Let me make this crystal clear…that Derek Jeter has some nerve.  Just when I’d started to look past baseball for the first time since before my oldest child was born, he goes and does something like this.  Just when I’d begun the process of picking up the shattered pieces of my Yankee pride, he’s got to go and prove himself, once again, as one of the greatest Yankees of all time.  I’ve certainly got an ax to grind with him.

Yesterday, The Captain collected his 1,269th hit in the Stadium that Ruth Built.  That ties him for most in a career with another Yankee captain, The Iron Horse, Louis Henry Gehrig.  He had a chance in the 7th inning to break that tie, but grounded into a double play instead.  Jogging back to the dugout, Jetes got a standing O that will probably only be eclipsed by the one he gets tonight when he moves ahead of Gehrig against the White Sox.

I can not think of any other player who’s ever donned the pinstripes that could be more deserving of this record.  Sure, The Stadium was refurbished back in the 70′s and the new field doesn’t have the same dimensions as the old field.  But Jetes has never been a ‘tater digger.  He kills you with his hustle, with singles and doubles and with his inspirational play. 

One thing is for sure, Derek Jeter will bust a gut to win a ballgame, and he’ll do it every single day.  For my money, he was the not-so-secret ingredient in all of those great Yankee teams, those World Championship teams.  Cashman, Steinbrenner and all of those other front office types can thank their lucky stars they found Derek Jeter because not only has he been the face of The Club since the mid-90′s, he’s also been the heart and soul of it. 

I admit it.  I’d started to pay attention to football (sis boom bah).  I’d started to look beyond my true love for the New York Yankees and had begun looking forward to next year.  I’d commenced my winter-induced slumber only to have Prince Charming come along and awake me with that record tying kiss.  Next time, I just hope he does it before baseball and I are already best enemies.

I hope to take my son to a game next year.  I hope to show him, once again, the soul of the Yankee club.  And I hope to do it in the new House that Jeter Built.

(Dedicated, with esteem, to Jane Heller)