Since 1947, the New York Yankees have hosted their annual Old Timers’ Day, celebrating the great players of yesteryear. The celebration also usually includes a small 2-3 inning game between the players, where they get to relive their glory days.
This year’s iteration plans to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the 2000 Yankees, the last championship in baseball’s most recent three-peat.
Not everyone from that team will be in attendance, most notably Derek Jeter. Jeter, once the team captain, face of the franchise, and arguably the entire sport, has declined the invitation from the Yankees, leaving some fans and local commentators upset or even angry at him.
For the 2000 championship team, he’s not just the first face one may think of when considering that era of Yankees baseball. He was also the 2000 All-Star Game MVP and the 2000 World Series MVP. 2000 was perhaps the pinnacle of Jeter’s career.
The reason Jeter has given is that he and his wife are celebrating their daughter’s birthday. That reason alone should be more than enough for any sane person to take a step back and realize that family is more important than anything.
It’s no secret to anyone who’s paid attention to his career. During his playing days, his parents and sister were always at every big game and cheering him on. He’s always been close with them. Famous baseball writer and analyst Tim Kurkjian recently told a story that after the 2009 World Series. After the Yankees beat the Philadelphia Phillies in six games, he saw Jeter stop what he was doing to first talk to his family and thank them for always being there for him, before going into the Yankees clubhouse to celebrate the championship victory.
He also made the conscious decision not to get married or have a family during his playing career, because he did not want to be away from a wife or kids all the time. Since his playing days are over, he got married and had four children. He still keeps his life just as private as he did when he played.
The decision to spend time with his family and not attend the celebration of the 2000 championship team has rubbed certain people, like Boomer Esiason, the wrong way. Esiason, a former NFL MVP and current morning radio show host for New York’s famed WFAN radio station, called the decision “insulting and elitist.” Fans on Facebook and Twitter also point out that he’s not around much when even his former teammates like Andy Pettite are always available.
In fairness, the perception of Jeter being an elitist has plagued him since he retired. Fans often compare him to former teammate Alex Rodriguez, with fans noting how Rodriguez has become an almost avuncular character. A-Rod is seen as welcoming and kind, willing to always teach young ballplayers what he knows. Jeter, on the other hand, is always coming off as sarcastic and never wanting to be bothered too much.
Fans and commentators should, however, take this note: Derek Jeter does not owe anyone anything regarding the fanfare surrounding his playing career. Jeter is sixth all-time in the history of baseball in hits, is the Yankees’ franchise leader in hits, won five championships, and has a World Series MVP.
Jeter was also the 1996 Rookie of the Year, appeared in 14 All-Star Games including the 2000 one where he won MVP, won five Gold Glove awards, won five Silver Slugger Awards, and he was a first ballot Hall of Famer. He is the high standard for a generation of Yankee fans who grew up watching him. That generation of fans, by the way, is still waiting on Aaron Judge to win just one World Series.
Yankees fans, since the days of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, act as if winning is a birthright and that championships are to be handed out every year. It’s a standard that even Derek Jeter held himself to. The difference is obvious: one is a man who sits amongst the game’s greatest players ever, and the other is a group of people who cheer for laundry and expect the cycle to end with another banner. Unless fulfilling a contractual obligation, fans are not owed anything by athletes.
Jeter gave Yankee fans his blood, sweat, and memories to last a lifetime.
If he wants to celebrate his daughter’s birthday with his wife, children, and other family members, he’s earned the right to do so. Leave him alone.
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our newsletter here. Check out Stadium Rant Original shows on our Youtube channel and subscribe! Give our socials Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok a follow for more great content!
