On a Sunday night when the New York Yankees were victorious over the Baltimore Orioles by a score of 7-3 (and Jose Molina hit the last home run in this Yankee Stadium), the game was a distant second story. After playing just over a three-hour game, Derek Jeter and the entire Yankees roster stepped onto the center of the diamond and The Captain addressed the 54,610 in attendance.
A speech that Derek Jeter created on the spot; he addressed many of the important points that needed to be covered.
“From all of us up here, it’s a huge honor to put this uniform on every day and come out here and play. Every member of this organization, past and present, has been calling this place home for 85 years…”
Speaking for the many players who have won the pinstripes, Derek Jeter is speaking for many names, both notable and not. The players who wear the pinstripes often speak highly of what a class organization the New York Yankees are. The franchise is rich with history and some of the most memorable names in baseball history.
“There’s a lot of tradition, a lot of history and a lot of memories. The great thing about memories is you’re able to pass them along from generation to generation.”
Despite the 2008 season ending without a postseason appearance, the dynasty years featured many historic memories. From no-hitters to clutch home runs, if the Yankee Stadium walls could talk, many would be in awe listening.
“Although things are going to change next year and we’re going to move across the street, there are a few things with the New York Yankees that never change. That’s pride, tradition, and most of all; we have the greatest fans in the world.”
“We’re relying on you to take the memories from this stadium and add them to the new memories we make at the new Yankee Stadium and continue to pass them on from generation to generation.”
“We just want to take this moment to salute you, the greatest fans in the world.”
Derek Jeter addressed how he generated the speech that so eloquently and succinctly covered everything important to the historic organization and the Stadium that they would be leaving forever…
“To be quite honest, I didn’t know what I was going to say,” Jeter said. “When I came out of the game with two outs in the ninth, I had to hurry up and think of something. I wanted to acknowledge the fans. All the memories here are because of the fans, so that’s the message I wanted to get across.”
Derek Jeter, playing for the only team he ever wanted to play for, at the only position he ever wanted to play, spoke from the heart and it was perfect. It’s hard to imagine anyone else speaking so well after having the type of focus that Derek Jeter has when he plays the game of baseball.
His words, while fittingly describes what the transition from one Yankee Stadium to the current, are also a fitting speech for him. With this, the last season in his 20-year career, the fans (both in seats at home, ballpark seats, dugout seats and even on the field) will do their best to pass along what they saw, heard and learned from him. He carried himself with pride on and off the field. All those who were witnesses to Derek Jeter can pass along valuable lessons of how another person should carry themselves. After all, you never know when someone that looks up to you may be watching.
Derek Jeter is simply the model representation of all things New York Yankees.
In 4,488 plate appearances at this Yankee Stadium, Derek Jeter hit .322/.396/.468 with 1,274 hits. He hit 209 doubles, 26 triples and 106 home runs
