No Joy In YankeeLand

There’s no joy in Yankeeland, mighty Jeter has bowed out. Almost.

Tonight is the last night Derek Jeter will roam shortstop for my New York Yankees in the House that he helped build along with his Core 4 buddies (I’m counting Bernie Williams). I will likely write something longer on the Heroes page on my website, but for now I’m just collecting my thoughts and steeling my emotions. There’s no crying in baseball or by old guys.

Jeter is the first hero I’ve ever had who was younger than me.

There is a distinct possibility Jeter’s last game at the New Yankee Stadium may be rained out and not made up. For some reason, I still expect to see him out there, tipping his hat among the raindrops. The actual reason I’m most likely to see that scene is because this game is televised.

A lot of advertisers would miss out if not allowed to market Jete’s last home stand. Ford & Gatorade don’t want to miss a chance for their final farewell to the most marketable baseball player of our time.

The Mad Men have been Mad about Derek for a long time.

I remember a line from one of my favorite movies, “Junior Bonner”, where Junior (Steve McQueen) is being pitched by his younger brother Curley (Joe Don Baker). Curley wants Junior to quit riding bulls and come work for him selling mobile homes. Curley says Junior would be a great salesman because he exudes trust, “You’re honest as a sunrise”.

Junior Bonner has nothing on Derek Jeter. But Jeter has been able to take their money and not compromise or tarnish his image a bit.

I don’t mind them selling a Ford or Gatorade if they can somehow pay off Mother Nature to get this last game at the stadium in tonight. I want to hear the Bleacher Creatures one last time. I still hear them in my head chanting for Andy Pettitte before he left the first time because the Yankees didn’t try to sign him. But Andy came back. A couple of times. Even retirement couldn’t keep Andy off the mound the first time.

I know that when Jeter retires this week he won’t be back. Not as an active player. So, I want to hear those Bleacher Creatures shouting their hearts out because everyone’s will be breaking.

Heck with macho. I’m afraid this old guy is going to cry as I’m already tearing up just imagining the sound of the stadium.

Those will be tears of sadness mixed with gratefulness for a wonderful 20 years.