Happy Birthday, Derek Jeter

Derek Sanderson Jeter was born on June 26, 1974, in Pequannock, New Jersey, not far from Yankee Stadium. When he was not yet five years old, his family moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he learned to play baseball. Despite moving away from the New York area, Jeter remained a loyal Yankee fan, thanks to his grandmother’s strong love of the pinstriped players. By the time he was a senior in high school, his dream to play for the Yankees was realized: Jeter was the team’s sixth draft pick in June 1992. He began by playing for the minor leagues, but by 1996, he had joined the Yankees lineup full time.

Jeter distinguishes himself through hard work, optimism and family values. A 1999 USA Today article explains that Jeter’s dream was “built on three generations of love, sweat and tears.” His parents and grandparents insisted on teaching Jeter the value of personal achievement paired with respect for others. Even though the young Jeter broke curfew a few times and committed a few other minor infractions, his father is proud to say, “We were blessed with a good kid.”

Jeter won both the World Series MVP and the All-Star Game MVP in 2000, as well as the American League Golden Glove at SS three years running (2004–2006). For season stats, awards and Jeter’s year-by-year salary, visit ESPN’s Derek Jeter Web site.

In addition to his success as a ball player, Jeter created the Turn 2 Foundation to encourage kids to stay motivated in school while avoiding drugs and alcohol. The program awards grants and scholarships to kids who show strong academic achievement and leadership.

Buster Olney looks at Jeter’s character and career in this chapter from his book “The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty.” When interviewed, a parent of one of Jeter’s childhood friends praised how Jeter “effortlessly fit in with any group of children and made the others feel comfortable.” Even now, as the captain of the Yankees, Jeter has “a knack for drawing in the personalities on the fringes of the team, mostly with humor,” Olney writes.

Ed Bradley of “60 Minutes” talked with Jeter and his parents in 2005. Jeter credits his competitive spirit to his father: “It’s his fault. He used to beat me at everything we played.” According to the piece, “Every year from the time he was a kid until he graduated high school, Derek had to sign a contract drawn up by his father. He would be permitted to play baseball only if he complied with all 18 clauses, including ‘no arguing,’ ‘no alcohol and drugs,’ and ‘respect girls.’”