Derek Jeter Made His MLB Debut 25 Years Ago Today
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Hall of Famer Derek Jeter got his start 25 years ago with the New York Yankees, after coming out of the University of Michigan, he was the sixth overall pick in the June 1992 draft and working through the Yankees Farm System. Yet, after an amazing 1996 season, earning him Rookie of the Year, interestingly he was demoted to the minor league for a short time What were those weeks like for the player who became a dominant force of the Yankees team?
Read the full transcript below:
Kaitlin O'Toole: Derek Jeter made his MLB debut twenty-five years ago on Friday in 1995. You may remember him winning Rookie of the Year in 1996, but he was actually demoted back to the minors shortly after his debut. Joining me now is Yankees team reporter Max Goodman. Max, Jeter was is only in the major leagues for a few weeks before being sat down to the minors. What were those weeks like? And what's the story behind him being demoted?
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Max Goodman: Well, this is a fun story. Kaitlin, I don't necessarily think it's 100 percent common knowledge among everyone. And I had a chance to cover Jeters Hall of Fame press conference. And he spoke about this when someone asked, what do you remember from your debut, which was 24 years ago and change. Twenty-five years ago this weekend in Seattle, he goes, 0-5 against the Mariners when he was recalling that moment. He said, I don't really remember much. It was all a blur except the statistics of going 0-5 and then going to McDonald's with my dad after because all the restaurants were closed. And so he ends up staying in the major leagues for 13 games, he hit two thirty-four. Nothing crazy. He was only up because Tony Fernandez, the Yankees starting shortstop at the time, was injured. And so fast forward to June 11th, Mariano Rivera was also on the Yankees at that point, but he was a starting pitcher. And so Mariano has some trouble, he gives up five runs in two and a third innings pitched, and then both of them get sent down. And so at this Hall of Fame press conference, and he's told this story multiple times before you can find it in a bunch of different articles. He goes back and he says it was Mariano Rivera s fault, jokingly, of course, that the two of them got sent down at the same time. But then Jeter gets called up later in September and then he goes on to win Rookie of the year the next year, as you said, and the rest is history.
Kaitlin O'Toole That's such a great story. And what a great work ethic. Never giving up an Jeters back in the league. Rivera. One of the best closers of all time. That's an incredible story. Max, thanks so much for your insight on this. Really appreciate it.