Derek Jeter has announced today – that 2014 will be his last year in the MLB. After he led the MLB in hits in 2012 with 216, he finished with just 11 knocks in 2013 – due to 4 DL stints and just 53 AB. The worst the team has ever done in his 19 year career, is finish 87 -74 in 2000 (still won the WS). The only time the club missed the playoffs – was in 2008, when they were 89 – 73. We will follow his last season much like we did Mariano Rivera. Endless amounts of respect should be poured out on the road and at home for this man. In 2014, he will enter his 20th and final campaign in the Bronx. The team has never had a losing season under his time there heading into 2014.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst and Website Owner) Follow @mlbreports
2014 will mark the second straight year that an ALL – Time Yankee Legend will have a year long retirement party.
The emergence of Derek Jeter in the Bronx culminated with a new dynasty of Bronx Bombers’ baseball – and resulted in 6 World Series visits in his first 7 years as the club’s Shortstop.
Derek Jeter personified everything that was great in the sport of baseball – and New York City, in a time where there were seedy underlings doing damage to the game.
The man is a consummate professional, and carried himself in a dignified manner, despite playing in a city where you can hardly breathe when it comes to media attention.
Derek Jeter’s only HR in the 2014 year
Derek Jeter is leaving a legacy of greatness – both as one of the greatest players ever to don the uniform as a Yankee – and also for the sport of baseball. Stats aside, he was a proven winner – who exudes confidence and professionalism at all times. He will be in the top 10 for many key offensive categories once he finally hangs them up at the end of this campaign. Among all of his great achievements, he has a chance to enter the top 6 ALL – Time in hits, should he be able to muster an average season on the field.
Last season had to have been the most mentally grueling campaign for EL Capitan. Jeter has fought through several injuries, DL stints, and saw his teammates struggle for the 1st time in 5 years.
Despite all of that, Derek Jeter smacked two base hits Sept 4th/2013 (including his 3315th) – to pass Eddie Collins for 10th on the ALL – Time Hit List (If you are on mlb.com).
It was just the Shortstops 11th hit on the year.
Next on the list is long time Brewer great, and Baseball Hall of Famer Paul Molitor at 3319 Career hits sitting 9th.
Paul Molitor sits in 9th ALL -Time for hits with 3319 (just 4 ahead of Jeter.) The two players are really similar with career numbers. Molitor missed 382 games from 1981 – 1987 (including just 13 GP in ’84), otherwise he may be in the top 5 ALL – Time.
| Rank | Player (yrs, age) | Hits | Bats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Pete Rose (24) | 4256 | B |
| 2. | Ty Cobb+ (24) | 4189 | L |
| 3. | Hank Aaron+ (23) | 3771 | R |
| 4. | Stan Musial+ (22) | 3630 | L |
| 5. | Tris Speaker+ (22) | 3514 | L |
| 6. | Cap Anson+ (27) | 3435 | R |
| 7. | Honus Wagner+ (21) | 3420 | R |
| 8. | Carl Yastrzemski+ (23) | 3419 | L |
| 9. | Paul Molitor+ (21) | 3319 | R |
| 10. | Eddie Collins+ (25) | 3315 | L |
| Derek Jeter (19, 39) | 3315 | R |
Just a note here, that http://www.mlb.com has Eddie Collins listed at 3314 Career Hits, and I am choosing to go with that, instead of the BR.com’s 3315 you see above in this list.
After he passes Molitor, #8 is Carl Yastrzemski+ with 3419 and #7 on the list (Honus Wagner) is at 3420 Hits.
If #2 comes can stay health this season, Jeter should be able to run down that past great – and also (Cap Anson ) at 3435 for #6.
With seeing a curbed 2013, for Games Played and At-Bats, also curtailed the thought Derek Jeter could chase down many others on the list for the list.
I was never one of those people who said that he could rundown Ty Cobb, Pete Rose, or 4000 hits for that matter. His position would never allow him to do that.
I do believe the 39 Year Old from New Jersey, has one good season left in him. At a good clip, he may see 550 AB. Based on this, he should be good for around 160 – 180 Hits.
With an outstanding year, this would put him right near Tris Speaker‘s 3515 (200 Hits from right now) base knocks, for 5th on the list, but he would likely still be short.
If Jeter were to have played in 2015 (I am glad he isn’t, because it is okay to leave the game mostly at the top), he might have had a chance at running down Stan Musial for 5th at 3630 (315 Hits away right now).
Stan Musial led in over 70 Single Season Categories for his distinguished career. Incredibly, the man hit .310+ in 16 straight seasons from 1942 -1958. Musial is 4th on the ALL – Time Hit List behind only Aaron, Cobb and Rose.
Mr. Jeter doesn’t have the type of game for DH, and the Yankees will need to clear that spot for a power hitter in 2015, as it also maybe the year the club hits the reset button on payroll flexibility.
One of the reasons Boston has been good for so long, is that David Ortiz is a far superior DH to most of his counterparts in the American League, and the club has ridden him to several playoff spots.
If Jeter can’t play the field for the majority of his time, it would be hard on the ream trying to force the hand of their aging superstar.
Hopefully, this year will be a lot better in the health department for the Shortstop.
The 2013 took its toll on the 19 year Veteran. Jeter will also turn 40 during the 2014 season. If he were to play another year, it would have made him 41 years old as a Shortstop halfway into next campaign.
Only Omar Vizquel and Honus Wagner played the position for any decency in their 40′s in in the Major Leagues. Jeter is trying to come back from a broken ankle in middle age.
Even players like Cal Ripken had to switch positions later in their career to prolong it. That would give even more credence to him moving to 3rd base next year.
With these kind of names being floated out in this piece, it merely points out how historic that Jeter has been in his career.
That he is among these Hall Of Fame Players is a testament to his professionalism and durability.
After last season, I couldn’t see Jeter hanging them based on a injury riddled year. Now he will look to go out on top.
The Yankees have gone all out to ensure that the team is competitive in 2014, and maybe the 5 time World Champion may have a chance at running some more October heroics this year.
It will be interesting to see what happens if Jeter struggles at all in 2014. He will be given every chance to pull himself out of any slump – but at what point would Girardi keep him out of the lineup?
As a Jeter fan, I think he will be good enough to warrant being the Yanks lineup based on his own merits and not legend. Derek Jeter doesn’t know how to fail.
Either Way, 2014 will now be the final chapter in Derek Jeter’s illustrious career.
The Yanks have made the Post Season in 17 of 19 seasons with Jeter, including 10 ALCS Appearances, 7 World Series Appearances and 5 World Series Titles. Derek Jeter is the ALL – Time leader in hits (200), AB 650, PA (743) Runs (111), TB (305) 2B (32), 3B (5) for the Post Season. His BA is .308 in that time frame – with 20 HRs and 63 RBI. The Yankees start play tonight 2 1/2 Games behind Tampa for the 2nd WILD CARD spot with 24 games remaining.
*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com or their partners.***
Chuck Booth - Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner and author of the Fastest 30 Ballgames: To learn more about my “The Fastest 30 Ballgames Book” and how to purchase it, click here .
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