Rays/MLB

Historic opener just builds Jeter's legend

The Yankees shortstop rises to the occasion again, though rain delays his shot at an encore.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published October 5, 2006

NEW YORK - He's a New York icon, as much a part of the city as the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty.

Successful, wealthy, good-looking, Derek Jeter is everything the Big Apple admires. These are his Yankees and this is his era.

So when the shortstop went a record-tying 5-for-5 in their postseason opener, an 8-4 victory over Detroit on Tuesday night, it was as much expected as surprising.

"Mr. Clutch. Mr. Perfect. Mr. November. Mr. October. All those things really apply to him," the original Mr. October, Reggie Jackson, said before Game 2 was rained out Wednesday night.

"It's fun to watch him, like last night. It was a good game, but just a fabulous performance by a fabulous player. It was something that I'll enjoy and just take with me, keep with me and replay it in my own head," he said.

Since his Yankees debut in 1995, Jeter has become a fixture, much as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle before. If Cole Porter were writing today, he might include Jeter in You're the Top, alongside a Bendel bonnet and a Waldorf salad.

"How can you not like Derek Jeter?" Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.

Jeter is a king of the city, a permanent toast of a town that divides its athletes into heroes and goats, leaving little in between. His trust owns an 88th floor condominium in Trump World Tower, where he can view the city below, a king reviewing his domain. The real estate taxes for just the current six months alone run $34,903, according to New York City records.

When it comes to October, the only time of the year that really matters for many Yankee fans, he has led the team to World Series titles in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000. It didn't take him too long to learn that the ring's the only thing.

"He just seems to just relish this atmosphere," said Yankees manager Joe Torre, who often says he finds it hard to believe Jeter is now 32. "He's been so big for us for 11 years here."

He holds the postseason record for hits (147) and runs (84). He's tied with Jackson and Manny Ramirez for third in RBIs with 48, trailing only Bernie Williams (80) and David Justice (63), and he's tied with Jim Thome for fifth in homers with 17, behind only Williams (22), Ramirez (20), Mantle (18) and Jackson (18).

Jeter has been around so long, he knows not to reveal too much of himself, familiar enough with the New York tabloids that he knows exactly what to say and what to avoid. His responses rarely go beyond the surface, but they never get him in trouble.

"We've been in this position a lot," Jeter said in his usual, even-toned - almost detached - manner. "We've been in a lot of postseason games. So you can't be afraid to fail. I mean, you always have to think positive. You know, you're not always going to come through. There's been plenty of times that I haven't. But when I'm in that situation, I feel as though I'm going to produce, or if I come up with a hit or make a play."

ALDS

YANKEES 1, TIGERS 0

GAME 1 - YANKEES 8, TIGERS 4

GAME 2 - TODAY, 1 P.M., ESPN

Yankees RHP M. Mussina 15-7 3.51 Tigers RHP J. Verlander 17-9 3.63

GAME 3 - FRIDAY, 8 P.M., ESPN

GAME 4 - IF NEC., SATURDAY TBA

GAME 5 - IF NEC., SUNDAY TBA

[Last modified October 5, 2006, 02:20:28]