Derek Jeter SI Sportsman of the Year

New York Yankees shortstop and five-time World Series champion Derek Jeter has been named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year. Jeter’s Yankees are coming off the franchise’s 27th World Series title in 2009. In an era of baseball where steroids hung above the sport, Derek Jeter was one of the brightest stars in the game that made baseball’s image a little better.

Deserving of an MVP several times in his career, Jeter has been Mr. Clutch and his been a consistent .310+ hitter. Jeter defied the law of shortstop age in 2009 putting together another exceptional season. At 35 years old, Jeter became the oldest World Series winning shortstop since Pee Wee Reese won with the Dodgers in 1955. 

Jeter has a lifetime average of .317 and batted .334 in 2009. Jeter becomes the first Yankee to ever win SI’s Sportsman of the Year.