4:53 p.m.: Derek Jeter goes out a winner.
The Yankees take the season finale 9-5 at Fenway Park, sending the Captain into retirement on a positive note.
We’ll have more from both Jeter and Yankees manager Joe Girardi in just a bit.
4:42 p.m.: A faint “Thank you, Derek” chant breaks out along the third base line as the Yankees look to put the finishing touches on a season-ending win. New York leads 9-5 in the top of the ninth.
3:58 p.m.: Raise your hand if you expected to hear Bernie Williams play a soulful rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” on his guitar today. Well, that just happened.
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Also included in the seventh-inning stretch festivities was a (slightly delayed) performance of “God Bless America” by Ronan Tynan, who’s known for signing the tune at Yankee Stadium.
2:25 p.m.: And that closes the book on the long and storied career of Derek Jeter.
Jeter reached on an infield single that third baseman Garin Cecchini could not handle and was lifted for a pinch runner. He stopped to shake hands with Buchholz and he jogged off the field, hugged his Yankees teammates and gave a tip of the helmet to the Fenway Faithful before exiting into the dugout.
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Jeter’s base hit drove in Ichiro Suzuki from third base to put the Yankees ahead 3-0.
2:22 p.m.: It’s time for Derek Jeter’s second chance against Clay Buchholz. This one comes with Ichiro Suzuki on third and one out in the third inning.
2:04 p.m.: Will Ferrell, Chris Rock and Kevin Hart make an appearance on the video board to pay their repects to Mr. Jeter. Ferrell, rocking a Red Sox cap, pulls out his best a Boston accent impression for the “De-rek Jeee-tahhh” chant.
1:44 p.m.: Jeter’s first at-bat ends with a lineout to Red Sox shortstop Jemile Weeks. Jeter whiffed on Clay Buchholz’s first offering — a 93 mph fastball — before lining the second pitch into Weeks’ glove.
1:28 p.m.: All right, that certainly was an eventful 20 minutes. Let’s recap:
Jeter jogged onto the field to a rousing ovation.
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As he stood at shortstop, Carl Yastrzemski, Rico Petrocelli, Jim Rice, Fred Lynn, Luis Tiant, Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek walked out to greet him, followed by a crew of non-baseball Boston greats: Bobby Orr, Troy Brown and Paul Pierce. (Pierce, we might add, was wearing Celtics green despite currently playing for the Washington Wizards.)
Then, the entire 2014 Red Sox team followed, with David Ortiz leading the way. Third base coach Brian Butterfield, who coached Jeter in the minors, also was part of the contingent.
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Joe Kelly took a selfie.
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And, after video of Jeter’s ice bucket challenge played on the Fenway Park video board, former Boston College baseball player Pete Frates joined the ceremony.
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The Red Sox presented Jeter with a base modified with pinstripes and Jeter’s No. 2, a pair of customized L.L. Bean boots, a “RE2PECT” sign from the Monster scoreboard — which Ortiz and Xander Bogaerts presented — and a $22,222.22 donation to Jeter’s Turn2 Foundation. The ceremony concluded with Michelle Brooks Thompson of “The Voice” performing a rendition of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.”
Phew. OK, baseball time. Jeter will bat second in the first inning against Clay Buchholz.
1:08 p.m.: Second base has been adorned with pinstripes and Jeter’s No. 2, and the Green Monster scoreboard is paying its respects.
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1:05 p.m.: Fans at Fenway were treated to a nice video montage of some of the most memorable Red Sox-Yankees moments. It revealed just how many New York fans are in attendance here, though.
The video that drew the loudest ovation? Aaron Boone’s homer.
12:55 p.m.: We are just about ready to get things started here at Fenway. You can watch Jeter’s pregame ceremony live right here.
12:10 p.m.: A familiar face made his way back to Boston for today’s festivities.
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Welcome back, Paul.
Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. also is in the house.
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12:05 p.m.: Derek Jeter just completed his batting practice session in front of a large and boisterous crowd.
Fans packed the dirt behind home plate and lined up down both foul lines, cheering every swing and breaking into a few spontaneous “De-rek Je-ter” chants.
Red Sox outfielder Rusney Castillo also took the chance to introduce himself to Jeter, and catcher Christian Vazquez came out to watch the Captain’s final few hacks.
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Noon ET: The time has come for Derek Jeter to ride off into the sunset.
The retiring star will play his final major league game Sunday as the Boston Red Sox host his New York Yankees at Fenway Park.
As has been the case at each stop on his farewell tour, Jeter and his storied career will be honored on the field in a pregame ceremony, which is set to begin at 1 p.m. First pitch will follow at 1:35 p.m.
Jeter will hit in his usual No. 2 spot in the Yankees’ order, but manager Joe Girardi wouldn’t reveal how long he’ll remain in the game. Girardi said in his pregame news conference that he’ll ask Jeter after each at-bat if wants to continue, and that it wouldn’t be out of the question for him to come to the plate just once.
Keep it tuned right here for everything Jeter throughout what is sure to be an emotional afternoon in Boston.
Photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
