By BRADY BERMAN
Signaling what many view as the end of an era, 39-year-old Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter is hanging up his glove. After 19 seasons with the most successful team in sports, the 13-time all-star is finally retiring from the game of baseball.
Many Jericho High School students find it very hard to say goodbye, but respect the teams that are honoring the legend. Sophomore Brant Fistel made his thoughts clear when he said, “I think it’s a great thing when the opposing team honors such a legend like Jeter.”
As the Yankees travel around to other stadiums, the home teams have been honoring Derek Jeter in different ways. The Houston Astros presented Jeter with a pair of cowboy boots with his name on them (pictured above), and the Tampa Bay Rays gave him a key to the city.
At their home opener, the original “Core Four” of the New York Yankees (Mariano Rivera,Jorge Posada, Derek Jeter, Andy Petite) all participated in the first pitch ceremony to honor Jeter’s last season in the Big Apple. “It’s definitely hard to see him go,” said senior Robby Jenis. “He has been one of the faces of baseball for almost 20 years now.”
Coincidentally, Derek Jeter’s middle school class voted him as most likely to play shortstop for the New York Yankees. With his career coming to an end, that middle school class will get to watch the future Hall of Famer perform in his last season.