Countdown to 2020

“When you look at the totality of Derek’s career, it is truly remarkable,” said Hall of Fame President Jeff Idelson. “Not only was he a phenomenal player, but he dignified the game with his class, and helped to grow it with his personal connection to fans who cheered him in all 30 ballparks. His generosity toward the Hall of Fame demonstrates his appreciation for history, while giving every fan a vivid reminder of his magnificent contributions.”

Jeter’s ties to the Museum dates back to almost the beginning of his illustrious career. In 1996, the Yankees won their first of five World Championships during Jeter’s career. The home jersey he wore in the ’96 World Series was the first artifact he donated to the Museum, capping his Rookie of the Year award-winning campaign.

As the Yankees success grew with World Series titles in 1998 and 2000, so, too, did Jeter’s generosity with Cooperstown, donating bats from both the ’98 and ’00 Series, as well as the batting helmet from 2000, when he was named World Series Most Valuable Player. The 2000 season was a banner one for Jeter: The bat he used in the All-Star Game that summer in Atlanta when he was also named MVP of that game, also donated to the Hall of Fame.

Since that time, artifacts ranging from his 2006 World Baseball Classic jersey to the cap he wore at this past summer’s All-Star Game in Minneapolis in his final Mid-Summer Classic have been donated to the Hall of Fame.

Honus Wagner set the standard for shortstops in Cooperstown as a member of the inaugural Class of 1936 at the Hall of Fame. Still the holder of many offensive records for shortstops, including career batting average (.325) triples (210), the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Wagner combined hitting skill and fielding prowess like few middle infielders before or since.

But following Wagner’s retirement in 1917, most of the game’s top-tier shortstops were small-but-quick-and-agile glove men whose batting skills were considered a bonus.

Between 1946 and 1984, modern-era (post-1900) shortstops like Joe Tinker, Rabbit Maranville, Luke Appling, Dave Bancroft, Joe Sewell, Travis Jackson and Luis Aparicio were elected to the Hall of Fame thanks to quick hands and line-drive bats. Exceptions to the rule like Joe Cronin (elected to the Hall of Fame in 1956), Lou Boudreau (1970) and Ernie Banks (1977) – players whose power bats carried them to Cooperstown – existed but were in the minority.

But beginning with the election of Robin Yount in 1999, the tide began to turn in favor of bigger shortstops who had the ability to drive the ball out of any park. The most recent shortstop inducted into the Hall of Fame, Barry Larkin, became the first shortstop in history to post a 30-home run/30-steal season in 1996 and slugged .444 over the course of his 19-year career with the Reds.

As Larkin’s career wound down, a new era of shortstops – led by Cal Ripken Jr., Nomar Garciaparra, Alex Rodriguez and Jeter – redefined the position with size and range, proving that height ranging from 6-foot-2 and even beyond would play no role in whether a player could handle the infield’s most demanding position.

The 6-foot-3 Jeter, for example, played an incredible 150-or-more games at shortstop in 11 of his 20 big league seasons, never appearing at another defensive position and finishing just 35 games behind 5-foot-9 Omar Vizquel for the top spot among games played at shortstop.

Jeter reached double figures in home runs in 16 seasons and totaled 544 doubles, second among shortstops behind only Ripken among players who played at least 75 percent of their games at shortstop. Using the same 75 percent standard, Jeter ranks third among shortstops in home runs (260, behind Ripken and Miguel Tejada) and second in extra-base hits (870, behind Ripken).

By the time Jeter becomes Hall of Fame-eligible in 2020, Vizquel – owner of 11 Gold Glove Awards and 2,877 hits – may be waiting for him in Cooperstown, having himself become eligible in 2018.

The outstanding careers of both men demonstrate that the shortstop position can be played successfully – even Cooperstown worthily – in many ways.

All-Time Regular Season Rankings Through His Final Game

Regular Season Highlights

• Named to All-Star Team 14 Times (All-Star Game MVP in 2000)
• 14 Selections are 3rd most in Yankees’ history, 9 starts are tied for 3rd most in Yankees’ history
• 1996 American League Rookie of the Year
• 2000 American League Babe Ruth Award recipient
• 2006 and 2009 American League Hank Aaron Award recipient
• 2009 Roberto Clemente Award recipient
• 2010 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award recipient
• Five-time Gold Glove recipient (2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010)
• Five-time Silver Slugger recipient (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012)
• August 1998 American League Player of the Month
• Three-time American League Player of the Week

All Time Postseason Rankings Through His Final Season

Postseason Highlights

• Played in 33 postseason series over 16 seasons
• Reached ALCS 10 times and won seven (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2009)
• Reached World Series seven times and won five (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2009)
• World Series MVP (2000)

All Information Derived from Baseball-Reference.com and 2014 New York Yankees Official Media Guide & Record Book