Top 149 Quotes & Sayings by Derek Jeter

Explore popular quotes and sayings by an American baseball player Derek Jeter.
Last updated on November 22, 2024.
Derek Jeter

Derek Sanderson Jeter is an American former professional baseball shortstop, businessman, and baseball executive. As a player, Jeter spent his entire 20-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the New York Yankees. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2020; he received 396 of 397 possible votes (99.75%), the second-highest percentage in MLB history and the highest by a position player. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) and part owner of the league's Miami Marlins from September 2017 to February 2022.

I want to have a family.
I think everyone is ticklish. You just gotta find the right spots.
You're playing a game, whether it's Little League or Game 7 of the Word Series. It's impossible to do well unless you're having a good time. People talk about pressure. Yeah, there's pressure. But I just look at it as fun.
When I was younger, I was always taught not to make excuses. — © Derek Jeter
When I was younger, I was always taught not to make excuses.
You can't be sensitive, because you're going to get criticized. I don't care who you are, you're going to get criticized.
I love it when people doubt me. It makes me work harder to prove them wrong.
For me, when I was a kid, volunteering was the last thing I was thinking about. When I see kids doing it now, it amazes me. It's very impressive, it gives them something productive to do as opposed to getting in trouble. For them to take time out at such a young age is remarkable. I think all kids should take a little time out to volunteer.
Everyone fears rejection.
You have to assume that everything you do is public knowledge. Everything. Because now everyone is a reporter. Everyone is a photographer.
I'm very, very competitive. If my grandmother asks to race me down the street, I'm going to try to beat her. And I'll probably enjoy it!
I think, a lot of times, players get in trouble when they're asked questions and they think they have to find a way to answer it. If you ask me a question and I say, 'I don't know,' there's really no follow-up.
I always have tried to treat people with respect, the way I want to be treated.
I get asked enough questions, I try not to ask too many questions.
I try to stay as private as possible; I know that's difficult, especially playing here in New York, but I make an attempt at it. — © Derek Jeter
I try to stay as private as possible; I know that's difficult, especially playing here in New York, but I make an attempt at it.
During the off-season, I go to the movies almost every day.
I think when things linger, that's when they become a distraction. I don't want any distractions.
I've always been uncomfortable, so to speak, when the focus is on me.
I've found that it's easier to stay in shape than it is to get into shape.
It's never over. You don't want to be in the position to be down four runs in the ninth inning, but it's not over until the last out.
You gotta have fun. Regardless of how you look at it, we're playing a game. It's a business, it's our job, but I don't think you can do well unless you're having fun.
The number one priority is playing baseball. There are so many people in New York trying to get you to do this and get you to do that, which is fine, but you have to take care of yourself.
You forget about it whether it was 15-2 or 3-2. It's still a loss. It doesn't matter what the score was if we win tomorrow.
When you put a lot of hard work into one goal and you achieve it, that's a really good feeling.
The last thing you want to do is finish playing or doing anything and wish you would have worked harder.
I attribute much of my success in New York to my ability to understand and avoid unnecessary distractions.
Surround yourself with good people. People who are going to be honest with you and look out for your best interests.
My office is at Yankee stadium. Yes, dreams do come true.
I voted for Obama.
The Yankees have strict rules. You can have a mustache but no other facial hair.
That's how you win - pitching and defense.
We just want to win. That's the bottom line. I think a lot of times people may become content with one championship or a little bit of success, but we don't really reflect on what we've done in the past. We focus on the present.
God, I hope I wear this jersey forever.
Kids are our future.
I've been asked to sign a forehead.
I like to hit the gym early in the morning. I feel better throughout the day when I get in a workout first thing in the morning.
If you're going to win games, you're going to have to come up with the big hits. That's the bottom line.
When it was time for parent-teacher conferences, I remember that I was always embarrassed about what my parents would hear about me!
I can see how people work out to feel better.
I have feelings. I'm not emotionally stunted. — © Derek Jeter
I have feelings. I'm not emotionally stunted.
The thing that means the most to me is being remembered as a Yankee, because that's what I've always wanted to be, was to be a Yankee.
I like to dance and sing when there's no one around, but, if I'm out, I'm really shy about it. So it takes a lot to get me going, but I enjoy being around music.
My dad had been shortstop when he was in college, and you know, when you're a kid, you want to be just like your dad.
My heroes, my dreams, and my future lay in Yankee Stadium. And they can't take that away from me.
Your image isn't your character. Character is what you are as a person.
I looked up to my parents because they were very successful in what they wanted to do. I was lucky; I didn't have to look far for role models.
I'm not perfect; no one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. I think you try to learn from those mistakes.
I always take criticism as a challenge. It's the way I've always looked at it.
The big difference for me is that, as I get older, I find it's a lot easier to stay in shape than it is to get back in shape.
I've always been very aware of what I'm saying, but I'm also aware of what you're saying. I always want to make sure that my point is clear. — © Derek Jeter
I've always been very aware of what I'm saying, but I'm also aware of what you're saying. I always want to make sure that my point is clear.
If you're going to play at all, you're out to win. Baseball, board games, playing Jeopardy, I hate to lose.
The first thing to know about playing baseball in Michigan is, Michigan's really cold.
I remember going from rookie ball to A, to double A, then to triple A. At every level it seemed like the game was faster. The bigger the situation, the more the game speeds up. That's all mental. It messes people up.
No former player has owned a team in baseball.
I always appreciated the ex-players. Being a Yankee, you get spoiled. Old-Timers Day, all these guys coming back, spring training, being around them, you get a chance to get to know them. So I always think you learn a lot by listening.
I don't really see myself getting a Twitter account. Nothing against it. I get it. I especially get it for businesses.
There may be people who have more talent than you, but there's no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do - and I believe that.
You don't just accidentally show up in the World Series.
I wish I trusted people more. But when I meet someone, the first thing is, 'What does this person want?' And I put up a defense mechanism. But I've always been that way.
Don't get me wrong; it's not like I didn't go out and have fun. But there's been a lot of players that come to New York and get caught up in the lifestyle, and before you know it, they're sent away to another team because it affected their performance.
I get nervous watching teammates. I get nervous for them. Late in the game, pressure situation, I'm nervous for them.
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