Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter was born on June 26, 1974 in New Jersey just a short distance from his Yankees’ hometown. He spent most of childhood in Michigan, playing on his high school team and entering the University of Michigan on a baseball scholarship. His talent had not gone unnoticed by big league recruiters, and soon the promising young shortstop was drafted into the Yankees organization. While leaving college before completing his first year of studies, the young Derek Jeter would be receiving what would be for him a more valuable education—playing baseball in the minor leagues from 1992 until 1995, when Jeter took the field for his first major league game.

Derek Jeter entered the big leagues with an enormous reputation to uphold. He had been showered with awards and recognition, and expectations were high for him to perform well. He experienced additional pressure because he owed the Yankees a lot, given that they had provided the substitute for a career of NCAA play. But in fact, Jeter has paid back his debt and then some, being one of the team’s most recognized players as well as a solid performer on the field.

Derek Jeter’s line of Nike shoes has become very popular among his fans, while female fans, many of which don’t know anything about baseball, are excited to see him playing baseball on television. His good looks and likeability have landed him guest roles on shows such as Seinfeld, and he was for some time romantically linked to talented diva Mariah Carey. Also notable is his Turn 2 foundation, which works in Michigan to promote athleticism, scholarship and extracurricular activities, while aiming to reduce juvenile recidivism and drug abuse.

As a short stop, Derek Jeter has a long list of accomplishments including All Star and World Baseball Classic awards, and has several times accompanied the Yankees to victory in the World Series Championship.