Derek Jeter proud and surprised by Boston Red Sox's farewell
Retired Yankees star stunned by tribute he receives from the Fenway Park faithful
The final word on the stellar career of Derek Jeter came at Fenway Park where baseball's fiercest rivalry turned into a love-in with the Boston Red Sox bidding the New York Yankees captain a fond farewell.
Jeter, 40, was surprised by the classy pre-game ceremony laid on by the Red Sox, with whom he had waged many bitter battles over two decades in Major League Baseball and the outpouring of affection from rival players and Fenway fans.
"This is a place where we were the enemy for a long, long time," said the Yankees captain and sure-fire Hall of Famer, hinting at bitter defeats and brawls between the clubs over the years. "For them to flip the script this last time coming here, it made me feel extremely proud."
When I got here I was just ready for my career to be over and just tried to have as much fun as I could
Fans serenaded him with chants of "De-rek Je-ter" right up until the time he was taken out of the game for a pinch-runner after fittingly chopping a high-hop infield single to bring his career hit total to 3,465 - sixth on MLB's all-time list.
"I was just happy to end my career with a hit."
Manager Joe Girardi was struck by the moving ceremony, in which former Red Sox greats came out to pay tribute to the 14-times All Star and the entire Red Sox team formed a line and individually offered him congratulations on his career.
