Derek Jeter To Retire Following 2014 MLB Season

Thirteen-time All-Star, 1996 American League Rookie of the Year and 3,000 hit club member Derek Jeter announced Wednesday that his 20^th Major League Baseball season with the New York Yankees will be his last. The five-time World Series champion made his MLB debut in 1995 with the Yankees but became a full-time shortstop with the club in 1996 when recently elected Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre took over for current Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter. Batting a crisp .314 with 10 home runs, 78 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in his rookie campaign, Jeter helped the Bronx Bombers win the franchises 23^rd World Series Championship.

Announcing his retirement via Facebook – just months after long-time teammates Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte played their final Major League games – Derek Jeter said the 2014 campaign in the Bronx will indeed be his final hoorah. Set to turn 40 in June, Jeter’s final goal will be to help New York claim its 28^th Championship and its first since the club defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2009 World Series. Following a 2013 that included multiple injuries, Jeter said that it is time to step away from the game due to the fact that baseball has become a struggle from a health standpoint.

“Last year was a tough one for me,” Jeter wrote on Facebook. “As I suffered through a bunch of injuries, I realized that some of the things that always came easily to me and were always fun had started to become a struggle. The one thing I always said to myself was that when baseball started to feel more like a job, it would be time to move forward. So really it was months ago when I realized that this season would likely be my last. As I came to this conclusion and shared it with my friends and family, they all told me to hold off saying anything until I was absolutely 100% sure. And the thing is, I could not be more sure. I know it in my heart. The 2014 season will be my last year playing professional baseball.”

As classy a player as there has ever been in professional sports, Jeter thanked those closest to him and the New York fans for always supporting himself and the Yankees.

“So many people have traveled along this journey with me and helped me along the way,” he posted on his personal Facebook page. “I want to especially thank the Boss, the Steinbrenner family, the entire Yankees organization, my managers, my coaches, my teammates, my friends and of course above all, my family. They taught me incredible life lessons and are the #1 reason I lasted this long. They may not have been on the field, but they feel they played every game with me and I think they are ready to call it a career as well.

“I also couldn’t have done it without the people of New York,” he continued. NY fans always pushed me to be my best. They have embraced me, loved me, respected me and have ALWAYS been there for me. This can be a tough, invasive, critical and demanding environment. The people of this city have high expectations and are anxious to see them met. NY made me stronger and made me a better, well-rounded person. For that I will be forever grateful. I never could have imagined playing anywhere else.”

Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees will open their 2014 campaign on Tuesday, April 1 in Houston.

READ Derek Jeter's Letter Announcing His Retirement Following 2014 Season