A Huge Salute To El Capitan, Derek Jeter

By Cheval John

What more can you say about Derek Jeter?

One word, “Greatness.”

In his final game at Yankee Stadium, Jeter delivered a walk-off single that gave the New York Yankees a 6-5 victory against the Baltimore Orioles.

Jeter, who had announced that 2014 would be his final season earlier this year, did it in his own way.

Whether it was diving into the stands to catch a foul ball, becoming Mr. November after hitting a walk-off home run in the 2001 World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks or becoming the first Yankee to have 3,000 career hits, Jeter has always came through in the clutch in big moments when his team needed it.

One particular play that will always stand out from the others came against the Oakland Athletics during the playoffs that was a catalyst for the Yankees to go to the World Series in 2001.

During game 3 of the ALDS playoffs against the Oakland Athletics, Jeter made a spectacular play dubbed “The Flip.”

The Athletics was trailing 1-0 with two outs when Terrence Long hit a double down the right field line.

Jeremy Giambi, who was on first base, seemed to be scot-free for the home plate after the throw missed both the cut-off men.

Suddenly, Jeter raced towards the ball and flipped it to catcher Jorge Posada, who tagged out Giambi at home to preserve the lead.

The Yankees went on to win the game and eventually took the series from the Athletics.

Though I will always despise the Yankees, I will miss seeing Jeter play the game of baseball because he did it the right way and he always carried himself with class.

Jeter and the Yankees will finish their regular season this weekend at their arch-rivals, the Boston Red Sox.

One can suspect that the Red Sox faithful will give Jeter a standing ovation because he has earned it.