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Derek Jeter Makes a Career of Signature Moments

July 13, 2011 · SportsLifer · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees

While most ballplayers don’t have a single signature moment, Derek Jeter has a career full of them.

The Yankee captain even has a signature play—the Jeter jump throw from deep shortstop—which he’s performed dozens and dozens of times throughout his 17-year career.

Here are 10 signature moments that define Derek Jeter.

1. 1996: The shortstop comes through in the clutch in his rookie season. His two-out, bases loaded single up the middle delivers the winning run in the 10th inning of a 12-11 Yankee victory over the Red Sox.

2. 1996: In the game that made Jeffrey Maier famous, Jeter’s eighth-inning home run ties to the score and the Yankees go on to beat the Orioles, 5-4, in Game 1 of the ALCS.

3. 2000: Jeter leads off Game 4 of the Subway Series with a first-pitch home run to spark a 3-2 win, then hits another homer in Game 5 to earn the World Series MVP.

4. 2001, The Flip: From out of nowhere. Jeter catches an errant throw and flips to ball to catcher Jorge Posada to nip Jeremy Giambi at home and preserve a 1-0 Yankee win at Oakland that turned the ALDS.

5. 2001: With the score tied in the 10th inning, Jeter hits a walk-off home run in Game 4 of the World Series to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 4-3, and earn a new nickname: Mr. November.

6. 2004: Jeter catches a pop fly against Boston and dives into the Yankee Stadium stands. He comes out bruised and bloody, but the Yankees come out a winner in 13 innings.

7. 2005: With the Red Sox coming off their first world championship in 86 years, Jeter hits a walk-off home run to beat Boston and closer Keith Foulke 4-3 in the second game of the season.

8. 2005: Jeter hits the first—and thus far only—grand slam of his career against the Chicago Cubs in the Bronx, sparking the Yankees to an 8-1 victory.

9. 2009: Captain Jeter passes Captain Gehrig with a third-inning single to right and becomes the all-time hit leader for the Yankees with 2,722 hits.

10. 2010: Jeter joins the exclusive 3,000 hit club with a home run and caps a 5-for-5 day with a game-winning single in the eighth as the Yankees beat Tampa Bay, 5-4.