Derek Jeter: The Myth, the Man, the Legend

Derek Jeter broke perhaps the most coveted Yankee Stadium record tonight when he passed Lou Gehrig for the most hits ever recorded in the big ballpark in the Bronx. Gehrig, for all those wondering, was tied with Jeter in the same exact number of at-bats. Nevertheless, the feat comes in a season where it's easy to forget how consistently good the Yankees shortstop and Captain has been all these years.

As the Yankees' lifer moves from his prime into the twilight, it will be interesting to see what kind of career records he can post (3,000 hits anyone? Maybe 4,000?) It will be equally as intriguing to see from what position he will be playing when he does it, too.

For fans like me who started following the team heading into the mid 90's, Derek Jeter is the chronology of your fanhood. I met him in the spring of 1996 right before he would become Rookie of the Year, the Yankees would win the World Series and the 21 year-old's name would never be a secret again. This was before I followed minor leaguers so Jeter is the first guy who I have watched from start to eventual finish. He literally represents how long I have been a fan, how long I have followed the Yankees, and we as fans over this time span more or less boast his accomplishments as our own.

From his first award (the ROY) to his All-Star Game MVP, to his World Series MVP, to his four rings, to his dive(s) into the stands, to his "flips",to his hits, to his playoff numbers, to his November heroics, to his numbers against rivals (Red Sox and Mets), to his MVP runner-up season, it has been Jeter's World and we've all just been living in it. If anybody is going to beat perhaps the grittiest Yankees player's record, it was going to be the symbol of the 90's dynasty.

Congratulations, Derek, this is one award that can never be broken as the Stadium will be no more once you miss the playoffs for the first time in your career. You are the first to make me officially feel old.