The Last Great Hero
He certainly doesn’t look like a hero would. Standing at an unsuspectingly slender 6-3, 175 pounds, he resembles more Clark Kent than Superman. When he steps into the batter’s box, his compact stance leaves opposing pitchers confused more than intimidated. You might not expect it by looking at him, but the New York Yankees’ Derek Jeter is a hero. In fact, in an era filled with asterisks and dirty needles Jeter is the last great hero baseball has. Not only for his leadership and dominance within the white lines, but for the manner he conducts himself outside of those lines as well. Derek Jeter has reminded fans from the golden era of baseball how the game is supposed to be played while instilling those values and morals in the new generation of fans.
The literary definition of hero has evolved over years; from depicting a warrior-sovereign of special strength, ability and courage to describing a man of physical or moral courage, admired for bravery and noble deeds. A hero does not do what is asked of him or her, rather what is to be expected. And a deed done is not for the betterment of the self, rather the betterment of the majority. When temptation is lurking around every corner, the hero resists and continues down the path of his or her aspirations. Many athletes mirror the warrior-sovereign definition of the hero, as fans marvel over their supernatural physique and other-worldly abilities. But few athletes can live up to the latter element of the definition. Jeter’s illustrious baseball career embodies every meaning of the term.
Even before the moment Jeter put on those navy blue pinstripes and laced up his Nike cleats, he has led by example like the Yankee greats of old did before him. Raised in Michigan, Jeter was taught early on, by his parents, about the importance of carrying himself with class—a pivotal trait in every hero. In Malamud’s The Natural, the supposed hero Roy Hobbs is not as blessed. Hobbs was set apart from the rest with his God-given ability to play baseball, but lacked the respect for the game—perhaps the tragic flaw in Hobbs. And in the end, the game did not respect Hobbs as he struggled with the vices that come with being a bonafide star. Many parallels can be drawn to Hobbs and Jeter. Hobbs is the marquee name for the New York Knights, much like Jeter is for the Yankees. And in a city like New York, forbidden fruit hangs on every tree. Hobbs is a frequent visitor of these trees as he struggles with gluttony, greed, and lust throughout the season; with Memo being the driving destructive force. Jeter, undoubtedly in a similar position, has yet to succumb to the enticement and have it affect his character and play. He balances the life of a playboy while maintaining his position atop the list of baseball’s best. And to his credit his reputation is never hurt by his playboy image, perhaps only bettering it. He never lets the off-the-field drama affect his on-the-field play. With his open-door policy to dating in a media-crazed city, Jeter is an easy target for the Max Mercy’s of the world. Yet unlike his teammate, Alex Rodriguez, he has managed to keep that part of his somewhat private. And to a certain extent, Jeter has garnered so much respect—not only through baseball, but around the country—that tabloid writers seem to give him his privacy at this point.
Despite his raw talent and ability, Jeter has reached the pinnacle of his success due to his willingness to learn from those before him. He is a student of the game. He paid attention to when Darryl Strawberry told cautionary tales of the limelight. He took notes when the likes of David Cone and David Wells would offer tidbits on how to attack certain pitchers. Unlike many young, brash athletes Jeter knew that baseball is more than just natural ability. It’s all too often that we see the Crash’s of the league flameout because of their poor attitude (i.e. the Twins’ OF Delmon Young who was a number one overall pick only to be suspended in the minors for throwing a bat at an umpire). Much of his understanding of the game is due to the amount of savvy veterans Jeter had around him. In a locker room full of guys who’ve been through it all before, Jeter wasn’t allowed to think of setting personal records. An importance of achieving the team’s goal of winning was stressed and prioritized over personal accolades. And as a result, Jeter received both—winning five World Series on his way to becoming the all-time Yankee’s hit leader. He has always had the knack for seeing past his own desires for those that would bring the greatest good.
As far as baseball goes, a hero is one who not only respects those who came before him, but also his peers. Jeter doesn’t trash talk to opposing players or showboat after a great play, instead he has a business-as-usual approach—a quiet confidence that can be heard for miles. A frequent target for bean balls due to how close he stands to the plate, I cannot recall a time Jeter has charged the mound. Nor can I recount him conducting plays that would be considered “dirty”.
And when it comes time to save the day, Jeter’s Clark Kent persona steps in to the phone booth and returns as Superman. Quite simply when the game is on the line, Derek Jeter is at his best. Like the heroes we’d read about in comic books, he rescues his team at the time it seems most bleak; coming out of nowhere to deliver a key flip to home to save a run and the series, or an extra-inning home run late in the night sending a city in bedlam earning the nickname “Mr. November”. While it is imperative to have the intangibles of a hero, natural ability and “clutchness” is a must in a hero. Otherwise, the hero may never be recognized.
So do I believe that the inherent myths of a hero in baseball are valid? Without question. A hero in baseball is much more than a player who drives in the winning run or pitches a shutout. A hero is one who transcends the game and sends a morally sound message outside of the sports world through his play and the way he carries himself. And nobody has taken the message more to my heart than myself, a diehard Red Sox fan. If that doesn’t exude respect, I don’t know what does to be honest. Perhaps I’m not the only one who thinks this however. Acclaimed sportswriter Gary Talese put it best when talking about Derek Jeter. “He's rather unique for a young man in the 1990s. Endowed as he is with all that talent, all that money and such impeccable manners-that makes him an anachronism. In this era of boorish athletes, obnoxious fans, greedy owners and shattered myths, here's a hero who's actually polite, and that has to have come from good parenting. You can't compare him to Joe DiMaggio, for DiMaggio didn't have bad manners — he had no manners. Where have you gone, man with manners? Here you are, Derek Jeter.
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