Derek Jeter

Derek Sanderson Jeter -
Born: June 26, 1974 in Pequannock, NJ.

Derek Jeter bats right-handed, throws right-handed, and wears uniform number 2... Jeter's father is African-American and his mother is Caucasian; his heritage is reportedly a mix of African, Irish, Indian, and German... With Jeter at shortstop, the Yankees won the World Series in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000.

In 1995, Jeter got his first shot at the major leagues when Yankees shortstop Tony Fernandez was put on the disabled list. Jeter made his debut on May 29 against the Seattle Mariners. The next year, in his first full season as a major league baseball player, he batted .314 with 10 home runs. The skilled shortstop also performed well in the infield - his fielding percentage was .969. He helped the Yankees win the World Series against the Atlanta Braves. Jeter won the 1996 American League Rookie of the Year Award for that season.

Jeter has been an outstanding player in the major leagues since his rookie season. He helped the Yankees with more World Series wins in 1998, 1999, and 2000. In 2000, Jeter was named Most Valuable Player in the World Series and the All-Star Game. He also received Gold Glove Awards in 2004 and in 2005 for his performance on the field. As a consistently strong athlete, he has earned the respect and admiration of coaches, sports commentators, peers, and fans. So far Jeter has a career battling average of .316 and average fielding percentage of .975.

Off the field, Jeter has garnered a lot of attention for his quiet confidence and good looks. He has appeared in numerous commercials and signed a deal with Avon Products, Inc., in 2006 to create a fragrance for men called Driven.

Jeter has also used his celebrity and his prominent position as a sports star to help children. In 1996, he established the Turn 2 Foundation to encourage young people to be healthy and academically successful, to become leaders, and to stay away from drugs and alcohol. The foundation supports and creates programs to achieve these goals.