MLB ALL-STAR GAME

July 11, 2000

Derek Jeter

DEREK JETER: Yes, it does. Taking into consideration all the great players that have been in the Yankee Organization, you'd think in the past that one would win. But if you're in a game like this, you have to be in the right place at the right time, and I was very fortunate.

DEREK JETER: I didn't see it. Did he imitate me? I didn't see it. I was in here last time. I tried to imitate him last year, and I struck out, so I didn't do a good job. So I told him just go ahead and be himself.

DEREK JETER: I don't think so. I mean, you have to play for a lot of years before you can be considered a Yankee Great, and I've only played four years. This is my fifth year. Hopefully, I can play for a few more years then start that debate. But at this point, I'm still very -- hopefully -- young in my career.

DEREK JETER: When you're in a situation in an All-Star Game, you don't really say, "Oh, here's a Met. I want to get a hit off him." Obviously, you're happy to be here; you want to have a good time. I said previously that I had two All-Star at-bats before, and I struck out both times, and I wanted to swing early in the count and hopefully put the ball in play. It really had nothing to do with Al Leiter -- nothing special with that.

DEREK JETER: Well, I think I'm very fortunate. I've been in the right place at the right time. I came up in an organization that had a lot of veterans my first year. We've been able to be very successful. But I never really look at the past to see what I've done. I focus on the present and worry about the future; and hopefully, I think down the road, I think that's when you sit down and reflect on your career. I don't ever sit around and say, "We've accomplished this or that."

DEREK JETER: Yeah, it will probably take some time. Right now I'm very happy, obviously; but I think in due time, when I sit down and get a chance to reflect on it, then you realize how special it is. And I wasn't aware that no Yankee, no other Yankee had won this award, and it's kind of hard to believe.

DEREK JETER: I don't think it's any different than any other stadium. We've been fortunate here. We played some big games, and obviously the World Series -- every time we play the Braves in a regular-season game, it's a big series. Now the All-Star Game. So our team has been successful here. Maybe we seem to focus a little bit more. I have no idea. But I don't think it has anything to do with the background.

DEREK JETER: It was a great atmosphere. Even when guys came out of the game, they seemed to stick around. The All-Star Game is something you never take for granted, because you never know when you're going to get an opportunity to come back. I think everyone was just enjoying the moment and getting a chance to talk to the other players.