Over the last two decades, New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter has carved out a legacy as part of an institution with no shortage of legends. With a couple of weeks left in his Major League Baseball career, Jeter was honored at Yankee Stadium Sunday, during which he gave a heartfelt farewell speech.
“It’s kind of hard to believe that 20 seasons has [sic] gone by so quickly,” the captain said during ‘Derek Jeter Day.’ He complimented his teammates, past and present, saying that he had been ‘blessed to play with the best,’ but he saved his most sincere words for the fans. ‘I’ve always felt as though that my job was to try to provide joy and entertainment for you guys but it can’t compare to what you brought me. So for that, thank you very much.’
It may not have been Lou Gehrig’s farewell speech but Jeter’s gratitude for the 20 years of love he’s received from the Bronx certainly made him seem like the luckiest man on the face of the Earth.