|
 Jeter, who strained a hamstring legging out an infield hit on
Saturday, was replaced by slow-footed pinch runner Brian McCann and
given a thunderous send-off with the Fenway crowd chanting "De-rek
Je-ter" and the Red Sox players applauding him.
The Yankees captain, celebrated by his Boston rivals in a classy
pre-game ceremony, waved his cap to the crowd drawing one last roar
of tribute before he was greeted with hugs by each teammate at the
dugout.
The base hit, which Boston third baseman Garin Cecchini was unable
to grab with his bare hand, gave Jeter 3,465 for his career -- sixth
best on MLB's all-time list -- as the 14-times All-Star left the
game and began life as a spectator.
Jeter, 40, could have called it a career on a Hollywood high note
after stroking a ninth-inning, walk-off winning single in his last
at-bat at Yankee Stadium on Thursday.
But there was one last series left in the season, and the Yankees
captain said that out of respect to Boston, the fans and the Red Sox
rivalry he wanted to be in the lineup at Fenway Park.
Red Sox manager John Farrell said before Sunday's game that he was
not surprised.
"It’s similar to the way I've seen him handle everything else that’s
gone on in his career," Farrell told reporters.
"It’s with respect to the game, it’s with a grace and a dignity and
an integrity that is probably unmatched by others. He sets the bar
by which every young player should look up to and aspire to be."
STIRRING CEREMONY
The Red Sox honored Jeter with an effort befitting one of their own
as they summoned some of their greatest former players including
Hall of Famers Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice, and Fred Lynn and Luis
Tiant wearing their old Boston jerseys.
They also brought out other Boston sports champions to honor
five-time World Series winner Jeter, including National Hockey
League Hall of Famer Bobby Orr of the Bruins, former Celtics
champion Paul Pierce and Patriots Super Bowl winner Troy Brown.
The entire Red Sox team poured out of the dugout and formed a line
headed by slugger David Ortiz to individually congratulate Jeter.
Jeter was presented with a pair of cowboy boots, a Fenway base with
pinstripes and his uniform No. 2 on it, a check for his Turn 2
Foundation, and a strip of Green Monster wall metal signed by Red
Sox players and embossed with "RE2PECT" on it.
Another dignitary made a stirring appearance.
[to top of second column] |
After a video was shown of Jeter taking the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
this season in the Yankees clubhouse, former Boston College baseball
captain Peter Frates, who started the fundraising campaign, came out
in a motorized wheelchair to greet the Yankees shortstop.
ENDS ERA
The retirement of Jeter at the close of the 2014 MLB season signaled
the end of an era.
Jeter was the last connection to the Yankees' stellar run of four
World Series titles in five years from 1996.
He and already-retired teammates Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and
Jorge Posada -- known collectively as the 'Core Four' -- added a
fifth Fall Classic ring in 2009.
Boston is the next most successful franchise since 1996 with three
World Series titles.
"It's hard to believe it’s his last game," said Yankees manager Joe
Girardi, a teammate of Jeter's early in the shortstop's career.
"Since a young man signing as a teenager, it’s really what he’s
known. And it’s what we’ve known him to be, the Yankees shortstop,
and it’s hard to believe it’s coming to an end.”
"I think it is the end of an era."
Farrell agreed.
"When you consider a guy of his caliber, the length of career in one
uniform, it’s pretty remarkable," the Red Sox manager said.
"And very unique that Derek has not only had the success he has had
but when you think of 20 years in one uniform, I think you would be
hard pressed to see that happen again.
"You look at that Big Four that is now the final one, that is
retiring. The game moves on. I think that’s the thing that we take
away from it. The game doesn’t stop for anyone."
(Editing by Frank Pingue)
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