For most of the late 2000’s and early 2010’s, he was one of Major League Baseball’s most reliable starting pitchers. After getting his first full-time starting job with the Boston Red Sox in 2004 and tossing 178.2 innings that year, he logged 200 or more innings every year through 2013, with the exception of 2009, when he pitched “Just” 199 innings. In that time span (2004-2013), no right-hander in baseball pitched more innings. In those years he complied a win-loss record of 129-113 and struck out 1,354. Opponents batted just .262 off of the righty, and hit for just a 98 OPS+ who is on the Hall of Fame ballot in 2023.
His most famous moment came in Game 6 of the 2004 ALDS. After Curt Schilling’s epic “bloody sock” start, he came on in relief. The moment, now famously known as The slap” occurred when Yankee Alex Rodriguez hit a bouncer back that our January guest fielded. When he went to apply the tag, Rodriguez (ahem) slapped at his glove containing the ball in an effort to dislodge it. After further review, Rodriguez was called OUT, Jeter, who had scored, was sent back to second base and the Red Sox went on to win Game six and the next day, Game 7 sending them on and sending the yankees packing. Come hear and Meet one of the most popular Red Sox players in recent history.
