston where he came out bloodied and bruised and still made the catch. Is there anything this guy can’t do? I remember 3 titles in a row. I remember the struggles and the questions of if he could still do it? I remember him keeping quiet and silently assassinating the doubters with every swing of the bat and amazing play in the field. I remember the smiles and the heart breaks. I remember the way he carried himself on and off the field, Staying out of the media solely focused on winning and being a good example. I remember the latter days. I remember watching his 3000th hit soar over the left field wall again out of some fairy tale storybook and him being mobbed at home by Jorge Posada first, followed by the rest of the team. I remember him breaking Gehrigs hits record in typical Derek fashion, an inside out swing to right field. I remember him and Andy Pettitte coming to embrace and reĺieve Mariano Rivera in his last career appearance holding back tears. I remember his last season. I remember his last stroll out to shortstop and myself being overcome with emotion watching a childhood hero take his final bow. I remember the final hit. A walk off inside out slap single to right field. I remember smiling and crying. I remember hearing yesterday that kid I saw pop that homerun to right field was now immortalized as a Hall of Famer. Suddenly, I remembered all those things at once. I laughed, I smiled, I teared up. I remembered I’m fortunate to see someone play the game with such passion, such leadership and such humility and be justly rewarded for it. Congratulations Derek Jeter. Re2pect!