Alex Rodriguez, Joe Torre and More Congratulate Derek Jeter on Near-Unanimous Baseball Hall of Fame Election

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Alex Rodriguez, Joe Torre and More Congratulate Derek Jeter on Near-Unanimous Baseball Hall of Fame Election

A grand slam! Derek Jeter was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday, January 21, five years after he completed a 20-year career with the New York Yankees. The former shortstop, 45, came within one vote of being a unanimous pick, appearing on 396 of 397 ballots cast by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Had he received one more vote, he would have become the second unanimous selection in history and joined his former teammate Mariano Rivera. It is unclear which voter did not pick Jeter, whose 99.7 voting percentage put him above former MLB outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. (99.3 percent). “I look at all the votes that I got,” the Miami Marlins CEO said on Tuesday. “It takes a lot of votes to get elected in the Hall of Fame. Trying to get that many people to agree on something is pretty difficult to do, so that’s not something that’s on my mind. I’m just extremely excited and honored to be elected.” Larry Walker, who played for the Montreal Expos, Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals during his 17-year career, was also elected to the Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Jeter played for the Yankees all 20 of his seasons after being drafted in 1992 as a high school player out of Kalamazoo, Michigan. He won five World Series and was named an All-Star 14 times. He served as the Yankees’ captain from 2003 through his retirement in 2014. His uniform number, 2, was retired in 2017. “Every accolade that has been bestowed on Derek throughout his career has been earned and deserved,” Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement to MLB.com on Tuesday. “He was a captain and champion in every sense of the word, a man who embodied our traditions and expectations with an unmistakable grace and dignified resolve. Derek’s legacy as one of the most beloved and charitable players in the last quarter century cements his place in baseball history. As he is immortalized in Cooperstown this summer, we proudly reflect on the honor he brought the Yankees franchise, the New York community and the great game of baseball.” Scroll down to see congratulatory messages from Alex Rodriguez, Joe Torre, Rivera and more.

Credit: Jon Soohoo/EPA/Shutterstock

Alex Rodriguez, Joe Torre and More Congratulate Derek Jeter on Near-Unanimous Baseball Hall of Fame Election

A grand slam! Derek Jeter was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday, January 21, five years after he completed a 20-year career with the New York Yankees. The former shortstop, 45, came within one vote of being a unanimous pick, appearing on 396 of 397 ballots cast by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Had he received one more vote, he would have become the second unanimous selection in history and joined his former teammate Mariano Rivera. It is unclear which voter did not pick Jeter, whose 99.7 voting percentage put him above former MLB outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. (99.3 percent). “I look at all the votes that I got,” the Miami Marlins CEO said on Tuesday. “It takes a lot of votes to get elected in the Hall of Fame. Trying to get that many people to agree on something is pretty difficult to do, so that’s not something that’s on my mind. I’m just extremely excited and honored to be elected.” Larry Walker, who played for the Montreal Expos, Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals during his 17-year career, was also elected to the Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Jeter played for the Yankees all 20 of his seasons after being drafted in 1992 as a high school player out of Kalamazoo, Michigan. He won five World Series and was named an All-Star 14 times. He served as the Yankees’ captain from 2003 through his retirement in 2014. His uniform number, 2, was retired in 2017. “Every accolade that has been bestowed on Derek throughout his career has been earned and deserved,” Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement to MLB.com on Tuesday. “He was a captain and champion in every sense of the word, a man who embodied our traditions and expectations with an unmistakable grace and dignified resolve. Derek’s legacy as one of the most beloved and charitable players in the last quarter century cements his place in baseball history. As he is immortalized in Cooperstown this summer, we proudly reflect on the honor he brought the Yankees franchise, the New York community and the great game of baseball.” Scroll down to see congratulatory messages from Alex Rodriguez, Joe Torre, Rivera and more.

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Alex Rodriguez

“To The Captain Derek Jeter - congratulations on taking your rightful place in the Baseball Hall of Fame where you will be, for eternity, as one of history’s greatest players, at any position, in any era,” the former third baseman wrote on Instagram. “It was the rock n jock MTV game (in our teal uniforms) that we shared a cab to the stadium from our hotel and said, man if we can sign a lifetime contract for a million dollars and 5+ years we would do it. I'm glad we did not have a pen or contract. I was lucky to be by your side on the left side of the infield for so many years. I needed you more than you needed me. You were our #tablesetter on our magical 2009 run and I can’t thank you enough. #RE2PECT.”

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Joe Torre

“A Derek Jeter comes along once in a generation,” the former Yankees manager said in a statement. “By August of 1996 his teammates started looking for him to set the tone and make things happen. Derek was comfortable in his own skin. On the biggest stage in sports, he was never afraid to fail and always kept the game fun. Derek respected the game, the fans, his teammates and his opponents. His character, determination and confidence are a wonderful reflection of how he was raised by his parents. It was a true privilege to watch Derek and to be his manager for 12 years. To this day, he still calls me ‘Mr. Torre.’ Today, it is a pleasure to say, ‘Welcome to the Hall, Mr. Jeter!’ You did it with class and grace.”

