New York Yankees great Derek Jeter was elected to the Hall of Fame Tuesday and was congratulated by old teammates, coaches, and friends.
@RobinsonCano via Twitter: HOF!!! Congrats my brother. One of the greatest to ever do it. Enjoyed every moment on and off the field. #Re2pect
@bw51official via Twitter (Bernie Williams): Congratulations Derek! The @baseballhall awaits! An honor to be your teammate and friend. This is a wonderful day for you and your family. We all share in your joy. Love you my brother and can’t wait to celebrate with you in July ! #MLB #yankees #HOF #turn2foundation
@MarianoRivera via Twitter: To the best teammate a player can ever ask for…your hard work, respect for the game and selfless leadership have always served as an inspiration. Felicidades y gracias por las memorias!
@teixeiramark25 via Twitter: Congrats to two of the best who ever lived. I was lucky to play with Jeter for 6 seasons and see his talent, leadership, and grace first hand. If any kid wants to know how to play the game right and conduct yourself with class, just look at #2.
A former manager of Jeter, Joe Torre, had this to say about his election to the Hall of Fame:
“A Derek Jeter comes along once in a generation. 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”
General manager, 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. 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.”