The shortstop, No. 2, Derek Jeter those words from legendary Yankees public address announcer Bob Sheppard are so familiar entered the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday, falling one vote short of a unanimous selection by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Jeter received 396 of 397 votes.
Yankees teammate Mariano Rivera received 100 percent of the vote one year ago, the first player to hit that mark of perfection. Even though Jeter knew this day was coming he said he never assumed anything, noting, “I don’t like to jinx anything. This is very humbling. This was not a relaxing day. I was nervous. It’s the ultimate honor, a dream come true, the highest honor a player can receive.
“I look at all the votes that I got,’’ Jeter said of falling one vote short of being unanimous, posting a 99.7 percentage. “Trying to get that many people to agree on something, it is pretty difficult to do.’’
What is most important to Jeter is that he is going in as a Yankee after spending his entire career in pinstripes.
“It probably means a little bit more to me than maybe some other people because I grew up a Yankee fan and it was the only organization I ever wanted to play for,’’ Jeter said. “I was fortunate to play 20 years in New York and a lot of thanks goes out to the Steinbrenner family, especially the Boss. He was big on, ‘If you guys win, we’ll bring you back.’ That’s the one thing I always wanted to be remembered as, to be remembered as a Yankee.’’
Jeter and the Yankees won. He will be inducted on July 26 in Cooperstown in front of what is expected to be a record-setting crowd.
Joining Jeter, 45, will be outfielder Larry Walker, who made the Hall by six votes, gathering 76.6 percent of the vote. In December, union executive Marvin Miller and Cardinals catcher Ted Simmons were selected by the Modern Baseball Era Committee.
Jeter and the Yankees won five world championships over 20 seasons as Jeter collected 3,465 hits, the sixth-most in history and the most-ever by a shortstop. He knocked in 1,311 runs and scored 1,923 runs. He hit .310 over his career with a .377 on-base percentage and .440 slugging percentage.
In the postseason, over 33 series and 158 games, Jeter batted .308, produced a .374 on-base percentage and a higher slugging percentage at .465 as he lashed 20 playoff home runs.
After his career ended following the 2014 season, Jeter went on to become CEO of the struggling Marlins.
His secret to success as a player?
“Remain positive,’’ he said. “A lot of times it is mind over matter. I enjoyed the competition and I wasn’t afraid of failure. It’s the same game, whether it’s a game in spring training or it’s a Game 7 of the World Series, it is still baseball.’’
Baseball now is going through the electronic sign-stealing scandal. Jeter played the game right and his induction is coming at the right time for baseball.
“There are situations the sport has gone through throughout its history and at times it can seem pretty ugly and I also understand that people make mistakes, and unfortunately you have to pay for those mistakes,’’ Jeter said, “but I think the game is going to move on and be in a better place for it.’’
Jeter is in the perfect baseball place, the Hall of Fame, and told this story about Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson.
“I have a great relationship and still do with Reggie,’’ Jeter said, “and Reggie used to constantly remind me, ‘You are not a Hall of Famer yet.’ ’’
Now and forever, Derek Jeter is a first-ballot Hall of Famer at 99.7 percent.