FOR Derek Jeter, Captain Clutch of the New York Yankees, the regular season in merely a prelude, “This is the fun time of the year,” Jeter says of the postseason.
Once again, the Bombers find themselves in a very familiar place. Their expectations never change – the playoffs, the World Series and the Canyon of Heroes. In October, Jeter morphs into his alter ego – the do-it-all leader of the most famous team on the planet.
This year, Jeter has rebounded from a catastrophic early-season slump that would have buried most players, and actually added to his legend with a dive into the Yankee Stadium stands against Boston that typified his will to win.
Now the stakes are do-or-die. And Jeter wouldn’t have it any other way.
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Division Titles: 8
AL Pennants: 6
World Championships: 4
123 hits – Most in postseason history
.368 Lifetime Division Series avg.