2014 is Last Stand for New York Yankees Captain Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter has announced to the world that this upcoming season will be his last. That's right, Jeter is hanging up the spikes after a truly great career.

Jeter begins this season with 3,316 hits (ninth all time), a .312 batting average and 256 home runs. With the Yankees he has played in the most games ever. Also, he is the only Yankee with 3,000 or more hits.

Derek Jeter is a five-time World Series champion and the 1996 rookie of the year. he is 39 years old. This man is a first-ballot Hall of Famer and will be eligible in 2020 to enter Cooperstown.

Injuries have slowed Derek down--against the Detroit Tigers two years ago Jeter broke his ankle. Last season he played in just 17 games and only batted .190 with one homer and seven RBIs. Jeter is and has always been a class act and he is proving it once again. Some older ballplayers stay around too long for a variety of reasons. Not Derek--he's leaving on his own terms.

Major League baseball will not be the same without Derek Jeter in the Yankees lineup. He played the game the right way: with a ton of heart. He was the captain and took great pride in that role.

I know I will miss this great ambassador to the game who was never in any trouble. He also could deal with playing in New York better than anyone. Good luck with this upcoming season---you deserve a farewell tour.