Thank you Derek UNPISTEVABLE - Derek Jeter Walks off into History By Constantine S. Sirigos The National Herald NEW YORK — Had the world’s premier screenwriter presented such an improbable script, he would have been laughed out of Hollywood. But there is nothing improbable about Derek Jeter with the game on the line. When David Robertson, Jeter’s usually dependable teammate, blew the save in the top of the ninth after two no-doubt-about-it homers, the stars came into final alignment and the buzz was electric among the 50,000 fans – some of whom paid obscene prices for legitimate and scalped seats for the fan favorite’s farewell at the cathedral of baseball in the Bronx. The marvelous athlete with that endearing mix of audacity and humility strode to the plate after Brett Gardner laid down a perfect bunt to get pinch runner Antoan Richardson into scoring position at second base.” Jose Pirela had led off the inning with a single. Jeter had already made the highlight film. “Serenaded with adoring chants that echoed through the Bronx night, Jeter tipped his cap several times at shortstop and drove in three runs. He launched an early double off the wall… It appeared Jeters tiebreaking grounder in the seventh would be the swing that sent the Yankees to a win when they built a 5-2 cushion against the AL East champions,” the Associated Press reported. Jeter strode to the plate amid a deafening roar from adoring fans hungry for one one more slice of magic. The 40-year old shortstop who had seen and done it all in a career that rewarded him with 5 worlds series rings, the adoration of many millions and the love of the world’s most beautiful women, said later that he was most focused on trying not to cry. It may have crossed the mind of the master of taking pitchers deep into counts that the first pitch might be the best he would see. One Jeterian swing and a shot past the first baseman later, the winning run was streaming toward the plate just ahead of the strong throw by right fielder Nick Markakis, and Derek was walking off into Yankee Stadium history. “An elated Jeter jumped and raised both arms between first and second. Yankees players rushed out to engulf him as former teammates such as Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte, Tino Martinez and Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre,” wrote the AP, “lined up near the New York dugout waiting to greet Jeter.” After Jeter told the interviewer over the P.A. system that what he will miss the most at Yankee Stadium is the fans, eliciting another burst of cheers, he walked over to greet his dear parents and sister, touching them through the baseball screen that heretofore separated them in the baseball world. He will never play another game in Yankee Stadium, but that place, its earth and impossibly green grass and the ever grateful fans, will never forget him. God bless you Derek Jeter.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 03:29:05 +0000