NEW YORK — It turns out Derek Jeter does have emotions like everyone else.
Perhaps he was the best at hiding it among major-leaguers, especially in the biggest media market in the country.
With his last game at Yankee Stadium concluded, Jeter let down some of the guard and conceded that there was an emotional element at play Thursday. He tried to hold it back on the field and when he went to the bathroom between innings.
“I almost starting started crying driving here today,” Jeter said after his walk-off hit gave the New York Yankees a 6-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles. “I was by myself so no one could have seen it. My teammates presented me with something before the game, I almost lost it, I had to turn around.
“I think I’ve done a pretty good job of controlling my emotions throughout the course of my career. I have them. I try to hide them. I try to trick myself and convince myself that I’m not feeling those particular emotions whether it’s nerves, whether I’m injured, pain. I just try to trick myself and hide it. Today I wasn’t able to do it.”
Jeter, who will retire after the season, was presented with a painting by teammates and a watch. He will get some kind of gift from the Boston Red Sox during the season-ending weekend series at Fenway Park, although he will be playing as a designated hitter since he wanted to remember the view from shortstop at both Yankee Stadiums.
Jeter will finish his career playing 1,390 regular-season games in the Bronx. In those games, he batted .313 with 1,012 runs, 273 doubles, 30 triples, 138 home runs, 666 RBIs and 193 stolen bases.
And even though Jeter got the game-winning hit playing in his second meaningless game in the standings of his career, it was a hit that secured the Yankees’ 22nd consecutive winning season, which is the second-longest streak in baseball history behind their 39 straight winning seasons from 1926-1964.
“I have emotions,” Jeter said. “I think I have a pretty good poker face.”
Jeter hid it well for 20 years until Thursday night, when he finally let his guard down somewhat.