Jeter flip stands the test of time
Giants’ Crawford recalls the play vs. A’s in 2001
Brandon Crawford was 14, and the image remains crystal clear 20 years later.
Derek Jeter racing across the infield from shortstop to the first-base line, lining up perfectly for when his teammate in right field missed two cutoff men, gloving the ball on the run and stunningly flipping it backhanded to the catcher. To throw out Jeremy Giambi. “I was never necessarily a Yankees fan being from the Bay Area,” said Crawford, the Giants’ three-time Gold Glove shortstop, “and I actually was rooting for the A’s when he made the flip home. I didn’t love that part. But obviously, you admire his heads-up and awareness to make that play.”
It’s a marquee moment in a Hall of Fame career for Jeter,
the former Yankees captain who will be inducted into Cooperstown on Wednesday, along with outfielder Larry Walker, catcher Ted Simmons and influential union chief Marvin Miller.
It was Oct. 13, 2001. Game 3 of the Division Series. The A's won the first two games in New York and were going for the sweep. They trailed 1-0 in the seventh inning when Giambi, from first base, was determined to score on Terrence Long's two-out double to right.
Shane Spencer, from foul territory in the right-field corner, air-mailed his throw over two cutoff men, but an alert Jeter took the ball on a bounce and flipped it sideways to the plate as his momentum took him into foul territory.
Catcher Jorge Posada tagged Giambi on the inside of the right leg. Inning over. The Yankees won 1-0 and took the next two games to win the series, then won the ALCS before losing a sevengame World Series to Arizona.
Over the years, Jeter has said he was properly positioned for the play and that the Yankees worked on it in spring training. In a Hall of Fame conference call with reporters last week, he revealed this nugget:
“Jeremy Giambi, if he would have slid, would he have been safe? Probably. But he didn't. So that's why I think that play stands out.”
Crawford said it's a play the Giants practice, too.
“It's part of our cutoffs and relays,” he said. “That is what you're supposed to do as a shortstop. You have a double cut out there. If the guy has an easy double, you're supposed to go get an overthrow. It's never happened in a game. It's never even happened in practice.
“But I think I would be prepared for it. If you ever notice a ball down the rightfield line, the second baseman will typically be the first cut, and the first baseman will be behind. Even if it's not overthrown, you'll see the shortstop start drifting in toward the mound.”
Jeter has experienced plenty of highlight-reel moments at shortstop, but Crawford doesn't find himself trying to emulate him defensively. Offensively, however, is another matter.
“He was such a great hitter and came up clutch,” Crawford said. “Thinking about stuff like that, yeah, I'd love to be that guy.”
Crawford didn't face Jeter in an interleague game. It could have happened when the Giants and Yankees played in 2013 in the Bronx, but Jeter was shelved with an ankle injury.
They did meet after the 2017 season in New York when Crawford received his third Gold Glove at a Rawlings-hosted ceremony in which Jeter got an award for his charitable work.
It was a brief exchange of pleasantries. No prolonged conversation, which wasn't surprising. “He always seemed like a pretty private guy. I get that. I feel the same way in a sense,” Crawford said.
Jeter was an easy choice as a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He collected 3,465 hits (ranking sixth all time), batted .310, won five Gold Gloves and made 14 AllStar appearances in a 20year career that produced five World Series championships.
“It's hard growing up in that era, seeing how good his career was and not admiring him as a player,” Crawford said.