Career Timeline of Derek Jeter: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Derek Jeter made an impact.
Derek Jeter, nicknamed "the Captain", is an American former professional baseball shortstop who played his entire 20-year MLB career with the New York Yankees. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2020 on his first ballot, receiving near-unanimous support. After his playing career, Jeter served as CEO and part-owner of the Miami Marlins from 2017 to 2022.
1962: Tom Tresh Started as Shortstop
In 1962, Tom Tresh started as shortstop
1992: Minor League Debut
In 1992, Derek Jeter began his minor league career with the Gulf Coast Yankees, struggling initially with a low batting average.
1992: Drafted by Yankees
In 1992, Derek Jeter was drafted by the New York Yankees out of high school.
1992: Last worn number 2
In 1992, Mike Gallego last wore the number 2 before Jeter.
1992: MLB Draft
In 1992, the Houston Astros passed on drafting Derek Jeter first overall in the MLB draft, due to concerns about his salary demands.
1994: Last Worn Number 2
Mike Gallego last wore the number 2 from 1992 to 1994.
May 29, 1995: MLB Debut
On May 29, 1995, Derek Jeter made his Major League Baseball debut for the New York Yankees.
1995: Projected Starting Shortstop
Considered a top prospect heading into the 1995 season, Derek Jeter was projected as the starting shortstop for the Yankees.
1995: Don Mattingly Retires
Don Mattingly retired in 1995. After his retirement, the Yankees went eight seasons without a captain until Jeter was appointed.
1995: MLB Debut
In 1995, Derek Jeter debuted in Major League Baseball at age 20.
1995: Injuries Open Door
In 1995, injuries to other players created the opportunity for Derek Jeter to step up.
1996: Rookie of the Year and World Series
In 1996, Derek Jeter became the Yankees' starting shortstop, won the Rookie of the Year Award, and helped the team win the World Series.
1996: Created the Turn 2 Foundation
In 1996, Derek Jeter created the Turn 2 Foundation, a charitable organization aimed at helping children and teenagers avoid drug and alcohol addiction and rewarding academic achievement.
1996: Manager Trusts Jeter
In 1996, newly hired Yankees manager Joe Torre placed his trust in Derek Jeter.
1997: Contract and Leadoff Batter
In 1997, Derek Jeter and the Yankees agreed on a $540,000 contract, and he became the Yankees' leadoff batter.
1997: Lowest Slugging Percentage Since 1997
Jeter's slugging percentage (SLG) dropped to .410 in the 2008 season, his lowest mark since 1997.
1999: AL Hits Leader and Salary Arbitration
In 1999, Derek Jeter led the American League in hits with 219 and was awarded a $5 million salary through arbitration. He also achieved personal bests in multiple offensive categories and played exceptionally well in the postseason, helping the Yankees win the World Series.
1999: Salary Arbitration and Contract Negotiations
In 1999, Derek Jeter was eligible for salary arbitration and was awarded a $5 million salary.
1999: Reference to Jeter's 1999 Performance
In 2012, Rodriguez commented that Jeter is playing as he did in 1999, highlighting a comparison to a previous peak in Jeter's career.
2000: Failed Contract Deal
During the 1999-2000 offseason, Jeter and the Yankees tentatively agreed to a seven-year, $118.5 million contract. However, the deal fell through, and Jeter and the Yankees agreed to a one-year deal worth $10 million to avoid arbitration in 2000.
2000: All-Star Game MVP and World Series MVP
In 2000, Derek Jeter had a strong regular season, batting .339. He won the All-Star Game MVP and World Series MVP awards, becoming the first player to win both in the same season. Jeter helped the Yankees win their third consecutive World Series title.
2001: Ten-Year Contract with the Yankees
Before the 2001 season, Derek Jeter signed a ten-year, $189 million contract to stay with the Yankees, becoming one of the highest-paid athletes in baseball. The average annual value of Jeter's contract was the third-highest in baseball.
2001: "Mr. November" Home Run in the World Series
During the 2001 World Series, which extended into November due to the September 11 attacks, Derek Jeter hit a game-winning home run in Game 4. He was dubbed "Mr. November." However, he struggled overall in the series, and the Yankees lost to the Diamondbacks.
2001: All-Star Game and "The Flip"
In 2001, Derek Jeter batted .311 and played in the All-Star Game. He made a memorable defensive play in the ALDS against the Athletics, known as "The Flip," which helped the Yankees win the series.
2002: All-Star Appearance and Stolen Base Percentage Leader
During the 2002 regular season, Jeter batted .297, with 18 home runs, 75 RBIs, 124 runs scored, 191 hits, and a career-best 32 stolen bases. He led the majors in stolen base percentage (91.4%) and made his fifth All-Star appearance.
