Derek Jeter Quotes

You're playing a game, whether it's Little League or Game 7 of the Word Series. It's impossible to do well unless you're having a good time. People talk about pressure. Yeah, there's pressure. But I just look at it as fun.

- Derek Jeter

Game, Impossible, About, Little League

I've been playing baseball since I was 5 or 6 years old. I've been on a schedule, pretty much, since I was in eighth, ninth grade. I look forward to not doing that.

- Derek Jeter

Doing, Pretty, Been, Eighth

You gotta have fun. Regardless of how you look at it, we're playing a game. It's a business, it's our job, but I don't think you can do well unless you're having fun.

- Derek Jeter

Game, Think, Having, Regardless

I try to sign for as many kids as possible. Kids come first, and I'll always sign for a kid before an adult. It's funny, because I was never big into autographs as a kid. The only player who I ever wanted an autograph from was Dave Winfield.

- Derek Jeter

Big, Before, Dave, Autograph

Surround yourself with good people. People who are going to be honest with you and look out for your best interests.

- Derek Jeter

Best, Going, Your, Best Interests

For me, when I was a kid, volunteering was the last thing I was thinking about. When I see kids doing it now, it amazes me. It's very impressive, it gives them something productive to do as opposed to getting in trouble. For them to take time out at such a young age is remarkable. I think all kids should take a little time out to volunteer.

- Derek Jeter

Doing, I Think, Very, Little Time

The Yankees have strict rules. You can have a mustache but no other facial hair.

- Derek Jeter

Hair, Yankees, Other, Mustache

I have the greatest job in the world. Only one person can have it. You have shortstops on other teams - I'm not knocking other teams - but there's only one shortstop on the Yankees.

- Derek Jeter

Other, Teams, Shortstop, Yankees

The draft is a crapshoot, so I've been very fortunate to be drafted by the Yankees, and to have spent my whole career here.

- Derek Jeter

Here, Been, Very, Yankees

There may be people who have more talent than you, but there's no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do - and I believe that.

- Derek Jeter

Work, More, May, No Excuse

When you put a lot of hard work into one goal and you achieve it, that's a really good feeling.

- Derek Jeter

Work, Goal, Achieve, Good Feeling

I remember going from rookie ball to A, to double A, then to triple A. At every level it seemed like the game was faster. The bigger the situation, the more the game speeds up. That's all mental. It messes people up.

- Derek Jeter

Game, Mental, I Remember, Triple

I think everyone is ticklish. You just gotta find the right spots.

- Derek Jeter

Think, Everyone, I Think, Spots

You hear about women buying shoes? I buy DVDs. I definitely have a problem.

- Derek Jeter

Problem, Buy, Definitely, DVDs

My best vacation is somewhere I could hide, somewhere warm and not a lot of people around.

- Derek Jeter

Hide, Warm, Lot, Vacation

You don't just accidentally show up in the World Series.

- Derek Jeter

World, Show, Series, Accidentally

It's never over. You don't want to be in the position to be down four runs in the ninth inning, but it's not over until the last out.

- Derek Jeter

Want, Over, Last, Runs

My office is at Yankee stadium. Yes, dreams do come true.

- Derek Jeter

Yes, Yankee, Yankee Stadium, Stadium

My heroes, my dreams, and my future lay in Yankee Stadium. And they can't take that away from me.

- Derek Jeter

Yankee, Away, Lay, Yankee Stadium

I've never been an actor on Broadway, but it feels like you're on a stage when you play at Yankee Stadium. And that's the feeling I've always had.

- Derek Jeter

Play, Always, Feels, Yankee Stadium

What kind of influence did my parents have on my life? Well, they had the most influence. These are the people who are closest to me. My parents are very positive people. They've been supportive. They're always there.

- Derek Jeter

My Life, Always, Very, Closest

I don't really see myself getting a Twitter account. Nothing against it. I get it. I especially get it for businesses.

- Derek Jeter

Myself, Nothing, Against, Businesses

When it was time for parent-teacher conferences, I remember that I was always embarrassed about what my parents would hear about me!

- Derek Jeter

I Remember, Always, About, Conferences

I always used to get in trouble for talking too much. When it was time for parent-teacher conferences, I remember that I was always embarrassed about what my parents would hear about me!

