Derek Jeter says 2014 will be his 'last year playing professional baseball'

Fox News ^ | 2/12/14

[Impala64ssa]

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter says he will retire after this season.

In a lengthy letter posted Wednesday on his Facebook account, Jeter, 39, started by thanking his fans and supporters throughout his career. He also referenced a "bunch of injuries" that had him sidelined for much of last season.

"And this is, I could not be more sure," Jeter wrote. "I know it in my heart. The 2014 season will be my last year playing professional baseball."

[Vigilanteman]

I don't know that there was ever a better left side of the infield defensively than Belanger/Brooks Robinson. Ironically, the only two I can think of which might have come close played in the same era: Kessinger/Santo for the Cubs and Oyler/Wert for the Tigers.

As you probably know, Wert was almost as bad with the bat as Oyler. But he did have power.

[dmz]

I was born in 1958. The mid 60s to mid 70s Os were IT!

Then when we had Eddie Murray and Cal, I got into again, just a bit more jaded though.

[Scoutmaster]

He’s barely a .200 hitter.

Bobbing above the Mendoza line, eh?

[Vigilanteman]

Agreed, although I would probably start baseball's last Golden Era a little earlier. Maybe with the 1960 World Series upset win by the Pirates with the first expansion ever the following year. I believe it was the first time since World War II where the Yankees either finished worse than second place and/or lost a world series in back-to-back seasons.

The expansion also helped make baseball more competitive, at least until the mid 1970s. But most of all, players and fans had a real connection with most players often making less than the CEOs of the business for whom you worked.

This was really brought home in 2010 when the Pirates (as good in marketing as they were poor in on-field performance at the time) brought in as many players as they could gather from that 1960 World Champion team.

The team sponsored events and autograph signing sessions, of course, cost a little money to get in to. But while the players were in town, they were also free to organize events of their own. Vernon Law, the Cy Young award winner, had such a free event in the old neighborhood where he used to live around Forbes Field. Thanks to a invitation from a friend of mine, I was able to attend that overflow event.

You wouldn't meet a nicer guy. It was like talking to your grandfather (well, maybe father, in my case). The stories he told about Bill Mazeroski, ElRoy Face and other teammates indicated that there was a genuine connection between fans and players not limited to just him.

[OldPossum]

I don't know that there was ever a better left side of the infield defensively than Belanger/Brooks Robinson.

I'll amen that! What a combo. Robinson was the best third baseman I ever saw and Belanger! That man had tremendous fielding range and the best throwing arm you can imagine.

[OldPossum]

I should add that I was so lucky as to see them play in person, at the old stadium in Baltimore.

[NKP_Vet]

If Maddux coud be elected to the Hall of Fame with 97% of the vote Jeter might just get 98%! He’ll be elected in five years. The greatest Yankee SS in history - bar none.

[jttpwalsh]

I was born in 1958, as well. For some reason, I recall 1969 as being the best year in baseball. It was simply AMAZING ;)

[Personal Responsibility]

If the idiots who said “I’m not voting for Maddux because I’m not voting for anyone in the steroid era” had their votes taken away (and they should) Maddux may have broken Seaver’s record.

[NKP_Vet]

Winning world championships goes along way in getting someone in the Hall of Fame. In this regard Jeter towers over Maddox, being a member of 5 world series champions and going to another, that the Yankees lost in the 9th inning.

Jeter’s numbers and his world series rings should put him in the Hall of Fame on the first ballot.

Although he was a very reliable pitcher I was never a big Maddox fan. His total victories came in 23 years in the major leagues, where he managed to win 20 games only one time, and only had one World Series ring to his credit.

In my opinion, Jack Morris was better than Maddox. I would have rather had big game Jack on the mound over Maddux if I had to win one game.

[Personal Responsibility]

Jeter won 5 (96, 98, 99, 00 and 09) and went to two others (01 and 03). Maddux won 20 games twice. Just for accuracy’s sake :)

Couldn’t disagree more about Maddux though, especially compared to Jack Morris. I might take Morris in a “one game, life on the line” deal but over the course of a career? I’ll take Maddux.

Maddux is the model of consistent greatness. 4 straight Cy Youngs including ERAs in the 1’s during the height of the steroid era.

Here are his win totals for the 21 seasons where he made a full season of starts:

6, 18, 19, 15, 20, 20, 16 (in strike shortened 1994), 19, 15, 19, 18, 19, 19, 17, 16, 16, 16, 13, 15, 14

You can have Jack in one game. Over their career, i comfortable saying Maddux was better.

[dmz]

We Baltimoreans loved the regular season in 69, but the World Series not so much.

[jttpwalsh]

They were the best team in baseball that year (and for many years), but they got hit by a bolt of lightning in October ‘69.

SIDE NOTE: One of the coolest things I have ever seen in all my years was back in the ‘80’s, in Anaheim, I went to an Angels vs Orioles game, Cal Sr, Cal Jr, and Billy Ripken were all on the field, at the same time. The guy who went with me was a casual fan; he couldn’t understand how blown away I was.

Best of luck to your Birds, this year. Maybe we can have a rematch in The Fall Classic.

[dmz]

1969 was a strange year in baltimore sports

Lose to the Mets in the Series
Lose to the Jets in the SuperBowl

I did not then nor do I now pay attention to basketball but,

Lose to Knicks in the NBA eastern div semi finals

I took my father to the last Os game played in Bmore’s Memorial Stadium and at the end they brought out just about every living former or current Oriole. Quite the scene as the helicopter cam and pulled the foul pole out of the ground to take it down to Camden Yards.

[dmz]

If only Bill could have hit his weight. He had the fielding chops.

[jttpwalsh]

Well, consider how great that year was in New York ! My first ever game, in person, was that year, at Shea, and my cousin’s first game was the same month, at Memorial Stadium. We have been fans of the Birds, and the Amazin’s, since that time, and have taken great joy in poking each other in the ribs, for the last 40+ years, beginning with the ‘69 Series.

What a great memory that must be, of the last Memorial Stadium game, especially with your Dad there, with you.

I agree about Billy, I was disappointed that he and Cal weren’t able to play together, for an extended period of time, that would have been another great chapter in the Ripken book.

[dmz]

What a great memory that must be, of the last Memorial Stadium game, especially with your Dad there, with you.

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It is.

I had a mini season plan that year, and those of us who did got an option to buy 2 tix to all 4 of the last weekend’s games.

Took my wife to one, son to the 2 in the middle and dad to the last one. It was a great weekend.

[jttpwalsh]

The guy across the street from me moved here (Calif.) last year, from Maryland. First day I met him, he had an O’s shirt, and cap on. I was talking to him about an hour ago, and told him the story, about you, and your Dad. He broke out in a grin, from ear to ear ;)