By Sam Coombs

As Derek Jeter enters the final leg of his playing career this season, it is important to reflect on some special things he did in his career. Whether you’re a Red Sox fan, Rays fan or Mets fan you have to respect a player like Derek Jeter who, in the wake of the steroid era, has presumably done things the right way. The Yankees are a team with so much history and have the most championships in Major League Baseball with 27. There have been many great players from Lou Gehrig to Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Micky Mantle, Reggie Jackson but none have more hits as a Yankee then Derek Jeter.

On September 9^th 2009, Derek Jeter was facing the Tampa Bay Rays in a division game where all the fans in Yankee stadium knew he had a chance to tie the record if he had a good game. He needed three hits and three hits is what he got. Jeter finished the game 3-for-4 with a double and a stolen base after he had been in his worst slump of the season going 0-12 in his last 12 at bats. It was in the 7^th inning when Jeter tied the record on a single off Jeff Niemann of the Rays. On this night when Jeter tied Gehrig’s record, Yankee Stadium erupted in great pleasure as they got to witness history, which is something Yankee fans strive to see. Derek Jeter stood on first base as the fans gave him a standing ovation on this night, respecting the acts of Lou Gehrig as a Yankee but also praising one of the cities favorites, Derek Jeter. They both stood at the top of the list at 2,721 hits.

Jeter started this game with a bunt in the first inning trying to start off with a hit after he had been in a slump. He then followed with a groundout and ground ruled double for his second hit of the evening before tying the record. Jeter on this night also recorded his 300 steal as a Yankee which moved him into second on the all-time Yankee list. It was a terrific night for Derek Jeter’s career, he was quoted saying, “It’s just mind boggling to know my name is next to his (Gehrig).” “What an ovation I got from the fans,” he said, “I’ve been trying to do it for them.”

In the next series against the Baltimore Orioles would be when Jeter broke the record off pitcher Chris Tillman. Since 2009 Jeter has gone on to break many other records. He has announced this season that it will be his final season in the MLB and with the New York Yankees. Jeter has been going on a farewell tour and trying to lead his team to a playoff berth in his final MLB season. Derek Jeter to this day since passing Lou Gehrig now has 3447 career hits which is 6^th on the all-time list.

It is highly evident that Derek Jeter will go down as one of the best to ever play the game of baseball. September has always been a good month for Derek Jeter trying to push his team to the playoffs and ultimately World Series berths. It will be an exciting month for baseball fans to see what Derek Jeter brings to the table to end his historic career. All eyes will be watching Derek Jeter.