When a senior Yankees scout convinced George Steinbrenner to take a chance on high school prospect Derek Jeter
New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter was quite young when he debuted in the major leagues. At the time, not many were convinced to take high school kids, but a Yankees scout convinced owner George Steinbrenner to take a chance on the prospect with the No. 6 pick in the 1992 draft.
In an interview with CSmonitor in 2014, the Yankees' director of scouting, Bill Livesey, said:
"Mr. Steinbrenner was not real high on taking high school kids, simply because they were too long from the big leagues. So, we had to convince him. He asked me how long it was going to take for him to be in the big leagues. It was a little bit of the fib: I told him four years."
Jeter wasn't chosen by the five clubs that came before the Yankees. Not the Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros or Montreal Expos.
Jeter made his major league debut on May 29, 1995, but played only 13 games that season. However, he started for the Yankees on opening day in 1996 and went on to a Hall of Fame career.
Derek Jeter blossomed as a young player
Jeter signed with the Yankees for a $700,000 bonus, made his debut in the major leagues in 1995 and then swiftly achieved new heights.
"30 years ago today, a call from the @yankees changed my life. My world has never been dull since then!" Derek Jeter posted on Instagram.
Jeter was selected by the Yankees in the 1992 draft and made his major league debut in 1995 at the age of 20.
The following season, he was named the Yankees' starting shortstop, took home the Rookie of the Year Award and assisted his club in defeating the Atlanta Braves in the 1996 World Series.
During the team's championship seasons from 1998 to 2000, Jeter continued to shine. He placed third in the voting for the American League MVP award in 1998, set numerous career-high numbers in 1999 and won the MVP awards for the All-Star Game and the World Series in 2000.