Captain Eclipses Iron Man

Jeter's respect for what Ripken did for the
game and future shortstops like himself go
beyond words.

New York Yankees iconic shortstop Derek Jeter continues to reach a new milestone every time he steps on a baseball diamond. Saturday night was no different for the 17-year veteran. With his start at shortstop last night, Jeter surpassed the great Cal Ripken Jr. for the most games played at shortstop for one team. Jeter has now played 2,303 of his 2,324 career games at shortstop for the New York Yankees. In his twenty-one seasons with the Baltimore Orioles Ripken played 2,302 career games in the middle of the diamond before moving to the hot corner in 1997.
    The 6-foot-4 shortstop laid the foundation for next generation of great shortstops like Alex Rodriguez, Nomar Garciaparra, and Jeter, allowing players over six feet to command the infield. Before moving to third base, Ripken was a Gold Glove Winner at shortstop winning back-to-back in the early 90's in '91 and '92. During the 2001 All-Star Game in Seattle, Yankee manager Joe Torre and American League starting shortstop, Alex Rodriguez devised a plan that would shock the 19-time All-Star. In his final All-Star Game Ripken would be voted the starter at third base, but when the American League took the field in the top of first inning, Ripken was gestured by Torre and Rodriguez to play his original position one last time.
    Ripken was not thrilled with the idea, never liking to be unprepared, but knew it was a huge honor to the future Hall of Famer. Ripken would also later homer in the game and be named the the All-Star Game MVP for the second time in his career, a fitting way to start the beginning of the end. With the passing of Ripken's record, Jeter continues to cement himself as one of the greatest shortstops of all-time. In a 2009 game against the Seattle Mariners Jeter passed Hall of Fame shortstop, Luis Aparicio for the most hits by a shortstop. Aparicio mark was set at 2,673, and has long been put in the rear view mirror with Jeter now at 2,956.
    With every hit Jeter records from here on out, he puts the record further and further away from future shortstops. His two hits last night now put him only 44 away from becoming the first Yankee in history to record 3,000 hits in a career and the first shortstop ever to do so. Jeter is a .313 career hitter, but gotten off to a slow start in '11 batting .256. Nonetheless Jeter has put himself in elite company with his career average ranking with the all-time greats. Hongus Wagner's .327 average is the best at the position in major league history with Jeter's teammate also not far behind. Yankee third basemen Alex Rodriguez played 1,2,72 career games at shortstop before his '04 trade to the New York Yankees, accumulating a .304 average during that time.
    The 1996 Rookie of the Year has been the face of the New York Yankees and their most recent dynasty run the past two decades. Throughout that time Jeter has passed Lou Gehrig's mark as the all-time hits leader at the Old Yankee Stadium and as a Yankee, putting himself in the discuss as the greatest Yankee of all-time. Penciled in to his usually leadoff spot in the lineup at shortstop for Sunday's game in Arlington, Texas the 11-time All-Star will further deepen his name in the record books and try and move closer to the elusive 3,000 hit club.