
Derek Jeter history provides blueprint for Yankees 2021 opener
NY Post
Joe Torre was on the phone from a beach in Hawaii, and yet, as he started talking, it sounded like he was back in that cold dugout in Cleveland 25 years ago this week, watching his rookie shortstop launch a home run, and a dynasty, that few saw coming. Derek Jeter had hammered a high fastball from old man Dennis Martinez, who had signed a pro contract before Jeter was born, and a quarter century later Torre could still see it sailing over Albert Belle and the left-field wall.
“When that ball was in the air,” Torre said, “it was a no-doubter, and I remember I exhaled a little bit.” Exhaled?
Suddenly, someone had hit a rewind button and everyone had been transported back seven months. It was early spring instead of late fall, it was broiling hot outside the arena walls and not freezing cold. Everyone was back at TD Garden. There were 19,156 frenzied fans on their feet begging for blood, poised for the kill.












