A storybook ending to a Hall of Fame career

Last night, Derek Jeter gave millions of New York Yankees fans a storybook ending to his Hall of Fame career.

You didn’t even have to be a Yankee fan to appreciate the moment.

Here’s what my friend Vinny – a die hard Mets fan – posted on Twitter last night after he got home from Yankee Stadium:

Like some of the Mets players, I tuned in to watch Derek Jeter’s final moments as a player in the Bronx once my team’s game was over.

One Mets player was among the 48,613 at Yankee Stadium last night:

I have no objection to Matt Harvey being present for Jeter’s final home game or for counting the Yankee captain as a “childhood idol” and a “friend.”

But I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me.

It bothers me that the Mets are not playing important baseball games – do you think Harvey would have been sitting in the Bronx or cheering on his own team if they were still in the playoff race? (I guarantee you that the San Francisco Giants’ clubhouse was not focused on Jeter’s game last night.)

It also makes me think about Harvey’s future – unless there’s a change in ownership and philosophies, Harvey will spend five more seasons in Queens and depart for the highest bidder in 2019. No matter how great Harvey may be, there will be no career milestone games for him – at least not with the Mets.

But last night was about Derek Jeter, and one last magic moment he gave his teammates and fans to remember his 20-year career. In a season with few highlights, Jeter came through again.