In a candid interview with Today.com, iconic New York Yankees veteran Derek Jeter bared his soul, acknowledging a past marked by selfishness before the profound wake-up call of fatherhood.
The retired baseball legend, who hung up his cleats in 2014 after an illustrious 20-year career with the Yankees, shared insights into the transformative effect that family life has had on his perspective.
Jeter, who tied the knot with Hannah Jeter (formerly Davis) in 2016, is now a proud father of four: Bella Raine (6), Story Grey (4), River Rose (1), and the newest addition, son Kaius, born in May 2023.
Reflecting on the impact of fatherhood, Jeter admitted:
“Through my career, I was always very selfish because it was all about me. … And then once I retired and got married and had kids, it really put things in perspective.”
The former shortstop emphasized the shift in priorities that being a dad of four brought about.
“Kids are leaders not only in their schools, but in their communities,” Jeter remarked. “And I think there’s just another level of importance that you realize when you start having a family of your own.”
Jeter, who had previously expressed a desire to settle down but was focused on his MLB career, revealed that the demanding nature of professional baseball would make it challenging to allocate time for family.
His retirement in 2014 marked a pivotal moment in his life, allowing him to redirect his focus towards building a family with his wife, Hannah.
The Jeter family roster is growing! Derek Jeter and his wife Hannah Jeter welcomed their fourth child on May 5th. pic.twitter.com/lFKnhS6Dd3
— E! News (@enews) May 9, 2023
Regarding their holiday plans, Derek Jeter, father of four, spoke to People Magazine and emphasized the importance of spending Christmas at home.
According to Jeter, being at home during the holidays is preferable because it ensures that the children wake up in their own familiar surroundings.
Throughout an impressive span of 158 postseason games, equivalent to a full extra season, Derek Jeter maintained a batting average of .308.
In this extended playoff career, he accumulated 111 runs, 200 hits, 32 doubles, 20 home runs, 61 RBIs, and 66 walks.
Concluding his illustrious career, Jeter achieved a total of 3,465 hits, 1,923 runs scored, and 4,921 total bases.
Such extraordinary accomplishments led to Jeter’s well-deserved election to the Hall of Fame in 2020.
This crew is on their way to Cooperstown, NY to cover the 2020 Baseball Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony. This year’s class consists of Derek Jeter, Marvin Miller, Ted Simmons, and Larry Walker. Tune into our instagram story all day for coverage of the ceremony! pic.twitter.com/l8ORi5OEw4
— CSMN (@capitalsportsmn) September 8, 2021
Beyond his contributions on the baseball field, Jeter has been a steadfast advocate for positive youth development.
In 1996, he founded the Turn 2 Foundation, dedicated to encouraging kids to make healthy lifestyle choices.
