The Life of Derek Jeter: Before a World Champion “Derek Jeter, a professional baseball player for the Yankees…” are the exact words that Derek Jeter, himself same, used in his eighth-grade directory (Jeter xvi). For as long as he could remember, Jeter aspired to become a New York Yankee. Fifteen years after predicting he would become a professional baseball player for the Yankees, Derek Jeter is now more than a Yankee. Jeter isn't just a Yankee; he is a family man and a world champion. His career began when he was five years old and everything has evolved since then. Sports fans know what Derek Jeter's life is like today, but what life was like before he became a world champion, superstar and captain of the New York Yankees. Derek Jeter's life has begun and baseball is about to change forever. On June 26, 1974, Charles and Dorothy Jeter gave birth to one of today's greatest athletes, Derek Jeter, in Pequannock, New Jersey (Biography by 1). Charles, being Caucasian, and Dorothy, being African American, gave Derek his tan complexion. For the next four years, Jeter lived in New Jersey, less than 30 miles from Yankee Stadium (Biography by 1). Not knowing at the time that he would return to New York as a Yankee, Jeter's family moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where Derek was able to begin playing baseball at age five and would move on summers with her grandmother in New Jersey. (Biography by 1). She convinced him to be a Yankees fan by taking him to several games over the summer at Yankee Stadium. Soon, Jeter would come to idolize Dave Winfield (Biography by 1), who played the field for the Yankees from 1981 to 1988 (Winfield), and was later inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Now that Jeter has been exposed to baseball and the Yankees ... middle of paper ... healthy lifestyle. He also taught children to “turn away” from substances such as drugs and alcohol. From the day he was born, Jeter should have worn a Yankees uniform. He was born to play baseball and he obviously realized that. Through his hard work and efforts, he is now the captain of the New York Yankees. But without his hard work, dedication and the support of his family, Jeter would be no match for a Yankee. Now a four-time world champion and two-time World Series MVP. Jeter continues to work hard and achieve more and more goals. Derek Jeter will soon be remembered as one of the best players to ever play the game of baseball. Works Cited1. Throw it away, Derek. The life you imagine: life lessons to make your dreams come true. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2000.2. Derek Jeter-Biography. November 1, 2006 .3. Dave Winfield-Fielding. October 30 2006 .