MAIN Sports Sports Stars Derek Jeter

Making news in 2009 for having recorded his 2,722nd hit as a Yankee - passing Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig for most hits by a Yankees player - Derek Jeter continues to ride high in popularity with baseball fans in his adopted city of New York.

In 2010, Jeter has also been making tabloid headlines (while breaking the hearts of millions of female fans around the country) with the announcement of an official engagement to "Friday Night Lights" actress Minka Kelly and a wedding planned for November in New York.

Life & career

Born Derek Sanderson Jeter in Pequannock, New Jersey on June 26 1974, Jeter was raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan and later was voted "most likely to play shortstop for the New York Yankees" in junior high, and eventually became one of the nation's most sought-after high school baseball players.

Although awarded a baseball scholarship to the University of Michigan, Jeter instead chose to sign with the Yankees after being drafted his senior year when he was named the National High School Player of the Year.

Rising quickly through the minors, Jeter became the first Yankee rookie since 1962 to start as a shortstop and from the start exhibited his now-trademark unflappability toward playing in the big leagues.

Wedding bells in 2010...

To New York fans, he was cool, likeable and one of the best-dressed major leaguers in the game - never mind his astounding muscle power at the plate and skillful fielding that ultimately won him the Rookie of the Year award that year.

Since then, Jeter has continued to wow the crowds with expert hitting and split-second fielding. In one particular career highlight in 2000 he became the only player in major league history ever to win both the All Star and World Series MVP trophies in the same season.

In 2009, Jeter became the 74th player in MLB history to reach 2,600 hits, and on September 11, 2009, he passed famed Yankee slugger Lou Gehrig for most hits (2,722) ever by a Yankees player.

Already the Yankee's all-time hits leader, Derek continues to to enhance his reputation as perhaps the greatest Yankee ever.

Off-the-field romances ...and a wedding?

Off the field, the star shortstop has been romantically linked to several high profile girlfriends including singer Mariah Carey and actresses Jessica Alba and Jessica Biel.

Rumored to be dating actress Minka Kelly all during 2009, the couple were reportedly engaged in January 2010 with a wedding planned in November at Oheka Castle in Huntington, Long Island.

More about Derek Jeter around the Web:


New York Yankees - Derek Jeter - The official team site with a player profile and bio, stats, photos and video clips of typically spectacular Jeter moments.

Turn 2 Foundation - The Jeter foundation sponsoring programs and activities for at-risk youth with photos, information, upcoming events, press releases.

Derek Jeter - The Captain - Archived CBS 60 Minutes interview including quotes, photo gallery plus related video clips of Jeter, his parents & teammates.

A Derek Jeter Fan Site - News and information, links to recent media coverage, current and archived photos, related links.

Baseball America - Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter - Verbatim interview of two friends - before A-Rod joined the Yanks, from 1997.

Derek Jeter - Wikipedia - The complete biography and career highlights, photo, related links.

also see in Sports -> World Series Baseball | New York Yankees

also see in Sports Idols -> Jason Giambi | Ken Griffey, Jr.

Alex Rodriguez