Derek Jeter’s Hall of Fame Induction Complete’s Dream Come True Career

Derek Jeter is going to Cooperstown. You may say to yourself that we’ve known that for well over a decade now, and you’d be right. Anyone who followed Jeter’s 20 year long baseball career knew he was going to one day be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In some cases people may have known for longer, like the case of former Yankee scout Dick Groch, who penciled Jeter in for Cooperstown all the way back in 1992.

It was finally made official this past Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2019. Derek Jeter was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame, receiving 396 of 397 total votes (99.7 percent) from the Baseball Writers Association of America. He received the highest percentage of votes for any position player in baseball history and the second highest of all time behind his Yankee teammate, Mariano Rivera, who was voted in unanimously in 2019.

“This is something that is not part of the dream when you’re playing,” said Jeter during his opening statement at the 2020 Baseball Hall of Fame induction press conference. “I mean when you’re playing and you’re just trying to keep your job, that’s first and foremost. You’re trying to compete year in and year out. You’re trying to win and when you’re career is over and done with, then it’s up to the writers.”

Most of all, however, Jeter’s induction into the Hall of Fame symbolizes one thing. That is the completion of a dream come true career for The Captain. Derek grew up a Yankees fan and dreamed of playing for his favorite team. When he was asked what he wanted to be, he gave the same answer. He wanted to play for the New York Yankees. That was his dream.

Every baseball fan is at least familiar with the story of Derek Jeter’s career. But what they might not realize is how special it truly. Many kids played little league baseball in their youth. A good percentage of them grew up Yankees fans and dreamt of playing for them, just like Jeter did. However, the vast majority of those dreams were not foiled. Some of those kids would go on to play in middle school, high school, and even college. An even smaller percentage would be drafted by an MLB team, let alone their favorite team. An even smaller percentage beyond that would even make it to the Major Leagues. Last but not least, an astronomically small percentage would go on to have a 20 year long career with the one team they grew up rooting for.

Jeter not only fulfilled his lifelong dream, he lived what every young Yankees fan and even baseball fan dreamed of. He became the face of the franchise he grew up rooting for. He was named captain of the greatest franchise in the history of sports. He won five World Series championships, winning the World Series MVP in 2000. He was named an All-Star 14 times, winning the All-Star game MVP in 2000. And now, he’s on his way to Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame. Derek Jeter’s career was quite literally, a dream come true.

“I’m most proud that I was a Yankee,” said Derek Jeter. “It’s the only thing I ever wanted to do since as long as I could remember. It was play shortstop for the New York Yankees and I had an opportunity to do that. I had an opportunity to do it for a long time. And when it’s all said and done, that’s what I’m most proud of.”

There will always be debate among where Derek Jeter ranks among the greatest Yankees and even baseball players of all time. However, no matter where you may rank him, Jeter will always have something remarkably special that no one can take away from him. He had the career that not only he dreamed of having, but every Yankees fan dreamed of having. It is truly something special.