- Derek Jeter

I Remember, Always, About, Conferences

Athletics keeps us healthy, gets us up and running around. It also gives you an opportunity to meet a lot of different people, which is very important.

- Derek Jeter

Different People, Which, Athletics

If you're going to play at all, you're out to win. Baseball, board games, playing Jeopardy, I hate to lose.

- Derek Jeter

Play, Lose, Going, Board

You have to assume that everything you do is public knowledge. Everything. Because now everyone is a reporter. Everyone is a photographer.

- Derek Jeter

Now, Everyone, Public, Assume

I have feelings. I'm not emotionally stunted.

- Derek Jeter

Stunted, Emotionally, Feelings

There's feelings there, but I think I've just been pretty good at trying to hide my emotions throughout the years. I try to have the same demeanor each and every day.

- Derek Jeter

Think, Been, Demeanor, Feelings

You can't quantify everything a player does to win games.

- Derek Jeter

Games, Everything, Does, Quantify

I'm a New Yorker now, and believe me, there's no comparison between the Big Apple and Kalamazoo, no similarity at all. New York City's hectic, always in fast-forward, and Kalamazoo's more laid-back, smaller, slower.

- Derek Jeter

City, Big, Smaller, Slower

The number one priority is playing baseball. There are so many people in New York trying to get you to do this and get you to do that, which is fine, but you have to take care of yourself.

- Derek Jeter

New, Which, Many, Priority

When I was younger, I was always taught not to make excuses.

- Derek Jeter

Always, Younger, Taught, Excuses

I've always been very cautious with what I do. You know, that started at a young age. I always had the approach or the mentality I never wanted to embarrass my parents.

- Derek Jeter

Always, Been, Very, Do You Know

My dad had been shortstop when he was in college, and you know, when you're a kid, you want to be just like your dad.

- Derek Jeter

College, Like, Been, Shortstop

I like to hit the gym early in the morning. I feel better throughout the day when I get in a workout first thing in the morning.

- Derek Jeter

Feel, Like, I Feel, Early

Sometimes people complicate things by thinking too much about what someone might think of what they said or did.

- Derek Jeter

Think, Sometimes, Might, Complicate

I wish I trusted people more. But when I meet someone, the first thing is, 'What does this person want?' And I put up a defense mechanism. But I've always been that way.

- Derek Jeter

Wish, Been, Put, Defense Mechanism

Don't get me wrong; it's not like I didn't go out and have fun. But there's been a lot of players that come to New York and get caught up in the lifestyle, and before you know it, they're sent away to another team because it affected their performance.

- Derek Jeter

Caught, Away, Been, Lifestyle

So many people are insanely busy nowadays, and it's easy to say, 'Ah, I'll workout tomorrow.' But you have to set aside a time and stick to that schedule.

- Derek Jeter

Tomorrow, Set, Ah, Workout

You can't be sensitive, because you're going to get criticized. I don't care who you are, you're going to get criticized.

- Derek Jeter

Sensitive, Going, Get, Criticized

During the off-season, I go to the movies almost every day.

- Derek Jeter

Movies, Every Day, Almost, Off-Season

I love it when people doubt me. It makes me work harder to prove them wrong.

- Derek Jeter

Love, Work, Prove, Harder

The last thing you want to do is finish playing or doing anything and wish you would have worked harder.

- Derek Jeter

Wish, Doing, Worked, Harder

I looked up to my parents because they were very successful in what they wanted to do. I was lucky; I didn't have to look far for role models.

- Derek Jeter

Lucky, Very, Models, Parents

I get nervous watching teammates. I get nervous for them. Late in the game, pressure situation, I'm nervous for them.

- Derek Jeter

Game, Late, Teammates, Situation

God, I hope I wear this jersey forever.

- Derek Jeter

Hope, Forever, Wear, Jersey

The first thing to know about playing baseball in Michigan is, Michigan's really cold.

- Derek Jeter

Know, Michigan, About, The First Thing

You gotta have fun.

- Derek Jeter

Have Fun, You, Gotta, Fun

I always appreciated the ex-players. Being a Yankee, you get spoiled. Old-Timers Day, all these guys coming back, spring training, being around them, you get a chance to get to know them. So I always think you learn a lot by listening.

