Jeter << JEET uhr >>, Derek (1974-…), was one of the best players in the history of Major League Baseball (MLB). Jeter played 20 MLB seasons from 1995 through 2014 with the New York Yankees. An outstanding all-around player, Jeter won five Gold Glove awards as the best defensive shortstop in the American League (AL). He also won five Silver Sluggers as the best hitter at his position. Jeter was a 14-time All-Star and holds the MLB record for career hits by a shortstop (3,465). Known for his leadership as well as his playing ability, Jeter served as team captain of the Yankees from 2003 through 2014. During Jeter’s time in New York, the Yankees won seven AL pennants and five World Series. Jeter was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2020.
Derek Sanderson Jeter was born on June 26, 1974, in Pequannock, New Jersey. He grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In 1992, the Yankees picked Jeter as the sixth selection in the MLB draft. He was named Minor League Player of the Year in 1994. Jeter played briefly with the Yankees in 1995. In 1996, he was named AL Rookie of the Year as the league’s best first-year player. Jeter led the AL in runs scored in 1998 (127) and in hits in 1999 (219) and 2012 (216). He retired with a .310 career batting average, and his 3,465 hits were the sixth most in MLB history. Jeter also scored 1,923 runs (11th most in MLB history), hit 260 home runs, and stole 358 bases during his career. The Yankees retired his uniform number 2 in 2017.
Jeter was one of the most popular and respected players in American sports. In 1996, he established the Turn 2 Foundation to promote healthy lifestyles among young people. The foundation works to help young people avoid illegal drugs and alcohol and to seek academic achievement. In 2009, Jeter received the Roberto Clemente Award, given annually to the baseball player who combines community service with outstanding skills on the field. Jeter Unfiltered is Jeter’s illustrated memoir of his baseball career, with glimpses of his personal life. The Contract is a baseball novel Jeter wrote for young readers, inspired by his early career as a player. Both books were published in 2014.
In 2017, Jeter led a group of investors that purchased the Miami Marlins, a National League MLB team. He served as the team’s chief executive officer from 2017 to 2022.
