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Derek Jeter elected to Baseball Hall of Fame, stunningly misses unanimous vote

By
Social Links for Greg Joyce
Published Jan. 21, 2020
Updated Jan. 21, 2020, 9:47 p.m. ET

The Captain is officially headed to Cooperstown.

Derek Jeter, the greatest shortstop in Yankees history, was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday, the BBWAA announced. He fell just short of joining former teammate Mariano Rivera as a unanimous selection, but Jeter will forever be enshrined among the game’s best nonetheless. Jeter got 396 out of 397 votes.

Jeter is joined by former Rockies outfielder Larry Walker in 2020 Baseball Hall of Fame class.

Jeter was in his first year on the ballot, five years after retiring in 2014, which capped off a 20-year career spent entirely in pinstripes. The 14-time All-Star, five-time Gold Glove shortstop, five-time World Series champion and 2000 World Series MVP was a lifetime .310 hitter and finished with 3,465 career hits — good for sixth all-time.

The Yankees’ No. 6-overall pick in the 1992 MLB draft arrived to the big leagues in 1995 for 15 games before winning AL Rookie of the Year in 1996. That season, which he began at the age of 21, he hit .314 with an .800 OPS in 157 games before winning his first World Series that October against the Braves.

“Thanks to Derek, we reached the pinnacle of the baseball world five times, and he will forever be a defining player of his generation,” Yankees GM Brian Cashman said in a statement. “Congratulations on an honor well-earned.”

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Derek Jeter throws out Jeremy Giambi at home with a flip to keep the Yankees ahead in Game 3 of the 2001 ALDS.
Derek Jeter celebrates after a walk-off hit in his final Yankee Stadium at-bat.
Derek Jeter celebrates after a walk-off hit in his final Yankee Stadium at-bat on Sept. 25, 2014.Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
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Derek Jeter hits a home run for his 3,000th hit on July 9, 2011.
Derek Jeter hits a home run for his 3,000th hit on July 9, 2011.Charles Wenzelberg
Derek Jeter became Mr. November with his walk-off home run in Game 4 of the 2001 World Series.New York Post
Derek Jeter making a diving catch on a Trot Nixon fly ball on July 1, 2004.EPA
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Derek Jeter hit a home run on the first pitch of the game in Game 4 of the 2000 World Series against the Mets.New York Post
Twelve-year-old Jeffrey Maier checks out his front page headline in the NY Post.Bolivar Arellano
Yankees Derek Jeter breaks Lou Gehrig's record and becomes the Yankees All-Time Yankees Hit Leader, Sept. 11, 2009. Anthony Causi
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Derek Jeter hits his first career home run on Opening Day in 1996 in Cleveland.
Derek Jeter hits his first career home run on Opening Day in 1996 in Cleveland.Sports Illustrated via Getty Ima
Derek Jeter makes a jumping throw to throw out Travis Fryman in Game 1 of the 1998 ALCS.
Derek Jeter makes a jumping throw to throw out Travis Fryman in Game 1 of the 1998 ALCS.AP/Ron Frehm
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Born in Pequannock, N.J., and raised in Kalamazoo, Mich., Jeter was named the Yankees’ captain in 2003, their first since Don Mattingly retired in 1995.

Jeter became the Yankees’ all-time hits leader in 2009, surpassing Lou Gehrig’s mark of 2,721. Two years later, he joined the 3,000-hit club on a home run off David Price, which was part of a memorable 5-for-5 day at the plate. His final at-bat at Yankee Stadium was a walk-off single in 2014 against the Orioles.

Jeter also recorded a slash line of .308/.374/.465 across 158 career postseason games and was known for his clutch play in October — and November, when the World Series went long.

The Yankees retired Jeter’s No. 2 in 2017 as he was rewarded his spot in Monument Park. Now, Cooperstown awaits in July.