Derek Jeter, the Hall of Fame shortstop, participated in his first Yankees Old-Timers’ Day before the game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Jeter joked with YES Network about being the youngest ex-player in attendance and suggested that the Yankees should rebrand the event.
During the event, Jeter praised the 1998 championship squad, stating that they could compete with any team in baseball history. The 1998 Yankees won 114 games in the regular season, which was close to the record of 116.
Jeter, who is now 49 years old, last played in 2014. He had an impressive career over 20 years, with a batting average of .310, on-base percentage of .377, and slugging percentage of .440. He hit 260 home runs and stole 358 bases. According to Baseball Reference’s calculations, his contributions were estimated to be worth 71.3 Wins Above Replacement.
Aside from winning five World Series titles, Jeter also received several individual awards. He won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1996 and went on to claim five Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Awards each. He also made 14 All-Star Game appearances and won the World Series MVP and All-Star Game MVP Awards.
Unlike Jeter’s time, the current Yankees team has been struggling. They currently have a 70-71 record, meaning they are eight games out of the American League wild-card race. Additionally, they trail the Boston Red Sox by two games in the AL East, putting them in fourth place. The last time the Yankees finished last in their division was in 1990.
For those curious, Jeter was drafted by the Yankees in 1992.
