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From 1992 to 2014, Derek Jeter was with the New York Yankees.
Not including spring training, Jeter totaled 3,210 games at all levels of the Yankees organization. Growing up, it was the only team I wanted to play on.
But there was a time when he did wear another shirt, and he even wore it against his beloved pinstripes.
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Derek Jeter at bat against the New York Yankees during an exhibition game between the New York Yankees and the United States baseball team at George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida on March 3, 2009. (Rick Friedman/Corbis via Getty Images)
For one game and one game only, Jeter was in the visiting clubhouse in front of Yankees fans, as he was the shortstop for the United States’ 2009 World Baseball Classic team.
It was Jeter’s second time representing the Stars and Stripes, and Team USA that year played an exhibition against the Yankees during spring training.
In a recent interview with Pak Gazette Digital, Jeter made sure to point out that he had two hits that afternoon.
“When I got there, they didn’t have all these USA teams. It was either the Olympic team or that was it. So it was an honor for me. I really enjoyed it. I played with a lot of the best players in the sport and I really enjoyed it,” Jeter said of his time on Team USA.
During those times, Jeter shared a dugout with some of his archrivals such as Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis and Jason Varitek of the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets legend David Wright, while simultaneously playing against Bernie Williams and Robinson Canó. Even during that game between the United States and the Yankees, he clashed with Jorge Posada, even though the two were together throughout their careers.
Derek Jeter plays defense against the New York Yankees in an exhibition game on March 3, 2009. (Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
DEREK JETER DEFENDS YANKEES OWNER HAL STEINBRENNER AMID GROWING FANS’ CRITICISM OVER THE TEAM’S TITLE DROUGHT
This year, the event looks to be the best yet, as Team USA features two-time reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge and each of current Cy Young Award winners Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal.
It used to be difficult to get some of the biggest stars to play, but in the 2023 version, Mike Trout faced Shohei Ohtani for the final out of the championship game; At the time, they were teammates on the Los Angeles Angels. Perhaps that convinced many stars today that the WBC was not just an exhibition.
For Jeter, having the best players on the diamond is the most important thing for baseball.
“It’s important. I think if you’re talking about the growth of the game, then you need to get the best players involved, and they’re doing that,” Jeter said.
Team USA’s Derek Jeter celebrates victory with his teammates after the Group C game of the 2009 World Baseball Classic on March 8, 2009, at the Rogers Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Bryce Harper, Cal Raleigh, Mason Miller, Logan Webb, Bobby Witt Jr., Will Smith and Kyle Schwarber will also represent Team USA. Japan will bring back 15 members of its 2023 title-winning team, including Ohtani and World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
