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.”
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.