At the plate in the first inning yesterday afternoon, Derek Jeter got a message from home plate umpire Wally Bell.
“Congratulations,” Jeter later relayed.
For the first time, Jeter woke up yesterday and started a game as the Yankees’ all-time hits leader, having toppled Lou Gehrig on Friday night. Since then, plenty of people joined Bell in offering Jeter kudos.
“I got a lot of messages from a lot of people — players on other teams, players I’ve played with before, friends, family,” Jeter said. “I got a lot of well wishes from people, and that always makes you feel good.”
Friday’s game didn’t end until around 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning due to rain delays. That prohibited Jeter from celebrating afterward, and he said that with a day game today, he didn’t have anything planned for last night, either.
Jeter did hear from George Steinbrenner on Friday night, but he was reluctant to reveal specifics of the conversation.
“If he wants to tell you, he can tell you,” Jeter said. “Just congratulating me. He said some nice things, but I’ll keep it between us.”
Jeter followed up his memorable Friday night by going 1-for-5 in yesterday’s 7-3 loss to Baltimore in The Bronx. He started his day by receiving a thunderous standing ovation when he came to bat in the first inning, and he responded by singling to center, stealing second and scoring on Mark Teixeira’s sac fly.
But Jeter didn’t do much after that — softly lining to second, grounding out to second and striking out twice in his other four at-bats. He now has 2,724 hits, tying him with Roberto Alomar for 52nd all-time.
Jeter received Friday night’s lineup card from Joe Girardi, and the team is giving him his uniform to keep, as well. “I’m sure my parents will have it,” Jeter said of the historic ball.
The Yankees still are determining what to give the Hall of Fame to commemorate the achievement.
Girardi didn’t think about resting Jeter yesterday.
“I know he wants to be in there and we want him in there,” Girardi said. “Unless he is nicked up or something, he is going to play. We are still playing for a lot. We need him in the lineup.”