Derek Jeter Biography

Fast Facts

• Wrote about his desire to become a Yankees' shortstop in an eighth-grade essay
• Authored Game Day: My Life On and Off the Field and The Life You Imagine: Life Lessons for Achieving Your Dreams
• Both titles were released in 2001
• In 1996, founded the Turn 2 Foundation, which strives to help youths stay away from drugs and alcohol
• Was named the American League Rookie of the Year in 1996 and the MVPs of the 2000 World Series and the 2000 All Star game
• Named one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People
• In 2009, broke the record for most hits in New York Yankees franchise history
• The record had previously been held by Lou Gehrig with 2721 hits
• Took part in contentious negotiations with the Yankees between the 2010 and 2011 seasons before signing a three-year contact (with a fourth-year option)
• Jeter's statistical decline the previous year made for edgy words between the shortstop and Yankee management, concerned about further performance erosion
• Set Yankees franchise stolen base record in May, 2011, when he swiped bag number 326
• Collected his 3,000 career hit on July 9, 2011, with a home run; Jeter had five hits in all in that game, and the final one proved to be the one that won the game