It’s official: Derek Jeter is a vintage car.
The 49-year-old returned to Yankee Stadium on Saturday for Oldtimers Day in the Bronx, where he questioned the name of the annual celebration.
“I’m in the process of changing the name Old-Timers to something else,” he said. ‘When you play, when you sit on the bench and watch the game, and you would never see yourself introduced to Old-Timers’, because you never think you’re going to get old, which – we’re not old, right? We are not old. Older.’
Saturday also marked 25 years since the 1998 team won 125 games. Jeter was introduced last, just like Joe DiMaggio back in the day. A recording of the late announcer Bob Sheppard boomed, “Now batting, number two, Derek Jeter.”
“It’s a special feeling,” Jeter said. “The fans, what makes this organization great is the respect they have for history.”
Former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is seen during Yankees Old-Timers’ Day
Yankees’ Jorge Posada, left, Andy Pettitte, second from left, Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter,
Jeter will be introduced during the New York Yankees Old Timer’s Day ahead of Saturday’s rainout
Jeter retired after the 2014 season with 3,465 hits, sixth on the career list. His number, the last of the Yankees’ available single digits, was retired in 2017 and three years later he was voted into the Hall of Fame when he was elected on 396 of 397 ballots. After serving as CEO of the Miami Marlins from September 2017 to February 2022, he has joined Fox’s baseball coverage.
Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera – fellow members of the Core Four – joined the reunion along with former manager Joe Torre. Bernie Williams was absent Thursday after shoulder replacement surgery, but recorded a short video message.
Torre understood the fans’ disappointment with the current Yankees, who entered the day 70-71 and in danger of their first losing season since 1992. Some fans have focused their anger on current manager Aaron Boone – there were a few boos Boone addressed when he was introduced.
“If you agree to do this work, and I think Derek was referring to it, the expectations here are sky high,” Torre said at a news conference, flanked by the Core Four.
‘You can not ignore it. You will have to deal with it and understand that there is always a cloud that lingers when things go bad. And from what I hear Boonie talking and see him from time to time, it appears that he handles it very well. He’s out there, he works hard and that’s all you can do. They’ve had some bad breaks, but that’s no excuse when you’re a member of the Yankees. You are expected to win. And, like I said, when he signed up, he knew what he was getting into.”
Former New York Yankees stars Derek Jeter, right, and Mariano Rivera, left
Jeter retired after the 2014 season with 3,465 hits, sixth on the career list
Jeter’s message to the current team was succinct.
‘To win. It’s that simple,” he said. “We’re not eliminated, so you go out and win one game, one game at a time.”
In addition to the 1998 Yankees, 2009 World Series MVP Hideki Matsui was introduced along with several members of the 1978 title team, including Bucky Dent, Ron Guidry, Roy White and Mickey Rivers.
The widows of Hall of Famer Whitey Ford, five-time manager Billy Martin and captain Thurman Munson were also introduced as part of an event that began in 1947 when Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth first appeared.