We don't know for sure if Derek Jeter is going to play this weekend at Fenway Park to finish out his storied career, but we do know that the Red Sox plan to celebrate the Yankee captain's achievements on Sunday.
And we've got some details on one of the gifts the Yankee great will receive from his team's greatest rival that was made in a Brunswick, Maine clothing factory.
Jeter remained non-committal on his plans for the weekend following the Yankees 9-5 loss to the Orioles Wednesday night.
'We just lost, man,' Jeter told reporters. 'Respect the fact that we just lost, we are not going to the playoffs. I can't think about Boston right now. Right now I am disappointed, I can't tell you about Boston because I am not thinking about Boston.'
Now that the Yankees have been eliminated from postseason play, New York manager Joe Girardi has hedged on his plan to pencil Jeter into the lineup for all remaining games.
'I will leave that up to [Jeter], very similar with what I did for Mo [Rivera],' Girardi said of Jeter's final days. 'In my mind, I really thought Mo would want to play an inning in center field and it never happened. I will leave it up to Derek, I don't see why I would do it any different.'
As far as honoring Jeter at Fenway this weekend, fans should expect the ceremony to be understated.
'It's going to be a one day ceremony, on Sunday,' Red Sox president Larry Lucchino said on WEEI's Dennis and Callahan show Thursday. 'We hope he's going to play this weekend. I think it's likely that he will. I would describe it as low-key. It's more respect and admiration for him as a ballplayer. I don't think you'll see too many talking heads but there will be plenty of gestures of respect for him.
'In terms of tangible gifts for him, we're not giving him a red convertible or something like that. What he cares most about these days is his Turn 2 Foundation, and we intend to make a sizable contribution to that, and to give a little piece of Fenway Park to take with him along with some musical gestures.'
One of the gifts the Red Sox will present to Jeter on Sunday will be a pair of Yankee-themed duck boots made by L.L. Bean. The boots are similar to those the Red Sox wore in the parade following their 2013 World Series win, except they are Yankee blue and the lining is made from a Yankee uniform.
Former Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield -- who faced Jeter more than any other pitcher in baseball over the Yankee shortstop's 20-year career -- saw the Jeter Boots up close during a recent visit to L.L. Bean's manufacturing facility in Bruinswick, Maine.
Wakefield was asked if he wanted to poke a few holes in No. 2's boots before the Red Sox hand them off. 'I could do that,' Wakefield joked.
The duck boots are a gift Jeter could use in his final game at Yankee Stadium tonight, in what is expected to be a very wet affair with rain in the forecast.
During his farewell tour this season, major league teams got creative with gifts for the Yankee captain. The five-time World Series winner's retirement gifts have included a kayak, cowboy boots, a bench, a guitar and many contributions to Jeter's Turn 2 charity foundation.
Let's take a look at some of the gifts Saint Jeter has received from other teams during his farewell tour this season. It's estimated that Jeter will owe about $16,000 in state and local taxes on the gifts, worth approximately $33,000.
Baltimore Orioles: A naval captain's hat, a bucket of Maryland crabs, oversized crab mallet, and cake
Chicago Cubs: The No. 2 from the Wrigley Field manual scoreboard
Chicago White Sox: Baseball-themed bench made primarily from bats and a glass plaque containing dirt from the shortstop area of U.S. Cellular Field (USCF) with a list of Hall of Fame shortstops that played in USCF and Comisky Park
Cincinnati Reds: Framed jerseys autographed by former Reds captains Dave Concepcion and Barry Larkin, along with three photos taken the day Jeter was named captain on June 3, 2003 in Cincinnati
Cleveland Indians: The city that houses the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame presented Jeter with a pinstriped electric guitar
Detroit Tigers: Two seats from the old Tiger Stadium and a framed collection of three portraits
Houston Astros: A 10-gallon Stetson cowboy hat, cowboy boots, and set of golf clubs
Los Angleles Angels: A Yankee-themed 12-foot long paddleboard
Milwaukee Brewers: a bronze replica of his bat and a golf trip to Whistling Straits in Wisconsin
Minnesota Twins: The second-base bag from the last game at the Metrodome, Game 3 of the 2009 ALDS which Jeter went 1-for-4 and the Yankees won 4-1 to advance to the ALCS with a three-game sweep
New York Mets: No. 2 subway tile mosaic, Cupcakes from the Cake Boss, and painting of New York commemorating the subway series
Oakland Athletics: Customized bottle of 2009 Abreu Madrona Ranch Cabernet and a resort stay in Napa Valley
Seattle Mariners: A seat from the old Kingdome where Jeter made his MLB debut on May 29, 1995, a base from Safeco Field, and an engraved $34,000 Hublot watch from former teammate Robinson Cano
St. Louis Cardinals: A pair of Stan Musial cufflinks
Tampa Bay Rays: A 16-foot Yankee-themed kayak and framed Don Zimmer jersey
Texas Rangers: A framed signed picture with former President George W. Bush from 2001 and cowboy boots
Toronto Blue Jays: A three-night luxury trip to Banff, Alberta, complete with a helicopter tour of the Rocky Mountains and Jeter's choice of golf or ski lessons
The always-generous Red Sox are also planning on giving a couple tickets to two deserving Yankee fans for Sunday's festivities:
And establishments around Fenway are getting ready for the retirement party as well:
Fenway area getting ready to bid Derek Jeter farewell this weekend. Here's a sign outside Game On http://ift.tt/1qv2j7O
- Kyle Brasseur (@KyleBrasseur) September 24, 2014
With a crush of national media and many well-heeled Yankee fans expected to arrive in town on Friday, look for Jeterpalooza to shift into high gear in Boston this weekend.
Continue Reading Below
Posted by Unknown on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
0 comments "Red Sox Ready to Give Derek Jeter the Boot ... and More"
Post a Comment