A guest post from FireRich (a firefighter).
In late 2001 after the attacks on the Trade Center I was working at my firehouse Engine 7/Ladder 1 in lower Manhattan.
One day my firehouse was paid a visit by Derek Jeter, Tino Martinez and Gerald Williams. They were nice and cordial to us all and were signing autographs for everyone.
I must admit I did openly enjoy a ‘lifelong’ Yankee fan asking Gerald Williams if he was the van driver for Jeter & Martinez.
Being a Mets fan I naturally cornered Tino Martinez and told him what a great fit he’d be as a Met since we really needed a first basemen. He was very nice and did explain that his first priority was to remain a Yankee but if that didn’t work out his family has come to love New York (smart guy) and he’d have to see what would happen.
After this we all got autograph’s from the players. Mine was on a Construction hat that I had worn down at the site. When Jeter went to sign mine he said “Wait, aren’t you the Mets fan?” Previously noted “lifelong Yankee fan” from firehouse made sure to affirm that for him. At this point Mr. Jeter turned his back and autographed my hardhat. He gave it back to me with a smile and continued on signing autographs.
I looked down and saw the inscription and autograph that said:
“ Let’s Go Mets
Derek Jeter”
I have never been a Yankee hater, as my Father has always been a huge Yankee fan, as are my brother and misguided nieces and nephew. I want the Mets to beat them, and would prefer the Mets to win the World Series, but hey whatever- I’d rather see a Yankee win than either the Phillies or the Braves any day.
Since that day I have had nothing but respect for the Yankee shortstop, he did something he didn’t have to do just to be nice.
Enjoy your 3,000 hits and the rest of your trip to the hall of fame, and I do apologize for even fleetingly arguing that Rey Ordonez might have been a better shortstop than you all those years ago….
Shannon here. This is where I’d post the image of the helmet, but the download is corrupted…I was able to screengrab the thumbnail but the full rez version won’t open.
I’m gone on a secret mission. Media Goon is in charge ([email protected] or @mediagoon if something breaks. 80’s week is locked and loaded (starts tomorrow), and I am just traveling not dead so I’m sure I will be on and off the site and twitter (@metspolice). And if I’m dead..well, enjoy 80’s week.
Chief/FireRich, I am sure that we can all agree that we would rather see the “other guys” win as opposed to the jerks from south of Jersey & south of the Mason-Dixon line, but at the same time, outside of the current 3rd baseman (he has done it to himself), it is not the team that most of us hate, it is the people that root for them, in all of their obnoxiousness that we hate, you know the type, I have been a long time Yankee fan, all the way back to the mid 90s.
Nice story & nice gesture by Jeter.