Thursday, January 8, 2009

Derekjeter

By Denise I Smithson

Derek Jeter

Born in Pequannok, New Jersey in June of 1974, Derek Jeter and his family later moved to Michigan where Jeter played basketball and baseball at his Kalamazoo, Michigan high school. He was chosen by the New York Yankees as the sixth overall first round pick of the 1996 draft.

He quickly began to establish himself as one of the top players in his league. He was awarded Rookie of the Year in his first season with the Yankees. He continued to show improvement each year at the plate and delivered outstanding fielding in his shortstop position. He was the first rookie in 34 years to start with the Yankee as shortstop during the first season. Derek Jeter has become one of modern baseball's most recognized names.

Jeter was instrumental in the Yankees World Series sweep of the Atlanta Braves in 1995. In 1996, Jeter scored five runs in five hits. Though the Yankees didnt make it to the World Series in 1997, Jeter had impressive batting statistics that year, with a .291 batting average, 10 home runs, and 70 RBIs. By the end of his 1998 season, he had earned a .324 batting average, with 19 home runs, 84 RBIs, and 203 total hits. He was the leagues high scorer with 127 runs.

In 1999, Jeter and his agent were unable to come to any agreement with the Yankees on his new contract so they entered into arbitration with George Steinbrenner, the owner of the Yankees. The goal was to come up with an agreeable figure to be paid for his new contract. Jeter came out of arbitration a winner with one-year $5 million contract. This made Jeter the highest paid player in baseball history with just a few years of service.

Jeter continued to focus on his game. This focus paid off; he ended the 1999 season by breaking most of his personal records. He had 24 home runs, 134 scored runs, 9 triples, 102 RBI's and a .349 batting average. He was awarded All-Star for the second time.

In 2000, the New York Yankees faced the New York Mets in World Series Play. Jeter started game four of the series with a home run hit off the first pitch of the game. In his next at-bat, Jeter hit a triple and scored, resulting in a three-run lead by the Yankees. The New York Yankees won the World Series in game five.

While Jeter retains his superstar status, he also makes time to contribute to his community. Together with his father, Jeter created the Turn 2 Foundation. This organization is dedicated to working with high-risk kids to encourage academic achievement, healthy choices, and saying no to drug use. Turn 2 is operated in Jeters hometown of Kalamzoo, and in New York City, where Jeter currently lives.

Jeter has the distinction of being the first player in history to receive both the World Series MVP and All-Star Game MVP awards in a single season. He won both awards in 2000. He has been an American League All-Star seven times.

About the Author:

No comments: