The Yankees fancy themselves as a sacred trust to their fans. And there is no Yankee more trusted by their fans today than Derek Jeter.
I fully expect Hal Steinbrenner, especially with his father’s voice forever echoing inside his head, to do the right thing and keep it in the Yankees family one way or another. No one ever wants to see the New York Yankees in the hands of some corporate interloper who is blind to the tradition and expectations in The Bronx.
But if Hal Steinbrenner tossed the ball to Jeter, he wouldn’t drop it. Jeter could front the next ownership group and take over as Captain of the Yankees ship.
There isn’t any doubt he would surround himself with the right people. A Reggie Jackson or a Lou Piniella in the front office. There might be a role for a sharp baseball man like Dave Winfield, who was Jeter’s idol as a boy. Don Mattingly as Joe Girardi’s bench coach. Or, should The Bronx be burning under Girardi, as Yankee manager — with Jorge Posada as his bench coach. Maybe Mr. Torre even gets to come back and throw out the first pitch on Opening Day and then shuffle off to the YES broadcast booth. Paul O’Neill as hitting coach. Mariano Rivera or Andy Pettitte as pitching coach. The possibilities would be limitless.
In April 2006, at his locker inside the old Yankee Stadium, Jeter consented to our annual Q & A during which he revealed his ambition to be an owner:
Q: Could you see yourself as a manager, coach or broadcaster?
A: Nope.
Q: What do you see yourself doing?
A: I would love to own a team. I’d love to be able to call the shots.
Q: How will working for The Boss help you when you own a team?
A: (Smiles). The thing people fail to realize about The Boss … everyone says how tough he is, but if you play for him, he’s loyal. That’s why you always have all these ex-players (at spring training). He takes care of you. Being a Yankee means a lot to him, and once you are a Yankee, he wants you to be a Yankee forever.
Q: What about the way he goes about his business will help you?
A: He’s loyal, strict, expects perfection. That’s the biggest thing.
Q: Would you be that kind of owner?
A: I would expect perfection.
Q: You’ll be The Boss II, then?
A: I wouldn’t necessarily be The Boss II
(smiles). There’s only one Boss.
Jeter will sign one last monster contract that will take him past the age of 40. He’ll marry the beautiful Minka Kelly and start raising a family. Then he’ll be ready for the next challenge in his remarkable life. And he’ll be as ready for it as he was when he first showed up as the Yankees shortstop. George Steinbrenner restored The Pride of the Yankees. If Hal Steinbrenner doesn’t wish to maintain it, he must turn to The Pride of the Yankees when he retires.
steve.serby@nypost.com