BOSTON (TheBlaze/AP) — The New York Yankees' captain has been on this stage before — and gave fans their money's worth before taking his final bow.
New York Yankees designated hitter Derek Jeter gets an infield hit against the Boston Red Sox, driving in Ichiro Suzuki, during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014, at Fenway Park in Boston. This was the last at-bat in Jeter's baseball career. (Image source: AP/Steven Senne)
In his last major league at bat of his 20-year major league career, Derek Jeter hit a run-scoring infield single — a high chopper that bounced off a hand of leaping Boston Red Sox third baseman Garin Cecchini. Jeter reached first without drawing a throw.
New York Yankees designated hitter Derek Jeter legs out an infield hit against the Boston Red Sox, driving in Ichiro Suzuki, rear, during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014, at Fenway Park in Boston. (Image source: AP/Steven Senne)
After a few seconds, Brian McCann trotted from the dugout to pinch run.
On his way off the field, Jeter pointed to the Boston dugout and embraced pitcher Clay Buchholz. As he approached the Yankees dugout, he waved his cap and was hugged on the warning tack by Mark Teixeira, Brett Gardner and other teammates. Red Sox players stood in their dugout and applauded and the crowd at Fenway Park gave him a standing ovation.
New York Yankees designated hitter Derek Jeter tips his cap to the crowd at Fenway Park after coming out of the game for a pinch-runner in the third inning against the Boston Red Sox in a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014, in Boston. It is the last baseball game of his career. (Image source: AP/Elise Amendola)
His final hit, Jeter's 3,465th, raised his career batting average to .310. Today's finale came exactly 46 years after the last game of another Yankees' legend, Mickey Mantle.
On Thursday night — his last game in Yankee Stadium — Jeter hit the game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning, pushing the Bronx Bombers to a 6-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
Here's video of Jeter's last swing, taken from the seats at Fenway:
