Derek Jeter biography

Synopsis

Early Life and Career

Derek Sanderson Jeter was born on June 26, 1974, in Pequannok, New Jersey. At an early age, Jeter showed that he had all the makings of a baseball great. During his senior year at Kalamazoo Central High School, he won several national sports awards, including being named the American High School Coaches Association's 1992 "High School Player of the Year," the 1992 "Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year" and USA Today's "High School Player of the Year."

Career with the New York Yankees

After graduation, Jeter was picked by the New York Yankees in the June 1992 draft. He first played in the minor leagues, hitting .295 with five home runs during the 1993 season. And Jeter's performance on the field only improved the next year. In 1994, he was selected as "Minor League Player of the Year" by several publications, including The Sporting News and Baseball America.

In 1995, Derek Jeter got his first shot at the major leagues when Yankees shortstop Tony Fernandez was put on the disabled list. Jeter made his debut on May 29 of that year, playing against the Seattle Mariners. The following year, in his first full season as a Major League Baseball player, he batted .314 with 10 home runs. The skilled shortstop also performed well in the infield—his fielding percentage was .969—and helped the Yankees win the World Series against the Atlanta Braves. Jeter won the 1996 American League Rookie of the Year Award for his performance that season.

Jeter has been an outstanding player in the major leagues since his rookie season. He helped the Yankees with more World Series wins in 1998, 1999 and 2000. In 2000, Jeter was named Most Valuable Player in the World Series and the All-Star Game. He also received Gold Glove Awards in 2004 and 2005 for his performance on the field. A consistently strong athlete—boasting a career batting average of .316 and average fielding percentage of .975 around this time—Jeter earned the respect and admiration of coaches, sports commentators, peers and fans. In 2009, he passed Lou Gehrig's record with this 2,722nd hit—the most in franchise history.

Life Off the Field

Off the field, Derek Jeter has garnered attention for his quiet confidence and good looks. He has appeared in numerous commercials and signed a deal with Avon Products, Inc., in 2006 to create a fragrance for men called Driven.

Jeter has also used his celebrity and his prominent position as a sports star to help children. In 1996, he established the Turn 2 Foundation to encourage young people to be healthy and academically successful, to become leaders, and to stay away from drugs and alcohol. The foundation supports and creates programs to achieve these goals.

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