Over Derek Jeter’s two-decade career he established himself as one of the best players in MLB history and a New York Yankees icon. The 14-time All-Star’s efforts were rewarded on Wednesday as he officially joined the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Jeter, a near unanimous Hall of Fame selection, joins Marvin Miller, Ted Simmons and Larry Walker into the 2020 class. The group was supposed to be honored last year, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced the ceremony’s postponement.
A five-time World Series champion and the 2000 World Series MVP, Jeter ended his career in 2014 with the most hits (3,465) and runs (1,923) among all shortstops in MLB history. He earned five Gold Gloves, five Silver Sluggers and Rookie of the Year honors over the 20 years he spent largely atop the sport — athletically and culturally.
Here’s how the Yankees, Jeter’s former teammates, his fans and more are reacting to his Hall of Fame induction.
The New York Knicks honored Jeter, who attended many games in Madison Square Garden, by calling him an “All-time great.”
Former Yankees outfielder and baseball Hall of Famer in his own right Reggie Jackson donned a Jeter jersey at the 2021 induction ceremony.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Carmelo Antony knows all about being a top athlete in New York after spending seven years as the Knicks’ centerpiece. He credited Jeter for doing exactly the same by saying his Hall of Fame induction was “only a matter of time.”
Outfielder Curtis Granderson played with Jeter for three seasons before heading to the Mets in 2014. That was all the time Granderson needed to know exactly how much of a leader Jeter was.
A teammate of Jeter’s for nine years, eight-time All-Star Robinson Cano now describes the Hall of Famer as a “brother.”
Former Yankees catcher Jorge Posada came into the Majors at the same time as Jeter and says the two became “inseparable” over their 17 years together in the Bronx.
Three-time MVP and nine-time All-Star Mike Trout called Jeter an “inspiration” on and off the field in his congratulatory Twitter message.
The start of Kevin Pillar’s career coincided with the end of Jeter’s, but the two shared a touching moment — as recounted by Pillar — nonetheless.
All-Star pitcher Chris Bassitt of the Oakland Athletics shared a strong opinion about the one Hall of Fame voter who excluded Jeter from his ballot, writing they should be “banned from anything baseball.”
New York Mets pitcher Marcus Stroman wrote Jeter “transcended” the short stop position and had “an entire generation” doing jump throws like him. The former Gold Glove winner also quote Tweeted a fan who posted a picture of him attempting a jump throw with the caption, “‘JETER’.”
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jack Flaherty never played against Jeter, but showed his respect for the Yankees legend with a simple picture of him squatting at his shortstop position.
