Derek Jeter: No. 2 on the field, No. 1 in fans' hearts
Derek Jeter's final homestand ends Thursday, the last stop in a career of superlatives. There is a generation of Yankee fans that has known no other shortstop. Talk about Jeter and the memories flood: "The Flip" in Oakland; the head-first dive into the stands that left Jeter bloodied; the home run into the November night; the story-book 3,000th hit — a home-run, of course. We asked readers to say farewell to the Captain by completing the sentence, "Derek Jeter is ... ." Here's what they had to say.
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DEREK JETER IS...
"... my hero. I wear No. 2 for him. I play shortstop and I practice the 'Jeter Flip Play' in my driveway. The Yankees won't be the same without Derek Jeter. Thanks, Captain!" Liam Dolan, 8, Brick, N.J.
"... a true gentleman. He epitomizes what baseball is all about, what sportsmanship is all about. Derek, I truly want to thank you. You will always be a Yankee. We're all going to miss you." Phyllis Schneider, Armonk
"... someone who had the courage to clearly state that excellence was his professional performance goal. He then had the mind and body strength to relentlessly and successfully pursue that goal on a most public stage for almost 20 years. Derek Jeter is a man who is known, admired and respected by virtually all of America. That is who Derek Jeter is." Frank Solomita, Somers
"... a great player. He is one of my favorite baseball players. The Yankees won't be the same without Jeter. I'm going to miss him so much." Jennifer Johnson, Eastchester
"... an iconic figure, a true professional and an all-around great guy in and out of baseball. He will be missed." Eddie Palermo, Port Chester
"... a class act. He followed his boyhood dream. He will always be remembered as a true Yankee who was in it for the love of baseball and for the New York Yankee fans. Godspeed to you, Derek."
Patricia LaPeruta, Carmel
"... the kind of man I hope my three granddaughters are fortunate enough to marry and the kind of man I hope my one grandson grows up to be. I grew up in the shadow of the old Yankee Stadium. Where the new Stadium is was my playground. I'm 84 years old. And there has never been any ballplayer that I have followed as avidly as this young man because he stands for class, with a capital 'C.' " Marcia Isaacson, New City
"... the only right-handed hitter that I know has ever hit a ball in the upper deck, the third deck in Yankee Stadium. I saw him do it once in the old Stadium." Dan Shulman, Minneapolis
"... an inspirational, hard-working role model in baseball and in life. He has been my favorite player ever since he came up." Bernadette Pesco, Scarsdale
"... to me, a great baseball player for the Yankees. I enjoyed watching him on TV." Logan Nesci, Mahopac
"... my adolescence. April 9, 1996, was the first Opening Day I ever attended at Yankee Stadium. My father took me in the snow. I remember our tickets said 'Section 1,' and I thought 'Wow! We're going to be right behind home plate.' Well, we were right behind home plate, in the upper deck, in the snow, against the Royals. I turned 30 years old this July and Derek Jeter is the last active link to my childhood, to the Yankees of my generation, to the dynasty. I'm sad. I'm heartbroken about it. All good things must come to an end. I consider it one of the great honors of my life to have witnessed his entire career." Joe Laureiro, Yonkers
"... the best baseball player there is. He's such a gentleman. Never been mixed up in anything. Love him, love him to death. He is a role model to everybody, every one of us." Yvonne Mitchell, Bronx
"... is genuine. In 2000, Jeter was by the stands and we were right over the first-base dugout. My son was just absolutely enamored with him. Jeter gave him an autograph and talked to him for a little bit about school and how he was doing. My son got a full scholarship to NYU and to this day he thanks Derek Jeter for slowing down and asking how school was going. Jeter may not even remember it, but my son always will." Gerry Fox, Los Angeles
"... a true example of the way to conduct your life, on and off the field." Janet Kern, Brewster
"... No. 2, but he will always remain No. 1 to me." Emily Lethbridge, North White Plains
"... always fair to his teammates in his role as Captain of the New York Yankees." Gloria Boyle, Bronxville
"... the symbol of integrity in sports." Yvette Lawrie, White Plains
"... a great ballplayer who has come up through the ranks to become the best shortstop ever to be seen on the field. He shows respect, determination and love for the game. As a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, we need more of this in the world. To be an example for our children. How proud his parents must be." Josephine Piraneo, Nanuet
"... an inspiration to me by showing, in the last 20 years, that, yes, you can live a good and decent life without the trappings and pressures of society. Derek Jeter embodies what it is to be a true all-American athlete and role model. God bless him." Katherine Brooks, Peekskill
"... a captain's captain, the heart and soul of the Yankees. I think he was a natural gift from Thurman Munson, because their lockers were next to each other at one time in the old Stadium and getting that captain's vibe. Each of them were the heart and soul of a champion: desire, team and sacrifice above all else. Two major icons in Yankees history. I wish they could have played together." Curt Zachman, Ossining
"... the classiest, most dignified, respectful person, on and off the field. His parents must be full of pride. I, as a parent and grandparent, know how that feels. From his first home run to his 3,000th hit. We just love him." Lucia Bass, Somers
"... a true gentleman, on and off the field. I met him once. (He was) polite, kind, courteous, a true gentleman. If you look up 'gentleman' in the dictionary, there should be a picture of Derek Jeter. He's an outstanding player and an all-around great human being." Dennis Leddy, Highland Falls