Derek Jeter

Derek Sanderson Jeter (born June 26, 1974 in Pequannock, New Jersey) is the current starting shortstop for the New York Yankees baseball team and a six-time All-Star.

A flair for the dramatic

Jeter has a knack for making dramatic defensive plays. Perhaps the most notable example of this occurred on October 13, 2001, during the Game 3 of the ALDS against the Oakland Athletics. The Yankees trailed in the series 2 games to none, but led 1-0 in the 7th inning. With the A's Jeremy Giambi on first, Terrence Long hit a shot down the right-field line. Yankee rightfielder Shane Spencer, while attempting to prevent the A's from scoring threw wildly toward home, missing the cutoff man. Jeter cut the ball off in foul territory, and flipped the ball behind him to catcher Jorge Posada, who tagged the runner out and saved a run. Yankee fans refer to this play as "The Flip." The Yankees went on to win the series.

Related Topics:
October 13 - 2001 - ALDS - Oakland Athletics - Jorge Posada

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On July 1, 2004, Jeter made another extraordinary defensive play. In the 12th inning of a tie game against the Boston Red Sox, Boston's Trot Nixon hit a pop-up down the left-field line toward the stands. Jeter sprinted for the ball and made a running one-handed catch, but hit the left-field wall at full-speed, sending him into the stands headfirst. Jeter held on to the ball, but emerged bruised and bloodied, with lacerations on his chin and cheek. Although he was forced to leave the game and get X-rays, Jeter was back in the lineup the following night with a large bandage on his chin. Some fans quickly began to wear similar bandages on their chins as a sign of support.

Related Topics:
July 1 - 2004 - Boston Red Sox - Trot Nixon - X-rays

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