Derek S. Jeter:
Role Model to All

Jeter dives into stands. (http://thehottestishh.wordpress.com/2009/06/15/yankees-win-series-2-1/derek-jeter-dive-into-stands/)

Who is your favorite hero? What makes a hero? A hero can be a person of all colors, nationalities, age, and size. It can be from the most rich and famous to the most poor and not known at all. A hero is a person who changed your life and moved you or influenced you in a positive way. A hero can be a complete stranger or a close family member.

Derek Sanderson Jeter is no question one of the greatest players in all of major league baseball. He plays for the New York Yankees as a shortstop. He is today the captain of the New York Yankees. He was born on June 26th, 1974, in Pequannock, New Jersey, and was raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He is my hero for his attitude on and off the field.

Derek always went to see his grandparents who lived very close to Yankee Stadium. They made him a huge Yankee fan, and took him to many games. In Kalamazoo, he went to high school and made the varsity team as a freshman.

Jeter doing what he does (webspace.webring.com)

Jeter graduated and was drafted by the Yankees in the sixth round. He also got a full baseball scholarship to the University of Michigan in 1992, but played in the Minors with a Yankee minor league team. When he was in single-A, he was on the Greensboro Hornets, then went to the Tampa Yankees. In AA, he was on the Albany-Colony Yankees. In AAA, Derek was on the Columbus Clippers. In 1994, he was voted the greatest minor league player of the year. Jeter was also the best defensive shortstop and earned the Best Infield Arm Award. He was great news from the start for the New York Yankees. As he moved up in the minors, he was going to the University of Kalamazoo and in 1996, finally played as a rookie shortstop for the Yankees.

He was the first rookie shortstop to play in the Opening Day game since Tom Tresh in 1962. Jeter won Rookie of the Year Award that year. Also that year, the Yankees won ' all-time hitting leader. He is arguably the best shortstop of all time. His career average is .317, he has 2,747 hits, 1,466 stolen bases, and 224 home runs. He is an amazing shortstop fielder; in fact, he has a fielding percentage of .976, which means about 98% of all balls hit to him are outs! On the field, Derek shows his great sportsmanship. He never brags about how good he is, but his skill shows itself when he plays. He never gloats or shows off; he just does his job and beyond. He always takes time before home games to sign autographs for his millions of fans who attend games to see him play.

He was invited to play shortstop for the All Star game 10 times, won the World Series 5 times, including three in a row in 1998, 1999, and 2000. He was awarded the Gold Glove four times, got the Silver Slugger four times, got two AL Hank Aaron Awards, he once got the All Star Game MVP award, one World Series MVP award, one Babe Ruth award, one Roberto Clemente Award, and was honored to get the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award in 2009 at the end of the season. As you can see he has many awards to prove that he is, in fact, great as number 2 on the New York Yankees.

Jeter's Turn 2 Foundation (www.nycgovparks.org)

Outside Yankee Stadium Jeter has changed the lives of millions. Derek thanks his parents and grandparents for all of his success. He does not smoke or drink, trying to set a good example for his fans. Jeter founded the Turn Two Foundation, which helps kids to avoid taking drugs and drinking alcohol. They, since 1996, have raised 10 million dollars to help kids that are surrounded by drugs and alcohol abuse. Derek Jeter has been tested for drugs many times, but he never took drugs, not once.

Derek Jeter is my hero because of all of these reasons. He is a good role model on and off the field. I did as much research as I could and could find nothing bad about the phenomenon that is Derek Jeter. No one had anything bad to say about him, and no one disliked him. He is the greatest shortstop to play the game. He almost has 3,000 hits, and no doubt will be in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame when he is done with his career. One reason is that he is the greatest defensive shortstop to play the game. Another reason is he will have over 3,000 hits within the next two or three years. Anyone with over 3,000 hits is inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame. He will also be in the Hall of Fame for the best all-around shortstop, in hitting and in fielding. This is why Derek Sanderson Jeter is my hero.