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NO STAT IS SAFE. NO ERA IS FORGOTTEN.
VOL. 1, NO. 39 · NOVEMBER 23, 2026 · EVERY MONDAY
ISSUE #039 · STEROID ERA
Derek Jeter — The Most
Famous Shortstop Who Ever
Played
On November 1, 2001, Derek Jeter hit a walk-off home run after midnight to become 'Mr. November' — one of
📅 THIS DATE IN
BASEBALL the most iconic moments in World Series history.
THE STAT THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST 01
HE WAS THE MOST FAMOUS PLAYER IN BASEBALL FOR 20 YEARS AND MADE IT LOOK LIKE HE WASN'T TRYING.
3,465 Career Hits. 5 World Series Rings. The Flip
Play. Mr. November. 20 Seasons, One City.
DEREK JETER CAREER HITS CAREER BA WORLD SERIES RINGS
CAREER WAR GOLD GLOVES HOF VOTE %
Jeter played 20 seasons entirely with the Yankees, hitting .310 with 3,465 hits and 5 championships. He
won the 2000 World Series MVP, hit the 'Mr. November' walk-off home run in the 2001 World Series,
made the Flip Play in the 2001 ALDS, and is the Yankees' all-time hit leader. His career WAR of 72.4 is
good, not great — the ongoing debate about his legacy.
THE GAME YOU FORGOT 02
VS Oakland Athletics OCTOBER 13, 2001
3
7th Giambi out at plate Yankees win 3-2
ALDS GAME INNING RESULT OF PLAY SERIES RESULT
W 1-0
RESULT
The Flip Play
THE MOST FAMOUS DEFENSIVE PLAY IN POSTSEASON HISTORY
Game 3, 2001 ALDS. The A's were threatening to cut the Yankees' series lead. Jeremy Giambi was running
on a hit to right field — Shane Spencer's throw was way off-line and headed for the stands near the first-
base dugout. Jeter appeared from nowhere — running from his shortstop position all the way across the first
base line — caught the errant throw, flipped it backhanded to Jorge Posada, who tagged Giambi at home.
One play. The Yankees won the ALDS and went to the World Series.
ERA VS ERA 03
Is Derek Jeter Overrated By Metrics Or Underrated By Them?
THE CASE FOR JETER THE METRICS CASE
CAREER HITS CAREER WAR
3,465 — 6th all-time 72.4 — good, not great
POSTSEASON HITS VS DEFENSIVE METRICS
200 — all-time record Consistently below average
CULTURE + LEADERSHIP COMPARE TO RIPKEN
Immeasurable 95.9 WAR — clearly better
Jeter's metrics-based WAR (72.4) is solid but not legendary. His defensive metrics are consistently poor. His
postseason record (200 hits, .308 average) is unmatched. The honest answer: he was extremely good,
somewhat overrated by the mainstream, and somewhat underrated by pure metrics people. He exists in a
strange middle zone where neither side fully wins.
Is Jeter overrated, underrated, or exactly right?
EXACTLY RIGHT — HOF FIRST BALLOT OVERRATED — WAR AND DEFENSE DON'T MATCH THE HYPE
UNDERRATED — POSTSEASON RECORD IS ABSURD THE METRICS MISS WHAT HE ACTUALLY MEANT
THE COLDEST MOMENT 04
2001 WORLD SERIES GAME 4 · YANKEE STADIUM · 12:04 AM
November 1, 2001 — He Hit A Walk-Off Home Run At
Midnight To Become 'Mr. November'
Trailing 3-2 in the series with two outs in the 10th inning, Jeter hit a walk-off home run off
Byung-Hyun Kim that landed in the right-field seats at 12:04 AM on November 1 — technically
November, not October. He raised his fist rounding the bases. The New York crowd was
hysterical. The Yankees had been down 3-2 in the count. The ball left on a line drive. Mr.
November was born.
I wasn't trying to be Mr. November. I was just trying to win.
— DEREK JETER
THE STAT VAULT 05
CAREER HITS CAREER POSTSEASON HITS
6th all-time. All with the Yankees. The The all-time postseason hit record. He hit
franchise's all-time leader. .308 in the postseason across 158 games.
WORLD SERIES RINGS HOF VOTE PERCENTAGE
Won in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2009. One voter left him off the ballot. Jeter
First four in his first four full seasons. never publicly identified who or why.
2001 YEAR OF THE FLIP PLAY + MR. NOVEMBER
Possibly the greatest postseason performance by any player in a single year.
THE FORGOTTEN MAN 06
OVERLOOKED · UNDERRATED · DESERVES MORE
Jorge Posada
NEW YORK YANKEES · 1995-2011
5 WORLD SERIES RINGS · .273 BA · 275 HR · 5 ALL-STARS
Five Rings. Five All-Stars. The Catcher Behind The Dynasty. Never Gets Enough
Credit.
Jorge Posada won 5 World Series rings as Jeter's catcher, hit 275 HR, made 5 All-Star teams, and was the
backbone of the Yankees' dynasty behind the plate. He's not in the Hall of Fame. He's mentioned in every
Yankees dynasty conversation as an afterthought. He was one of the best offensive catchers of his era.
THE CONNECTION:
Jeter got the Derek Jeter legacy. Posada held down the catcher position for 17 years on the same
dynasty. Same rings, completely different historical footprint.
COMING NEXT MONDAY
Next Monday: Greg Maddux went 355-227 without ever throwing 90 MPH. The most efficient pitcher who ever
lived.
Who's Your Forgotten Man?
Reply with a player from any era who deserves more credit. Best answer gets featured next Monday.
All Eras. All Stats. No Debate.
Every Monday. No exceptions.