This time next year, Derek Jeter will officially be a former Major League baseball player. After 20 seasons, “El Capitan” will boast one of the most decorated, enviable careers in the history of American sports — something everyone knows and no one disputes. A quick recap of what he’s done from a statisical standpoint:
[MLB.com] Jeter can boast 3,316 hits, first among Yankees and active players and second among shortstops, with Honus Wagner’s 3,430 clearly within reach. He also is the Yanks’ all-time leader in games (2,602), at-bats (10,614) and stolen bases (348); second in doubles (525); third in runs (1,876); fifth in walks (1,047); sixth in RBIs (1,261); seventh in batting average (.312); and ninth in home runs (256).
Regardless of the esoteric-though-inevitable-argument of “where he stands among the greats,” Jeter’s impact on baseball during the sport’s most controversial era is unparalleled and undeniably important. Once again, everyone knows that the guy who didn’t use PEDs between 1992-2014 (on a team filled with juicers in a league filled with juicers) and still managed to accumulate the numbers listed above, should serve as a reminder that honest people still can be heros. Sappy, of course, but it’s true — and we will fight you if you disagree.
What a find for the Yankees, though, who drafted him 6th overall in the 1992 MLB draft. Conversely, what a terrible, terrible tragedy for the Houston Astros, Cleveland Indians, Montreal Expos, Baltimore Orioles, and Cincinnati Reds, all of whom passed on D.J. for a bunch of relative no names, only to watch the Yankees win five World Series while literally none of them won any. Sure, they’re all much smaller markets with significantly fewer resources than New York, but the fact isn’t lost that only one of them even managed to get to the Fall Classic during Jeter’s career.
So, to put what Derek has done into a rather perverse perspective, let’s see the depressing list of guys selected 1-5, and what they’ve accomplished:
1. Houston – 3B Phil Nevin (CSU-Fullerton)
MLB career: 1995-2001
Number of teams: 7
Awards: All-Star (2001)
Batting average: .270
Home runs: 208
RBIs: 743
Where is he now: Manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Class AAA minor league affiliate the Reno Aces
2. Cleveland – P Paul Shuey (UNC)
MLB career: 1994-2003, 2007
Number of teams: 3
Awards: 1991 U.S. National team co-MVP
Win–loss record: 45–28
ERA: 3.87
Strikeouts: 556
Where is he now: Assistant coach of Barton College’s women soccer team
3. Montreal – P B.J. Wallace (Mississippi State)
MLB career: Retired in 1997 before making big leagues
Number of teams: 3 Minor League teams
Awards: All-SEC’s first team (1991), Olympic single-game strikeout record (14 against Italy)
Where is he now: “In 2011, Wallace and his wife were arrested for the manufacturing of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.[16] The substance was reportedly methamphetamine.” — Wikipedia
4. Baltimore – OF Jeffrey Hammonds (Stanford)
MLB career: 1993-2005
Number of teams: 6
Awards: NCAA Freshman of the Year (1990), All-Star (2001),
Batting average: .272
Home runs: 110
RBIs: 423
Where is he now: Special assistant to MLB Players Union in “Player Program Development”
5. Cincinnati – OF Chad Mottola (UCF)
MLB career: 1996, 2000-2001, 2004, 2006
Number of teams: 5
Awards: Carolina League All-Star (1993)
Batting average: .200
Home runs: 4
RBIs: 12
Where is he now: Recently fired as Blue Jays hitting coach
Feeling nauseous? We don’t blame you. Hell, we don’t even blame the GMs who made these picks. Part of what makes baseball so much fun to watch, is that it really is hard to nail down who will be good and who will be a bust — and this list gives you an idea of just of how hard to is to make it in the bigs. Also, the chasm between what is perceived as “a top prospect” and what is, in actuality, someone who will be successful. Like, say, this guy:
6. New York Yankees – SS Derek Jeter (Kalamazoo Central High School)
MLB career: 1995-2014
Number of teams: 1
Awards: AL ROY (1996), 2× AL Hank Aaron Award (2006, 2009), 5× Silver Slugger Award (2006–2009, 2012), 5× Rawlings Gold Glove Award (2004–2006, 2009–2010), Roberto Clemente Award (2009), World Series MVP (2000), 5× World Series champion (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2009), 13× MLB All-Star (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012), MLB All-Star game MVP (2000), Hitter of the Year Award (2006)
Batting average: .312
Hits: 3,316
Runs: 1,876
Stolen bases: 348
Home runs: 256
RBIs: 1,261
Where is he now: St. Jetersburg, prepping for his final season
Ahem. As if this wasn’t a stark enough contrast, we’ve compiled a list of the hottest women Derek Jeter has ever “dated,” because let’s be honest, what retrospective would be complete without one? Here’s to insult to injury!
Header photo via Flickr user lakelandlocal