June 3, 2003: Named Yankees Captain
On June 3, 2003, George Steinbrenner named Derek Jeter the captain of the New York Yankees, filling the position that had been vacant since Don Mattingly's retirement in 1995.
2003: Most Marketable Player in Baseball
According to the 2003 Sports Business Surveys, Derek Jeter was ranked as the most marketable player in baseball.
2003: Yankees Acquire Alex Rodriguez
During the 2003–04 offseason, the Yankees acquired Alex Rodriguez from the Texas Rangers. Rodriguez, considered the best shortstop in baseball, moved to third base, while Jeter remained the team's starting shortstop.
2003: Yankees Team Captain
In 2003, Derek Jeter became the New York Yankees team captain.
2004: All-Star and ALDS Performance
In 2004, Derek Jeter made the All-Star team, finished the season with a .292 average, and hit 23 home runs. He batted .316 in the ALDS, but struggled in the ALCS as the Yankees lost to the Red Sox.
2005: Most Marketable Player in Baseball
According to the 2005 Sports Business Surveys, Derek Jeter was ranked as the most marketable player in baseball.
2006: 2,000th Career Hit and All-Star Selection
During the 2006 season, Derek Jeter recorded his 2,000th career hit and earned his seventh All-Star selection. Jeter finished the season second in the AL in both batting average (.343) and runs scored (118).
2006: World Baseball Classic
In 2006, Derek Jeter competed in the World Baseball Classic, representing the United States.
2006: Second-Highest Paid Endorser in Baseball
In 2006, Derek Jeter was the second-highest paid endorser in baseball, only surpassed by Ichiro Suzuki who had endorsement deals in Japan.
2007: 200 Hits and All-Star Appearance
During the 2007 season, Derek Jeter recorded his third consecutive season with at least 200 hits and was selected for his eighth All-Star appearance. Defensively, he turned a career-high 104 double plays.
June 27, 2008: 400th Career Double
On June 27, 2008, Derek Jeter hit his 400th career double.
September 14, 2008: Tying Lou Gehrig's Record at Yankee Stadium
On September 14, 2008, Derek Jeter tied Lou Gehrig's record for hits at Yankee Stadium (1,269) with a home run. Later that year, he broke the record. Following the final game at the stadium, Jeter delivered a speech thanking the fans, which was later voted as the Moment of the Year.
2008: Postseason Qualification
In 2008, the Yankees did not qualify for the postseason, marking an exception in Jeter's career with otherwise consistent postseason appearances.
August 16, 2009: Most Hits as a Shortstop
On August 16, 2009, Derek Jeter recorded his 2,675th hit as a shortstop, breaking Luis Aparicio's major league record.
September 11, 2009: All-Time Yankees Hit Leader
On September 11, 2009, Derek Jeter became the all-time hits leader as a member of the Yankees with his 2,722th hit, passing Lou Gehrig.
2009: Move to Leadoff Hitter
For the 2009 season, Jeter moved to the leadoff role in the batting order. During the season, Jeter batted .334 with a .406 OBP, an .871 OPS, 18 home runs, 66 RBIs, 30 stolen bases in 35 attempts, 107 runs scored, 72 walks, and 212 hits. Defensively, Jeter committed a career-low eight errors, and his .986 fielding percentage was his career best.
2009: Captain of Team USA
In 2009, Derek Jeter was named captain of the United States team for the World Baseball Classic.
2009: Fifth World Series Championship and Awards
In 2009, Derek Jeter won his fifth World Series championship and was named Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated. He also received the Roberto Clemente Award, Hank Aaron Award, fourth Gold Glove, and fourth Silver Slugger Award. He finished third in the AL MVP voting.
2009: World Baseball Classic Captain
In 2009, Jeter was named captain of the United States team in the World Baseball Classic.
2009: Ambassador for Weplay
Since 2009, Derek Jeter has served as an ambassador for Weplay, a website aimed at encouraging children's involvement in sports.
2010: Most Marketable Player in Baseball
According to the 2010 Sports Business Surveys, Derek Jeter was ranked as the most marketable player in baseball.
2010: Free Agency and Contract Negotiations
After the 2010 season, Jeter became a free agent for the first time in his career. Negotiations with the Yankees became tense, but he eventually reached an agreement on a three-year contract for $51 million with an option for a fourth year.
2010: Worst Season and Gold Glove
In 2010, Jeter had statistically his worst season, batting .270. Despite this, he was elected to start at shortstop in the All-Star Game. He rebounded late in the season and won his fifth Gold Glove award, committing only six errors, his lowest total in 15 full seasons in 2010.
July 9, 2011: 3,000th Career Hit
On July 9, 2011, Jeter recorded his 3,000th career hit, a home run off of David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays, finishing the day with five hits in five at-bats. He became the second player to hit a home run for his 3,000th hit.
