By Anthony Pucik

Everyone wanted it to happen. Everyone dreamt of how it could happen. But when it actually did happen, nobody could believe it. Derek Jeter’s final game in Yankee Stadium could not have been scripted any better if the greatest writer in Hollywood had written it.

Yankee fans had been preparing for this day since the start of the season. Sept. 25, 2014: Baltimore Orioles versus the New York Yankees — Jeter’s final regular season game at Yankee Stadium. After seeing Mariano Rivera retire just one year prior, everyone knew the game would be emotional; everyone knew there would be tears, but nobody knew just how the Captain would go out. Would he be pulled off the field or step onto it by himself in the top of the ninth if the Bombers had a lead? Would Andy Pettitte and other former Yankees come take him out like they did for Rivera?

In the end, whatever plan the Yankees had was pretty much thwarted. Sure, they could have anticipated Jeter having a good first at-bat, driving in the first New York run of the game, and later scoring to tie the game at two. They might even have thought that Jeter would hit a hard ground ball to short with the bases loaded in the seventh so the Orioles’ shortstop would mishandle it, allowing two runs to be scored and giving the Yankees the lead. They could’ve even predicted the emotion Jeter felt with the Yankees up 5-2 in the top of the ninth and with closer David Robertson on the hill when Jeter, almost moved to tears at short, tipped his cap to the fans who had not stopped chanting his name all night. But, what happened next was nothing short of impossible.

Robertson gave up three runs in the top of the ninth to tie the score. The night was spoiled. Jeter’s chance of going out on top was all but over. But, with a runner on second and one out in the bottom of the ninth, Jeter stepped up to the plate and the rest was a blur. First pitch: base hit to the right side, run scores, Yankees win. He did it. For one final time in Yankee Stadium, Jeter did it.

Having been at Mariano’s last game and sobbing my eyes out, I never thought I would feel that kind of emotion again. Then, I saw Jeter get mobbed by his teammates as well as Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Bernie Williams, Tino Martinez, Jorge Posada, Joe Torre and others after rounding first and scoring the winning run. When Jeter crouched down and looked out into left field from short, it made me think of Rivera’s last game all over again.

I sat there and tried to think of another way that this game could have gone, another way Jeter could’ve been honored, but nothing came to mind. And that’s when it hit me: Jeter never asked to be showered with gifts or have a farewell tour. He didn’t even ask to be taken out of the game in a special way. I’m sure the Yankees had something in mind, but nothing could top the way Jeter took himself out, or walked himself off, I should say. The only way for Jeter to go out the right way was for him to do it for himself on his terms. For all the cheers and praise and love fans showed him over the last 20 years, and in particular this year, Jeter still managed to steal the show, have a classic Jeter-like hit to win the game and do it the right way, as he did for his entire career.

Thank you, No. 2.

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Anthony Pucik is the Assistant Sports Editor for The Fordham Ram.