A DJ Biography

      June 26, 1974 was a very special day for Dr. and Mrs. Jeter. A child was born who would, later in life, have a great impact on many adoring fans. This Pequannock, New Jersey native was named Derek Sanderson Jeter.

      When Derek was four, his family moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where they still reside today. At the very young age of six, little Derek would wake his grandmother up with a mitt in his hand, ready to play catch. Derek played many other sports, with the exception of football. However, when asked what he wanted to do when he grew up, Derek would respond, "I want to play baseball for the New York Yankees". In high school, the "lovable, shy teenager" had a natural athletic gift. In addition to playing baseball at Kalamazoo Central High, Derek also played basketball, earning an All-State honorable mention. Outstanding stats like having a .508 batting average and 63.7 on-base percentage garnered several honors, such as being named 1992 High School Player of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association and the Kalamazoo Area B'nai B'rith Award for Scholar Athlete. While Derek had intended to attend the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor on a baseball scholarship, he was selected by the New York Yankees as the sixth pick overall in the amateur draft. He chose to take his level of play to the professional level, though he will eventually one day go to college and earn his bachelor's degree.

      Derek played in the minor leagues for four years. He struggled a bit playing for Class A Tampa and Greensboro, hitting in the low .200's. However, in 1994, Jeter walked away named the Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America, hitting .344 with 5 homeruns, 68 RBI, and 50 stolen bases. Although he had a hard time adjusting to being away from home and had a number of errors to his name, Derek finally got into the right state of mind and put many coaches and fans in awe. He debuted in the major leagues in May of 1995, and the rest is practically history. Now, with a Rookie of the Year ring, 4 World Series Championships to claim, 2 MVP awards, and the title of captain on the New York Yankees, this 34-year-old Derek continues to grow physically and mentally and will hopefully go on to win many more World Series championships with the New York Yankees.

...Goes to show where a little ambition and perseverence can get you!