On a Last Trip to Detroit, Jeter Recalls a First One That Never Happened
DETROIT - Derek Jeter, recently called up to the major leagues, collected his 11th hit while batting ninth for the Yankees on June 11, 1995, against the Seattle Mariners. Batting ninth for Seattle that day was Alex Rodriguez, and Tino Martinez, then a Mariner, hit a home run.
The Yankees' starting pitcher was Mariano Rivera, who was also in his first few months in the big leagues. Rivera had a bad game, allowing five runs, and was lifted in the third inning.
After the game, Rivera and Jeter were demoted, ruining plans for Jeter's family to see him the next day in Detroit where Jeter would play in his home state for the first time since graduating from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1992.
'Mo gave it up and they sent me down,' Jeter recalled. 'I think it was guilt by association. The bags were packed and we were ready to go, so there were a lot of family and friends that had to change their plans.'
On Tuesday, 19 years later, Jeter came to Detroit for his final regular-season series here and jovially spoke to reporters about topics as varied as growing up nearby and his plans after the season.
'I don't want to make plans,' he said, 'that's the key. I've been on a schedule pretty much my entire life, so when we get into the summer for me, I don't want to make plans. I want the freedom to move around and do what I'd like to do.'
Jeter was asked whether he might try some extreme activities like hang gliding.
'I don't think I'm going to flirt with death,' he said with a laugh. 'It's not the first thing I'm going to do, hang gliding.'
Born in Pequannock, N.J., on June 26, 1974, Jeter and his family moved to Kalamazoo, 140 miles west of the old Tiger Stadium, four years later. That made him a full-blooded Michigander - at least in his view and the eyes of so many people here who grudgingly respect Jeter, but have taunted him as well over the years.
'I've heard, 'Sellout,' and 'You should be playing for the Tigers,' ' he said. 'It wasn't my choice. I was drafted by the Yankees. But the fans have always been respectful.'
Jeter also discussed his infatuation with the University of Michigan and its sports teams, which he said began during his recruiting visit when he was in high school. He went to a football game and stood on the field close to the action in the Big House that seated more than 100,000 fans. Later, he said, some Michigan players took him on a tour of Ann Arbor, which clinched his devotion.
'I saw a couple of parties,' he said, 'so I was sold on the campus at the University of Michigan.'
His mother wanted him to attend Notre Dame, and the Yankees, who drafted him in the spring of his senior year in 1992, wanted him to stick to baseball. Even though Jeter signed with the Yankees and lost his college eligibility, he still attended one semester in Ann Arbor in the fall of '92. The next year, though, the Yankees asked him to go to the Instructional League, so that was it for higher education.
'I think I made the right choice,' Jeter said with a straight face. But one day he might go back to college.
'You saw that movie 'Back to School' with Rodney Dangerfield?' he said. 'That would be me right there.'
The big difference, of course, is that wherever he goes - even Detroit - Jeter gets respect.
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