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Mariano Rivera

“It’s going to be a very special day standing next to Derek in Cooperstown this summer,” the Hall of Famer said in a statement. “He had such a deep desire to win, and that singular commitment to his team is what made him so special. Derek prided himself on being a consistent presence. No moment was too big. He was fearless, and he was the type of leader we knew we could count on year after year. I feel so fortunate that he was a teammate and friend for my entire career, and I congratulate him on this great honor.”

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Jorge Posada

“Derek has done everything that a baseball player should do,” the former catcher said in a statement. “He played the game the right way. He played the game to win. He played the game with no excuses. I saw it from day one — I thought he would be a Hall of Famer. Congratulations, Derek, you deserve it.”

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Andy Pettite

“Congratulations from the bottom of my heart on your election to the Hall of Fame. What a tremendous honor and what a great career,” the former pitcher said in a statement. “I loved turning around and seeing you, No. 2, out there at shortstop playing behind me. A couple of things separated you from all the other players I played with — and I played with a lot of great, great players. One was the will to win and the intensity you took to the field every day. Another was how you were always so steady. Being a big-league player can be an emotional roller coaster, and it was an honor watching you prepare each and every single day. You were the one player that I played with that never gave away an at-bat. It’s why you’re going where you’re going. I’m proud of you.”

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Bernie Williams

“My first recollection of Derek was in ’92 or ’93 when I saw this big wide-eyed skinny guy on the other side of the cage in Fort Lauderdale. I didn’t see him again until ’95 when he played a couple of games with the team,” the former center fielder said in a statement. “After that he was a mainstay with the team after they decided to give him the job in ’96. According to him he said I didn’t talk to him for the first three or four years of his career, but I have a different recollection of that! All kidding aside, I remember sitting in the back of the plane with him, playing my guitar, and if he was in a good mood, he’d sing a little Lionel Ritchie with me, but most of the time he’d tell me to shut up because I was being too loud. Derek, congratulations. It’s a well-deserved honor. I’m proud to say that I was your teammate and your friend. You were the best teammate that anybody could ever have. You were the captain and carried that responsibility with dignity. Everything that is great about being a Yankee, you exemplified. I can’t wait to celebrate with you this summer.”

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Paul O’Neill

“Jete, what can I say? Congratulations to you on your induction to the Hall of Fame,” the former right fielder said in a statement. “You are the face of the Yankees. Great teams have great players and you were the guy everybody associated the Yankees with. It was no big surprise that your career was phenomenal.”

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Joe Girardi

“I had the unique pleasure of being not just Derek Jeter’s teammate, but also his manager. From a teammate perspective, I was always amazed how consistent he was on a daily basis and how no moment was ever too big for him,” the former Yankees manager said in a statement. “He played with skill, integrity, humility, grace, toughness and durability. From a manager’s standpoint, Derek was what every manager wants in a player. He was always prepared both mentally and physically and a player that you could pencil in the lineup every day and know that he would do something to help you win that day.”

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Tino Martinez

“What made Derek Jeter so special was the way he carried himself on and off the field for 20 years. He came to the ballpark every single day ready to play. He never made any excuses if he was hurt or injured. He didn’t make any excuses if he was 0-for-5 or 0-for-20. He was a great teammate, the leader of our team, a leader for Major League Baseball and a great role model for everyone,” the former first baseman said in a statement. “He was a special player who went out there and competed every single day for 20 years, and he’s getting rewarded for it today. Derek is one of my favorite teammates and one of the greatest players of all time. I’m happy to say I was a teammate of his and lucky to have seen him play for so many years.”

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David Cone

“Derek, I’ll never forget Opening Day 1996. You had a Hall of Fame day as your first day as the everyday shortstop, going 2-for-4 with a big home run and an unbelievable catch over your shoulder. Twenty years later you never slowed down,” the former pitcher said in a statement. “You are one of the greatest to play the game without a doubt, and you are the most even-keeled, turn-the-page-type player I have ever been around. Congratulations on making the Hall of Fame, brother – well-deserved!”

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Brian Cashman

“When we drafted Derek Jeter with the sixth pick in the 1992 Draft, he had obvious physical talent, however what truly set him apart and put him on the path to Cooperstown was his burning desire to win and a personal drive to be the very best player he could be,” the Yankees general manager said in a statement. “From the outset, he played the game the right way, and his confidence was contagious. So often it felt that he would not be denied, and that belief rubbed off on his teammates, leading to so many victories over so many years. He provided countless memories for our fans, and it’s clear how much he will always mean to them. Thanks to Derek, we reached the pinnacle of the baseball world five times, and he will forever be a defining player of his generation. Congratulations on an honor well-earned.”

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Aaron Boone

“I had the opportunity to play with Derek Jeter in 2003, and coming over from the National League, I soon realized that he is the greatest competitor that I ever had the chance to play with,” the current Yankees manager said in a statement. “If anyone out there epitomizes what a Hall of Famer is, it’s Derek Jeter. Congratulations, Derek — the Hall is a little better today.”