Sorry for the late post, this actually occurred on September 11th (apologies for not making a post about that too). Derek Jeter surpassed Lou Gehrig's record for all-time Yankee hits that stood for 72 years. Hard to describe, just watch:
I've seen it a few times already but every time I get a little emotional. Watching it at school, I will my tears of joy not to fall.
- Franny.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
The Kid From Kalamazoo.
Something very special happened today. No, not the Address to Congress (I didn't really watch it, neither did Cantor, he was too busy tweeting and buying Britney Spears concert tickets). Derek Jeter, shortstop and captain of the New York Yankees, tied former captain of the Yankees and Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig's all-time hits by a Yankee at 2721 after going 3 for 4 in tonight's game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
"I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't thinking about it, because pretty much everywhere I've gone this entire homestand, I've been hearing it," Jeter said. "'When are you going to get a hit? When are you going to get a hit?' I told them I'm trying." And try he did. After going 3 games without a hit, which is rare for the Yankee captain, Jeter started off the game on a high note after essentially going 0 for 12 (4 hits in each of the previous 3 games). "That's why I bunted in the first inning, I needed to get at least one hit." And then the hits just kept coming. A ground-rule double in the 5th inning and then a single to right field in the 7th gave him hit number 2721, tying him for king of hits by a Yankee with Lou.
Lou Gehrig's record had stood for 72 years before Jeter humbly hit his way to share the top spot. When that moment came, 45,848 fans as well as the Tampa Bay Rays, stood up and clapped for Derek Jeter for quite a long period of time. At that point, Yankees were still down 2-0 and when asked about the Rays clapping, he said "he didn't want to disrespect Tampa." What a guy. He just tied a record, the opposing team is clapping for him, and he feared he was being rude because everyone was cheering for him. That's the kinda guy that Jeter is, always humble.
Teammates and fellow long-time Yankees had much praise to give Derek: "I felt proud -- I got goose bumps," Posada said of Jeter's record-tying hit. "I didn't know what to do when he got it. The standing ovation is what he deserves -- I think the fans did a great job. It was a perfect moment. I think we took enough time out of the game to really acknowledge something as important as it was." Another record breaker, Mariano Rivera had this to say: "It couldn't happen to a better guy -- a guy that's always there for the team." And his other down-to-earth buddy: "I know he isn't too crazy about the spotlight, but he ought to be proud," Pettitte said. "He ought to enjoy it and he ought to feel awfully, awfully good about what he's done."
Although the game became quite exciting after Derek's 3rd hit of the night, the 2-0 Rays score still stood. That's when the rest of the Yankees wanted to make a night of it all. A-Rod score on a throwing error making it 2-1. And that's when Derek's long-time friend Jorge came to the rescue. He hit a 3 run home run to make the game 4-2 for the Yankees, and that was the final score on a historic day.
Other players from the league as well as managers had great things to say about Derek accomplishing this feat. Former long-time manager of the Yankees and current manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers Joe Torre said: "What can you say? I'm tickled for him. When you start saying names like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, guys like that, it's pretty amazing." Detroit Tiger's third baseman Brandon Inge had high praises for Derek's 15 years (so far): "The hardest thing about baseball is consistency. He's got it mastered. That's the most impressive thing about it."
Tonight was a night of records. Yes, plural. On top of hitting his 2721st hit, Derek also stole his 300th career base. To all those who say his 35 years are showing, there's a big eff you (I'm censoring myself to show class just like Jeter and Gehrig). And the record will be broken (no pressure there) in the coming games. The Yankees have a much deserved break tomorrow before facing the Orioles on Friday, when my fav pitcher Andy Pettitte will work his magic. I don't want to jinx it, and I know I'm selfish, but I want it to happen on Friday. Not just because sooner rather than later is a great motto to live by, Friday just also happens to be September 11th, 8 years since the attack on the Twin Towers. New York doesn't have much to celebrate about that day, but it would be nice if they could have a little something to smile about.
His jersey says #2, but he's first in the heart of the Yankees along with all the Yankee greats.
- Franny.
"I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't thinking about it, because pretty much everywhere I've gone this entire homestand, I've been hearing it," Jeter said. "'When are you going to get a hit? When are you going to get a hit?' I told them I'm trying." And try he did. After going 3 games without a hit, which is rare for the Yankee captain, Jeter started off the game on a high note after essentially going 0 for 12 (4 hits in each of the previous 3 games). "That's why I bunted in the first inning, I needed to get at least one hit." And then the hits just kept coming. A ground-rule double in the 5th inning and then a single to right field in the 7th gave him hit number 2721, tying him for king of hits by a Yankee with Lou.
Lou Gehrig's record had stood for 72 years before Jeter humbly hit his way to share the top spot. When that moment came, 45,848 fans as well as the Tampa Bay Rays, stood up and clapped for Derek Jeter for quite a long period of time. At that point, Yankees were still down 2-0 and when asked about the Rays clapping, he said "he didn't want to disrespect Tampa." What a guy. He just tied a record, the opposing team is clapping for him, and he feared he was being rude because everyone was cheering for him. That's the kinda guy that Jeter is, always humble.
Teammates and fellow long-time Yankees had much praise to give Derek: "I felt proud -- I got goose bumps," Posada said of Jeter's record-tying hit. "I didn't know what to do when he got it. The standing ovation is what he deserves -- I think the fans did a great job. It was a perfect moment. I think we took enough time out of the game to really acknowledge something as important as it was." Another record breaker, Mariano Rivera had this to say: "It couldn't happen to a better guy -- a guy that's always there for the team." And his other down-to-earth buddy: "I know he isn't too crazy about the spotlight, but he ought to be proud," Pettitte said. "He ought to enjoy it and he ought to feel awfully, awfully good about what he's done."
Although the game became quite exciting after Derek's 3rd hit of the night, the 2-0 Rays score still stood. That's when the rest of the Yankees wanted to make a night of it all. A-Rod score on a throwing error making it 2-1. And that's when Derek's long-time friend Jorge came to the rescue. He hit a 3 run home run to make the game 4-2 for the Yankees, and that was the final score on a historic day.
Other players from the league as well as managers had great things to say about Derek accomplishing this feat. Former long-time manager of the Yankees and current manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers Joe Torre said: "What can you say? I'm tickled for him. When you start saying names like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, guys like that, it's pretty amazing." Detroit Tiger's third baseman Brandon Inge had high praises for Derek's 15 years (so far): "The hardest thing about baseball is consistency. He's got it mastered. That's the most impressive thing about it."
Tonight was a night of records. Yes, plural. On top of hitting his 2721st hit, Derek also stole his 300th career base. To all those who say his 35 years are showing, there's a big eff you (I'm censoring myself to show class just like Jeter and Gehrig). And the record will be broken (no pressure there) in the coming games. The Yankees have a much deserved break tomorrow before facing the Orioles on Friday, when my fav pitcher Andy Pettitte will work his magic. I don't want to jinx it, and I know I'm selfish, but I want it to happen on Friday. Not just because sooner rather than later is a great motto to live by, Friday just also happens to be September 11th, 8 years since the attack on the Twin Towers. New York doesn't have much to celebrate about that day, but it would be nice if they could have a little something to smile about.
His jersey says #2, but he's first in the heart of the Yankees along with all the Yankee greats.
- Franny.
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