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From 1992 to 2014, Derek Jeter played with the New York Yankees.
Not including spring training, Jeter has totaled 3,210 games at all levels of the Yankees organization. Growing up, it was the only team he wanted to play for.
But there was a time when he wore another jersey, and he even wore it against his beloved pinstripes.
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Derek Jeter at bat against the New York Yankees during an exhibition game between the New York Yankees and the United States baseball team at George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida on March 3, 2009. (Rick Friedman/Corbis via Getty Images)
For one game and one game only, Jeter was in the visitors’ clubhouse in front of Yankees fans, as he was the shortstop for Team USA in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
This was Jeter’s second time representing the Stars and Stripes, and Team USA that year played an exhibition against the Yankees during spring training.
In a recent interview with PK Press Club Digital, Jeter made sure to note that he took two hits that afternoon.
“When I came in, they didn’t have all these American teams. It was either the Olympic team or that was it. So it was an honor for me. I really, really enjoyed it. I played with a lot of the best players in this game and I really enjoyed it,” Jeter said of his time on Team USA.
During these times, Jeter shared a dugout with some of his great rivals Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis and Jason Varitek of the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets legend David Wright while simultaneously playing against Bernie Williams and Robinson Cano. Even in that USA-Yankees game, he faced Jorge Posada, although the two had been on each other’s side throughout their careers.
Derek Jeter plays defense against the New York Yankees during an exhibition game on March 3, 2009. (Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
DEREK JETER DEFENDS YANKEES OWNER HAL STEINBRENNER AMID GROWING FAN CRITICISM OF TEAM’S TITLE, DROUGHT
This year’s event looks to be the best yet, as Team USA is comprised of the reigning two-time American League Most Valuable Player, Aaron Judge, and each of the reigning Cy Young Award winners, Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal.
It used to be a pain to play some of the biggest stars, but the 2023 version saw Mike Trout face Shohei Ohtani for the final out of the championship game – at the time, they were teammates on the Los Angeles Angels. Perhaps this convinced many stars today that the WBC was more than just an exhibition.
For Jeter, having the best players on the field is what matters most in baseball.
“It’s important. I think if you’re talking about growth of the game, then you need the best players to participate, and they do,” Jeter said.
Derek Jeter of Team USA celebrates victory with teammates after the 2009 World Baseball Classic Pool C game on March 8, 2009, at the Rogers Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Bryce Harper, Cal Raleigh, Mason Miller, Logan Webb, Bobby Witt Jr., Will Smith and Kyle Schwarber will also represent Team USA. Japan returns 15 members of its 2023 title-winning team, including Ohtani and World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
