I knew Babe Ruth. You're no Babe Ruth.

"In an eyeblink, the ball was past Chris Richard at first base, rolling on the outfield grass, and now Yankee Stadium -- the new one, the one Derek Jeter helped build every bit as much as Babe Ruth built the old place -- was a clamorous combination of Times Square on New Year's and the Garden for a U2 encore."

Let's say Jeter is the most popular Yankee ever. (Untrue.)

Let's say Jeter is the most popular baseball player ever. (Untrue.)

Let's even say Jeter was solely responsbile for the four Championships in the late '90s. (Untrue.)

Even if these exaggerations were true, Jeter's influence on the Yankees and Yankee Stadium is not nearly the same as Ruth's influence on the Yankees and Yankee Stadium.

Old Yankee Stadium was literally designed to help Babe Ruth hit homeruns and also to save baseball from the Black Sox scandal.


This is the endless problem with the Jeter discussion.

Jeter is one of the best shortstops to ever play baseball. It's a particular joy to watch him hustle and play fundamentally sound baseball, especially when the second baseman and the CFer can't run a whole ninety feet. I completely understand why he represents old-school hustle and team-first attitude and even a pre-steroids, pre-freak-show game. Jeter has merely one grand slam in his career, and this negative stat is a badge of honor in Jeter's small-ball throwback universe.

But ...

• Jeter isn't the best Yankee ever.
• Jeter isn't the best baseball player ever.
• Jeter isn't the 2009 AL MVP.

When you compare Jeter's accomplishments to Babe Ruth's or Lou Gehrig's, you really sound ignorant.

No, really.

If Lou Gehrig drove in 175 runs, he'd get a pay cut.

Modern baseball would probably cease to exist without Babe Ruth. It would be cricket.


"They had waited for this and wanted this, each of the 45,848 who sat through an otherwise tedious scrimmage, this 4-2 Yankees victory just another small acceleration in the passing lane as autumn beckons."

"Tedious scrimmage."

I thought it was one of the most exciting baseball games I've ever attended.