BOSTON — Bud Selig had to endure some tough days as Major League Baseball’s commissioner, but one guy who never gave him any trouble was Derek Jeter.
Selig, who like Jeter will retire at the end of this season, spoke fondly of the shortstop prior to Saturday’s game between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
“In an era where few heroes exist, over a 20-year span, (Jeter) represented the sport and himself in an absolutely magnificent way,” Selig said. “Almost hard to believe.
“We’re blessed in baseball to have somebody who becomes the face of our sport. He is the face of our sport. And that face transcended everything else.”
Selig said he watched Jeter’s final game at Yankee Stadium from beginning to end, including Jeter’s walk-off single to finish his career in the Bronx in dramatic fashion.
“Thursday night was one of those night that made me proud to be commissioner of baseball,” Selig said. “I was so worked up I didn’t sleep for awhile. It really affected me profoundly.”
Selig met with Jeter on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium, and the shortstop presented him with a picture of Joe DiMaggio, whom Selig grew up admiring.
“In this kind of world you treasure those kind of people,” Selig said. “And I treasure Derek Jeter.”
Photo via Benny Sieu/USA TODAY Sports Images
