Jeter: An athlete worth idolizing

What do Hanley Ramirez, B.J. Upton and Troy Tulowitzki have in common?

Well, for those of you who aren't baseball fans, they are all young stars in the major leagues. They also all wear Derek Jeter's No. 2.

Last Friday, Jeter singled for his 2,722nd career hit, making him the Yankees' all-time hit king.

Love them or hate them, any serious baseball fan has to respect the Yankees' history. Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Roger Maris, Reggie Jackson and Lou Gehrig - these guys are legends, and now Jeter has more hits in Yankee pinstripes than all of them.

For as long as I can remember, Jeter has been the Yankees' shortstop and the face of the franchise. He's the guy who hit the home run in 1996 against the Orioles that pre-teen Jeffrey Maier snagged a bit too early. He's the guy who hit the first home run ever during the month of November in the 2001 World Series. He's the guy who went into the stands against the Red Sox and came out with the ball and a bloody cheek. He's the captain of one of the most storied teams in the history of sports.

But what sets Jeter apart is what you don't hear about him.

Hundreds of names have come out during baseball's steroid debacle, but not Jeter's. A number of players have been involved in ugly divorces, brushes with the law and tabloid scandals, but not Jeter.

Since he came into the league as a skinny kid with a steady glove and a knack for coming through in the clutch, Jeter has been the definition of professional. Teammates, coaches, friends and celebrities rarely go out of their way to talk about him, but when they do, they only have good things to say.

Players like Jeter are once in a generation. Some of Jeter's contemporaries have his type of numbers, but not his type of reputation. Some have the rep, but can't hold a candle to the stats Jeter has put up.

I remember seeing Jeter in person at the All-Star Game in 2002. He did an interview with ESPN and then calmly walked through the crowd, smiling and clicking his cleats as he headed toward the field. He didn't say anything, but he didn't have to. As a 13-year-old shortstop who had loved Jeter since I first picked up a bat, I was in awe just watching him walk by.

Young fans around the country - shortstops and centerfielders, Little League all-stars and benchwarmers alike - have chosen Jeter as their hero, and he hasn't disappointed. Instead of parents being forced to explain why their child's hero is on the news as a cheater or a criminal, Jeter gives parents a reason to encourage their kids to love him. Parents everywhere wish their kids could grow up just like Derek Jeter.

And Jeter's not done yet. Pete Rose, the all-time hit leader in the majors, didn't have as many hits as Jeter at this age. Rose played until he was an ancient 45 years old, so Jeter may never catch him, but the fact that he's ahead of Rose's pace is impressive enough in itself.

Players like Ramirez, Tulowitzki and Upton are bound to be the future household names of the MLB, but even these guys picked Jeter's number out of respect for him. White Sox third baseman Gordon Beckham doubled earlier this year against the Yanks and then turned to ask Jeter to sign a jersey. When he did, he was overwhelmed by nerves. Meeting your hero can be intimidating.

As this year's playoffs approach and Jeter's Yankees look better than they have in years, Jeter will try to add to the stat that means the most to him: championships.

When Jeter and the Yankees head into October, enjoy the show. When Jeter heads to Cooperstown after his career, he will go down as one of those players who represent what baseball is all about.

And the best part is, when you tell your grandkids about him, you can tell the whole story. There's nothing to censor.

Contact staff writer Reilly Moore at reilly.moore@richmond.edu