MCM Everyday!: Congratulations Derek Jeter!

Today history was made. Derek Jeter hit and then surpassed 3,000 hits in an extraordinary game. People are calling it a fairy tail, a game that couldn't have even been scripted by hollywood because it was just a one of a kind game all around. Jeter's at bats were nail biters, full counts, foul balls hit all around, Jeter was relentless. After the game, Derek himself even said this about his at bats against Price, "He could have thrown in the dugout and I would have swung. I was not trying to walk." He even went on to admit what we have been assuming all along about the pressure getting to him, "Yes, I've been lying to you for quite some time." He can finally take a huge breath, step back and just enjoy this moment.

He became the first player to reach this milestone while playing for the New York Yankees. He's also the first player to have all 3,000 hits on one team. It's really hard to believe, but I for one can't imagine this happening to a more deserving person than Jeter. Want ever more trivia? He is only the second player to hit his 3,000th hit for a home run and only the 28th player to join the 3,000-hit club. Oh, and if you didn't know this already, which, really, shame on you, he wears the number 2 and this hit, number 3,0000, the home run, came at exactly 2:00pm. Yeah, fairy tail much? Also, That home run tied the game, which for Jeter, probably meant just as much to him as it being hit number 3,000.

Not only did he get career hit number 3,000 but he went five for five on the day and currently has 3,003 hits (as of 7/9/11), which makes him the all time Yankees hit leader. He was also only a triple away from the cycle, which really would have been way too perfect. Five hits are hard enough to get in a regular game if you aren't trying to reach a milestone let alone if you are and have over 48,000 fans chanting your name ever time you step to the plate. But, Mariano Rivera was funny when he was interviewed after the game he added, "I was expecting a triple, because that's the way it is." After the way Jeter got number 3,000 and the way he's achieved so many other milestones in the past, it would have been very "Jeterian" of him to have hit for the cycle too, but we'll have to save that story for another day.

Another thriller in todays story, after he ties the game with hit 3,000, he also won the game when he drove in what would be the winning run in the 8th inning. The game just would not have been the same if the Yankees didn't win. It would have been weird in general, but especially weird for Jeter, whose number one priority is winning. He also always puts the team and the game before his personal stats so the whole, stopping the game after he got the hit, felt weird for him too.

But sometimes a guy like Derek needs to be recognized for his outstanding accomplishments, and he needs to put aside how he's feeling and realize that he is not only apart of history, he is history. The fact that Derek could get number 3,000 at home, in front of the best fans in the world, as he as said before, and do it during a winning game, in which his hits were the vocal point of the game for more than one reason, made it all worth while and more special.

It was also special that that his family and friends could be at the game to share in his special day. It was unfortunate that his mother, Dorothy and sister, Sharlee, couldn't be at the game because it was his niece's christening, because they are two of his biggest cheerleaders who can be seen at a majority of home and away games. But, his father, Dr. Charles Jeter, girlfriend Minka Kelly and many other friends and family had no trouble filling the Jeter box and celebrated together after he connected for hit number 3,000. The look on Mika's face when Derek hit the ball was beyond words. She mouthed, "IT'S A HOME RUN!" and jumped up and down, hugged everyone and then gave a long embrace to Derek's father. I think she may have shed a few tears as well, which is more than understandable! I wasn't even there and I teared up and my mom was even balling at one point. Derek's father was beyond ecstatic after the hit, as any father would be. But, the relationship between Derek and his father is like no other. Derek said to the press after the game, "My dad tells me all the time he's had every at bat with me."

I had the pleasure of meeting both of Derek's parents back in 2006 at a game in Baltimore.

Some might not understand why I would want to meet and get a picture with Derek Jeter's parents, or the most popular question I got when I came home, "How did you even know those were his parents?" It was all a no brainer for me. First of all, if you follow the Yankees or Derek Jeter or if you watch as many games as I do, you are bound to catch a glimpse of his parents in the stands since they go to a ton of games. Not to mention I've read a few Derek Jeter books that include family pictures, it really isn't a secret people. Then, I see my favorite player, the captain of the Yankees' parents just sitting there, waiting for the game to start, like me, so I go over, say hello, and ask for a picture. They said, "sure." They were super nice and I'm so glad I did this. I'm a big fan of Derek Jeter, clearly, which makes me a fan of his parents too. It also could be the closest I could ever get to meeting Derek, so there's that, but I'd rather not think about that.

That's not the case for Christian Lopez however, I can only imagine how he's feeling. He's the guy who caught, and then willingly gave back the 3,000th hit home run ball. He said, "Mr. Jeter deserved it, I'm not going to take it away from him." But don't think they sent him away empty handed, oh no. Not only did he get to meet Mr. Jeter, but he was given signed balls, bats, and jerseys, tickets to home games for the rest of the season, an interview on air, in the YES booth, and more Yankee tickets. I mean I can't even imagine just being at the game or even meeting Derek, let alone all that other stuff. He's one lucky guy. The funny part about this is what Jeter said about having the ball in a joking yet honest manner, "I do have the ball, I held it. It feels like the rest of them."

I'd like to close with this. If you're not a Yankee fan, then I can't even believe you've made it this far, but really you have to realize what an accomplishment was made today. Derek Jeter is a one of a kind guy. I really can't express how happy I am about today. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to watch the game live because I was at work, so I was getting updates via text, twitter, and through my managers, but clearly it just wasn't the same, even though we were all really excited to hear he had gotten it. I made it home in time for the special after the game and then I re-watched the game after that. Every time they would show the 3,000th hit, I would get chills, and I think I will every time I see it. It's just one of those things that you can't really describe. I am a Yankee fan and a Derek Jeter fan through and through and tomorrow I will be clearing out all of my local news stands to get a hold of numerous copies of papers with headlines that read "Mr. 3000." I hope you do the same, because history really was made today.