Major League Baseball

Yanks quickly deny report they're retiring Jeter's No. 2 on Sunday

Published Sep. 3, 2014 10:34 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Update (Thursday, 1:50 a.m. ET): After its initial report that a source said Derek Jeter would have his number retired Sunday, Newsday reported late Wednesday night that the source instead said that decision was not yet finalized:

"Yankees to retire Derek Jeter's No. 2."

Sure makes sense, given the pomp and circumstance surrounding the shortstop's final season and his importance to the franchise.

Just don't tell the Yankees it makes sense — not now, anyway.

Early Wednesday evening, Newsday, citing "a source familiar with the team's plans" reported that the team will retire the future Hall of Famer's No. 2 as part of Sunday's planned Derek Jeter Day at Yankee Stadium before the team faces the Royals.

But word travels fast in New York, and this one got a response from the Pinstripers within "minutes."

From Newsday:

According to the initial Newsday report, the planned number retirement would follow a script similar to that of Mariano Rivera's last year. MLB's all-time saves leader saw his No. 42 retired in a similar ceremony near the end of last season, his final in the big leagues.

Last month the Yankees retired the No. 6 of former manager Joe Torre, who told the crowd during the ceremony, "There's still one single digit left out there" — a reference to the No. 2's destined spot in Monument Park. All other single-digit numbers have been retired by the Yankees. They are:

1. Billy Martin

3. Babe Ruth

4. Lou Gehrig

5. Joe DiMaggio

6. Joe Torre

7. Mickey Mantle

8. Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey

9. Roger Maris

Jeter, in his 20th season, is a 14-time All-Star, a five-time World Series champion and sixth in MLB history with 3,447 base hits after Wednesday's 1-for-3 performance in a 5-1 victory vs. the rival Red Sox.

It seems a certainty that No. 2 will one day be put out to pasture in Monument Park. The only question now is when.

share

Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Major League Baseball