Are Derek Jeter Collectors Crazy?

[packs]

The Jeter wasn't great argument is so bizarre to me and I can't understand what it is people are holding onto. The guy played the most premier position for the most premier team for 20 years, was a perennial all star, is 6th all time in hits and was a major reason the team won 5 titles.

I can think of plenty of "good players" who never did any of those things. And I don't even like Jeter. But I see no point in not recognizing the fact that you got to see one of the best players in history over the last 20 years.

[David Atkatz]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/0...types=og.likes

[packs]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/0...types=og.likes

There is a difference between being a great player and the greatest player. Reducing his career to him being a so-so good player is bizarre.
Olberman's arguments about him not leading the league in categories or leading the Yankees has no place in the discussion. Why? Because it ignores the fact that Jeter played shortstop, the premier position on the field and a position that sees constant turn over. Except in the 20 years he stood there. Nomar, Arod, Tejada, where are they? What are their legacies? You can find Jeter at short.

I also don't really like that Olberman picks and chooses his stats. He says Jeter's offense was lacking but doesn't say anything about how Jeter is 20th all time in offensive WAR. Ahead of players like Jimmie Foxx, Griffey and Albert Pujols.

His defensive metrics are way off base too. The key to being a great shortstop and not just a good one for a little while is staying on the field. Jeter is 2nd all time in games played at the position.

Olberman has an agenda. He doesn't like Derek Jeter for some reason. I don't know what the reason is, but I'm sure it's not a good one.

[David Atkatz]

Originally Posted by packs

Jeter is 2nd all time in games played at the position..

Yeah. And how many runs has that cost the Yankees?

[packs]

Well it won them 5 titles.

[David Atkatz]

Originally Posted by packs

Well it won them 5 titles.

All by himself, huh? They stopped winning when the '98 core was gone. Jeter was still at short, but the WS trophies were no longer in NY.

[packs]

Probably should have traded him then. Mariano too.

[btcarfagno]

I hope they are crazy. I have a pair of game worn items that I wouldn't mind selling.

Tom C

[Gary Dunaier]

I watched the game on TV and in the bottom of the 5th inning, Jeter hit a foul ball to the third base side, retrieved by the ballboy. Instead of tossing it into the crowd, he held on to it, reached into his back pocket, and gave another ball to a kid in the stands. (In the screen capture below, the ballboy has the ball Jeter fouled in his glove, and is reaching into his back pocket for another baseball.). The cameras cut back to gameplay and didn't show what the ballboy did with the ball (thank goodness for mlb.tv, there's no way I would have remembered any of this myself!), but I presume it was specifically put aside with other Jeter-related balls to be authenticated and then go to Steiner for sale.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by Gary Dunaier

I watched the game on TV and in the bottom of the 5th inning, Jeter hit a foul ball to the third base side, retrieved by the ballboy. Instead of tossing it into the crowd, he held on to it, reached into his back pocket, and gave another ball to a kid in the stands. (In the screen capture below, the ballboy has the ball Jeter fouled in his glove, and is reaching into his back pocket for another baseball.). The cameras cut back to gameplay and didn't show what the ballboy did with the ball (thank goodness for mlb.tv, there's no way I would have remembered any of this myself!), but I presume it was specifically put aside with other Jeter-related balls to be authenticated and then go to Steiner for sale.

How creepy and contrived is that!!

Man, now I REALLY want a piece of all this Steiner/Jeter memorabilia.
Wait, maybe I should wait for the Jeter signed broomsticks. THAT would be cool!

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Gary Dunaier

I watched the game on TV and in the bottom of the 5th inning, Jeter hit a foul ball to the third base side, retrieved by the ballboy. Instead of tossing it into the crowd, he held on to it, reached into his back pocket, and gave another ball to a kid in the stands. (In the screen capture below, the ballboy has the ball Jeter fouled in his glove, and is reaching into his back pocket for another baseball.). The cameras cut back to gameplay and didn't show what the ballboy did with the ball (thank goodness for mlb.tv, there's no way I would have remembered any of this myself!), but I presume it was specifically put aside with other Jeter-related balls to be authenticated and then go to Steiner for sale.

I noticed that also, I figured the ball boy was going to keep it for himself.

[CrazyDiamond]

Originally Posted by packs

The Jeter wasn't great argument is so bizarre to me and I can't understand what it is people are holding onto. The guy played the most premier position for the most premier team for 20 years, was a perennial all star, is 6th all time in hits and was a major reason the team won 5 titles.

I can think of plenty of "good players" who never did any of those things. And I don't even like Jeter. But I see no point in not recognizing the fact that you got to see one of the best players in history over the last 20 years. Does he really need to be taken down a peg? Who was better?

Agree 100%. I would love to add a jeter item to my collection but i have a really hard time paying for it. Whether you like him or not you have to give credit where credit is due. He played the game hard through his whole career and you cant overlook all the accomplishments mentioned in your post.

He is a true ball player. Plays the game like he loves it. It is plays like his "double cut relay play" where he backhand flipped the ball to posada. That is the kind of "baseball smarts" that are hard to find now. Knowing the situation and making what i feel is one of the greatest plays ever you can compare it to the Willie Mays "Catch". I have to remind a lot of people that it was not only "the catch" that made that play so great it was the throw back in saving the run.

I do think those of us that were not fortunate enough to see the mantles, mays, williams, etc. were lucky to see jeter play.

I have to add i am not a yankees fan either

[gregr2]

I've been wanting a Jeter signature but refuse to pay the current asking prices. To me, it is just unrealistic. Like others have stated, I'll also wait 6-10 years and hopefully the prices will drop to a reasonable area and I'll pick one up for what I believe it to be worth.

[MacDice]

Let me start off by saying that I am not a Yankee or a big Jeter fan. That being said, I would like to see him pull a Ted Williams and not play again after his final home game. I think that after 20 years, that the last time he is on the field and in uniform should be at Yankee Stadium and the home town fans.