2011: Charity Baseball Game in Tokyo
In 2011, Derek Jeter, along with Hideki Matsui, participated in a charity baseball game at the Tokyo Dome to raise funds for survivors of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
2011: Most Marketable Player in Baseball
In 2011, the marketing firm Nielsen ranked Derek Jeter as the most marketable player in baseball, considering attributes like sincerity, approachability, experience, and influence.
2012: Received Honorary Doctorate from Siena College
In 2012, Derek Jeter received an honorary doctorate from Siena College in recognition of his foundation's charitable work.
2012: Most Hits in MLB and Injury
In 2012, Jeter finished the season with the most hits in MLB (216) and moved into the Top 10 on the all-time hit list. He fractured his left ankle during Game 1 of the ALCS, ending his season.
2012: Hot Streak and All-Star Game Performance
In 2012, Jeter started the season with a hot streak, batting .420 through April 25. In the 2012 MLB All-Star Game, he recorded his 11th All-Star hit, passing Mantle for the most All-Star Game hits in Yankees history.
2013: Partnership with Simon & Schuster to form Jeter Publishing
In 2013, during an injury-shortened season, Derek Jeter partnered with Simon & Schuster to create Jeter Publishing, an imprint for various book genres, envisioning it as his "blueprint for postcareer".
2013: Postseason Qualification
In 2013, the Yankees did not qualify for the postseason, marking an exception in Jeter's career with otherwise consistent postseason appearances.
October 1, 2014: Launch of ThePlayersTribune.com
On October 1, 2014, Derek Jeter launched ThePlayersTribune.com, a new media platform designed to give professional athletes an unfiltered voice and bring fans closer to the games they love.
2014: Exploring Purchase of the Buffalo Bills
In 2014, Derek Jeter explored the possibility of purchasing the Buffalo Bills football team.
2014: Retirement
In 2014, Derek Jeter retired from professional baseball.
2014: Final Season Milestones
In 2014, during his final season, Jeter recorded his 1,000th career multi-hit game, started at shortstop in the All-Star Game, and broke Omar Vizquel's MLB record for games started at shortstop and Gehrig's franchise record of 534 doubles. He also passed Carl Yastrzemski and Honus Wagner on the all-time hits list.
2014: Postseason Qualification
In 2014, the Yankees did not qualify for the postseason, marking an exception in Jeter's career with otherwise consistent postseason appearances.
March 2015: Partnership with Concessions Tampa
In March 2015, it was reported that Derek Jeter partnered with Concessions Tampa to bid for a space within the Tampa International Airport to open a restaurant named after his website, The Players' Tribune.
May 14, 2017: Yankees Retired Jeter's Number and Unveiled Plaque
On May 14, 2017, the New York Yankees retired Derek Jeter's uniform number and unveiled a plaque in his honor at Monument Park during a pregame ceremony.
July 2017: Engaged in Bidding for Miami Marlins Ownership
In July 2017, Derek Jeter engaged in the bidding process for the ownership of the Miami Marlins baseball team.
August 2017: Finalized Deal to Purchase Miami Marlins
In August 2017, Derek Jeter and Bruce Sherman finalized an agreement to purchase the Miami Marlins baseball team.
September 2017: Miami Marlins CEO
In September 2017, Derek Jeter became the chief executive officer (CEO) and part owner of the Miami Marlins.
September 2017: Completed Purchase of Miami Marlins and Named CEO
In September 2017, the sale of the Miami Marlins was completed, and Derek Jeter was named the chief executive officer (CEO) of the team, overseeing day-to-day operations.
2018: Donation of Furniture and Household Items
In 2018, Derek Jeter donated furniture and household items to families displaced by Hurricane Irma.
July 2019: Donation to Kalamazoo Public School District
In July 2019, Derek Jeter donated $3.2 million from the Turn 2 Foundation to the Kalamazoo Public School District to fund renovations for the school's baseball and softball complex.
April 2021: Joined the Board of Rockefeller Capital Management
In April 2021, Derek Jeter joined the board of directors at Rockefeller Capital Management.
February 2022: Leaves Miami Marlins
In February 2022, Derek Jeter stepped down as CEO and part owner of the Miami Marlins.
February 28, 2022: Departure as CEO of the Miami Marlins
On February 28, 2022, Derek Jeter announced his resignation as CEO of the Miami Marlins and sold his 4% ownership stake in the team after more than four years in the position.
September 8, 2022: Launched Arena Club
On September 8, 2022, Derek Jeter announced the launch of Arena Club, a card grading, storage vault, and marketplace platform, in collaboration with entrepreneur Brian Lee and various capital venture firms.
