New York Mets give to Derek Jeter’s foundation as team’s parting gift
May 16, 2014, 3:30 AM | Updated: 3:30 am
For whatever reason, it has become standard for baseball teams to give some of the game’s legends parting gifts during their final appearance in a stadium.
New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera received a rocking chair made out of broken bats from the Minnesota Twins. The Yankees gave Chipper Jones the stadium’s third base. Derek Jeter received cowboy boots and golf clubs from the Houston Astros earlier this season.
All nice gestures, but most fall into the “entirely useless” category.
Well, the New York Mets took a step toward changing that trend on Thursday.
The Mets presented Jeter — the Yankees’ future Hall-of-Fame shortstop who is retiring after this season — with one thing that fits the “entirely useless” bill, a No. 2 mural made out of subway tiles.
But the Mets added a wonderful gesture to the mural — writing a check for $22,222.22 for Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation. (Can you guess what number he wears?)
The foundation aims to help keep kids out of trouble while encouraging academic excellence and promoting healthier lifestyles. Jeter started the foundation in 1995.
Good on the Mets for actually making a meaningful contribution to one of baseball’s greats while he’s on his goodbye tour, and it’s probably safe to say that this will remain a favorite of all the gifts Jeter receives over the next few months.
