Jeter shares his Story
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Derek Jeter spoke Wednesday of joining a new family — the one filled with baseball’s greats — but his own family also was central to his speech as he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“For me, the love of the game and the success I had playing it, starts and ends with family,” the former Yankees shortstop said during the ceremony at Clark Sports Center.
The two members of Jeter’s family who did not see a single one of his 2,747 career games were in attendance Wednesday: his daughters Bella and Story, who were sitting with his wife, Hannah.
“To my girls, Hannah, Bella and Story: This day puts an exclamation point on my playing career, which was my first dream,” Jeter said during his speech. “Through you all and with you all, I’m living another one.”
Jeter, after thanking his own parents, Charles and Dorothy, for the winning mentality they instilled in him from a young age, shared a message with his daughters.
“Bella and Story: I want you to know that your dad was far from perfect,” Jeter said. “I made my fair share of mistakes on and off the field. But through it all, I tried to do the right thing. I found something I was passionate about and I worked harder than anyone else. I didn’t take any shortcuts to achieve it.
“I have zero regrets in my career, other than the fact that I didn’t get a chance to share it with you. What I will share is my story. Most of it won’t be what I accomplished on the field. It’s going to be the lessons I learned off of it. I hope I always make you proud.”
While Wednesday’s induction brought a close to Jeter’s playing career, he has special plans for the next chapter.
“I’m looking forward to raising my girls now and being there to support whatever dreams they have,” Jeter said after the ceremony.
Jeter also thanked his sister Sharlee and his grandparents — including his grandmother, Dorothy Connors, who was in attendance — whom he always visited during summers in West Milford, N.J.
“One of the special things about today is you get a chance to share it with your family and you get a chance to share it with your friends,” Jeter said. “Because they know more about you than most other people.”