Derek Jeter's Game Winning Last At Bat as a Yankee Stadium 

A leader on the field and captain of the Bronx Bombers, Derek Jeter became the franchise player that the Yankees organization expected him to become. Jeter won Rookie of the Year honors in 1996. The 2000 season was his breakout year, as he collected the All-Star MVP and World Series MVP Awards. Jeter is a member of the 3,000 hit club as well as being the Yankees All-Time Hit Leader. By the time he retired, he led the Yankees to 5 World Series Championships and continually amazed fans with his timely hitting, amazing catches and throws, as well as his infectious love of the game. 

From the New York Daily News

For one final night, No. 2 was No. 1 in the Bronx.

Fighting back emotions throughout the day, Derek Jeter delivered one last highlight for his Hall of Fame résumé, hitting a walk-off single to lift the Yankees to a 6-5 win in the final home game of his legendary career Thursday night.

As Jeter was mobbed by his teammates in between first and second base, the key players of the 1990s dynasty, including Joe Torre, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and Tino Martinez lined up in front of the Yankees dugout to congratulate the Captain.

“We’ve shared a lot of success, a lot of memories together,” Jeter said. “I guess this is one last one we can share together.”

fter hugging each of his present and past teammates, Jeter made one last trip out to his home at shortstop, where he squatted down and said a short prayer as is his custom before games.

“I wanted to take one last view from short,” Jeter said. “I was trying to take a last view in the top of the ninth and then they tied it, and I thought I would have to go back out there. I basically just said thank you, because this is all I’ve ever wanted to do, and not too many people get an opportunity to do it. It was above and beyond anything I’d ever dreamt of. I don’t even know what to say. I’ve lived a dream, and part of that dream is over now.”

After the game, Jeter announced that it would be his final game at shortstop, although he would still serve as the Yankees’ designated hitter for at least part of this weekend’s series in Boston to close out his career.

“I wanted to take something special from Yankee Stadium, and the view from shortstop here, tonight is what I want to take from it,” Jeter said. “Out of respect for the Red Sox, their fans and the rivalry, I’m going to DH. I hope that people can respect my decision. I’ve only played shortstop for my entire career, and the last time I want to play it is tonight.”

Jeter waved to the crowd of 48,613 as fans chanted his name again and again. He did a few TV and radio interviews before heading back to the field again, where he circled the diamond, tipping his cap to the fans one last time before being greeted by his family in front of the dugout.

“They’re the ones that have helped me through the tough times that I’ve had,” Jeter said of his parents. “They’ve played every game with me.”

It looked like the game would have a far less exciting conclusion as the Yankees led 5-2 in the ninth thanks to Jeter’s go-ahead RBI groundout in the seventh. But David Robertson allowed three runs in the ninth to tie the game, setting up the ultimate drama.

“It created another Derek Jeter moment,” Robertson said. “As much as I wished I wouldn’t have created it, I’m glad it happened.”

“I wouldn’t have believed it myself,” Jeter said, admitting that a game-winner in his final home at-bat had never crossed his mind. “Everyone dreams of hitting a home run in the World Series or getting a game-winning hit. I mean, I was happy with a broken bat and a run scored in the seventh inning, I was happy with that being the end. But I’ll take this one.”

Jose Pirela led off the bottom of the ninth with a single to left against Evan Meek, then pinch-runner Antoan Richardson moved to second on Brett Gardner’s sac bunt. That brought Jeter to the plate with a chance for the storybook ending.

Jeter jumped on a first-pitch changeup, lining it to right field — where else? — to score Richardson and set off a celebration to match any postseason clincher.

“It felt like the World Series,” Robertson said.

Jeter struggled to come up with words to describe what had just happened.

“I don’t know what to tell you,” Jeter said. “Write what you want and put my name at the bottom of it.”

Rather than manufacturing a memorable ending the way he did with Rivera a year ago, Joe Girardi simply let things play out. It couldn’t have worked out better.

“I think it’s fitting,” Girardi said. “Because you think about all the big hits that he’s had in his career, and all the things that he’s done to help this club win championships and divisions. He’s been here since the run that started in ’96. I don’t think there’s a more fitting way for it to end.”

From the moment Jeter stepped on the field for warmups, the crowd showered the pinstriped icon with affection.

A video tribute to Jeter from the fans played on the scoreboard to get the night started as the Captain and his teammates watched from the dugout.

Jeter led the Yankees onto the field at 7:05 p.m., bringing about another of the many thunderous ovations. As Jeter’s eyes darted around the ballpark to take in sights and sounds one last time, fans began chanting his name, prompting a quick tip of the cap from the shortstop, who appeared to be fighting back some tears.

“There were a couple of times I almost lost it,” Jeter said. “First inning I was saying, ‘Please don’t hit it to me.’ The last inning I almost lost it. Same thing. I don’t know how many times in my career I’ve said, ‘Please don’t hit it to me,’ but that’s what was going on in my mind.”

The Orioles took a 2-0 lead on two homers in the first, but Jeter answered with an RBI double off the left-center field wall in the bottom of the inning, then scored on a fielding error to tie it up.

The game remained tied into the seventh, when Jeter reached on a fielder’s choice, driving in a run on the play. A second run scored on an error, part of a three-run inning that seemed to put the Yankees in control.

Jeter began thinking about the end, doing his best to fight back his emotions. Then Robertson blew the save opportunity in the ninth, forcing him to refocus for his memorable at-bat.

“I don’t know if the cameras were on me close, but there were a couple times I almost broke down,” Jeter said. “I was almost thinking to myself, ‘Joe, get me out of here before I do something to cost us this game.’ It’s funny how things change, I guess.”

For all the highlights Jeter has provided over the past two decades — the Flip Play, the Dive, Mr. November, the 3,000th hit and more — his final at-bat in Yankee Stadium will go down with them as one of the greatest moments of this era of Yankees baseball.

Jeter will have to take our word for it. At least for now.