It started in 1964. It was the year I learned to love the St. Louis Cardinals and hate the New York Yankees. The Cards and Yanks played in the World Series that year. I was in the fourth grade. It seemed every boy in Wataga Grade School was a Yankee fan. Well, all except the one farm boy who wanted to be contrary. It was an epic seven game World Series. The Yankees were headed up by the likes of Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Clete Boyer, Al Downing, Whitey Ford and Joe Pepitone. The Cards fielded players like Ken Boyer, Lou Brock, Curt Flood, Tim McCarver, Mike Shannon and Bob Gibson. Everyone knew Mantle and Maris and every boy in Wataga wanted to grow up and play for the Yankees. They were winners and everyone loves a winner. Well, almost everyone. Bets were made and lunch money traded hands. When the dust cleared and Bob Gibson won game 7 for the Cards, lots of quarters came my way. It was back in the days when a quarter was worth something. You could go down to the local grocery store and get a bottle of pop and a full size candy bar. The bonus being that you would still get change back from your quarter. So a Yankee hater and a Cardinal fan was created that youthful October. Fast forward to yesterday.
Last night Derek Jeter played his last professional baseball game at Yankee Stadium. In an era of free agency Derek Jeter has played his entire professional career for the damn New York Yankees. When you are a boy growing up in the heartland of America the summer brings only thoughts of baseball. When you play with your buddies you want to play baseball. You dream of being the hero. The guy who, when the chips are down, makes the BIG play. The Baltimore Orioles are going to the playoffs. The Yankees have three games left, all on the road, then their equipment is packed away for the season. Derek Jeter will empty his locker for the last time and move away from a life of playing ball. So what has Derek Jeter done in his 20 seasons with the Yankees? 14 times- All-Star, 5 times World Series champion, American League rookie of the year 1996, World Series MVP 2000, 5 times Gold Glove award, 5 time Silver Slugger award, 2 time American League Hank Aaron Award, 2009 Roberto Clemente award, and from 2003 to 2014 captain of the New York Yankees. No one would have said anything negative if Derek Jeter went quietly into retirement last night playing his final game in front of the home crowd. It wasn't Derek Jeter's plan. He came up in the bottom of the 9th inning with the score tied and a Yankee runner on second base. The crowd is cheering and hoping for one more game winner from the Yankee Captain. It is THE DREAM every boy has playing ball on any level. Tied game, at bat, bottom of the last inning. Will your name go down in history or will you hang your head and take a walk of disappointment and shame back to the dugout? So Derek Jeter came to the plate last night living every boy's dream. The first pitch comes his way and he hits a line drive between the first and second basemen. The runner rounds third headed for home and slides in safe ahead of the tag. Once more Derek Jeter is the hero at Yankee Stadium. One last glorious time. He has lived every boy's dream of what his final at bat would be in front of the home crowd. Congratulations on a great career and a special final appearance in front of the fans who clearly love and adore you. If any kid out there wonders if dreams can come true, Derek Jeter showed them the answer last night.
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