- Derek Jeter

Training, Back, Around, Spring Training

Any player that says they don't want to go to an All-Star Game is lying to you. It's something everyone wants to be a part of.

- Derek Jeter

Game, Want, All-Star Game, Player

No former player has owned a team in baseball.

- Derek Jeter

Baseball, Team, Owned, Player

I think there's something wrong with me - I like to win in everything I do, regardless of what it is. You want to race down the street, I want to beat you. If we're playing checkers, I want to win. You beat me, it's going to bother me. I just enjoy competition.

- Derek Jeter

Enjoy, I Think, Checkers, Regardless

We just want to win. That's the bottom line. I think a lot of times people may become content with one championship or a little bit of success, but we don't really reflect on what we've done in the past. We focus on the present.

- Derek Jeter

Focus, Line, I Think, Present

I've found that it's easier to stay in shape than it is to get into shape.

- Derek Jeter

Found, Shape, Than, Easier

The big difference for me is that, as I get older, I find it's a lot easier to stay in shape than it is to get back in shape.

- Derek Jeter

Big, Back, Shape, Easier

Through time you learn from your experiences. I think I've learned to deal with people a little bit better over time. That in particular has developed a little bit.

- Derek Jeter

Think, Through, Over, Particular

I think, a lot of times, players get in trouble when they're asked questions and they think they have to find a way to answer it. If you ask me a question and I say, 'I don't know,' there's really no follow-up.

- Derek Jeter

Questions, I Think, Lot, Follow-Up

I went to school on Senior Skip Day.

- Derek Jeter

Day, School, Skip, Senior

I think when things linger, that's when they become a distraction. I don't want any distractions.

- Derek Jeter

Think, I Think, Linger, Distraction

Everyone fears rejection.

- Derek Jeter

Everyone, Fears, Rejection

I attribute much of my success in New York to my ability to understand and avoid unnecessary distractions.

- Derek Jeter

New, Understand, Unnecessary, Distractions

The thing that means the most to me is being remembered as a Yankee, because that's what I've always wanted to be, was to be a Yankee.

- Derek Jeter

Always, Most, Means, Yankee

I can see how people work out to feel better.

- Derek Jeter

Better, See, How, Work Out

I hate the treadmill. I hate it. You really don't have to be on it that long, something like 20 or 30 minutes. It's all about getting your heart rate up.

- Derek Jeter

Like, Minutes, 30 Minutes, Heart Rate

That's how you win - pitching and defense.

- Derek Jeter

Win, How, Defense, Pitching

If you're going to win games, you're going to have to come up with the big hits. That's the bottom line.

- Derek Jeter

Big, Going, Bottom, Bottom Line

I've always been uncomfortable, so to speak, when the focus is on me.

- Derek Jeter

Me, Always, Been, Uncomfortable

I like to dance and sing when there's no one around, but, if I'm out, I'm really shy about it. So it takes a lot to get me going, but I enjoy being around music.

- Derek Jeter

Shy, Like, Going, Dance

If I put my name on something, I'm going to be involved. I'm not just going to put my name on it and not pay attention.

- Derek Jeter

Pay Attention, Going, Pay, Involved

I'd like to get a degree. You ever see the movie 'Back to School?' I'll go back with my kids.

- Derek Jeter

Degree, Movie, Like, Kids

I've been asked to sign a forehead.

- Derek Jeter

Been, Sign, Forehead, Asked

I get asked enough questions, I try not to ask too many questions.

- Derek Jeter

Questions, Get, Too, Asked

I'm not a hermit, but I definitely stay in a lot more than I used to. There's more attention now then there ever was. You walk down the street with someone and it's a story. It becomes national news, you know what I mean? So, I still do things, but I stay home a lot more.

- Derek Jeter

Down, Used, Lot, Attention

I don't listen to opinions.

- Derek Jeter

Listen, Opinions

You tell me you want to race down the street, I'm going to try to beat you. My grandmother asks me to race down the street, I'm going to try to beat her. And I'll probably enjoy it. Competitive to a fault, sometimes.

- Derek Jeter

Grandmother, Race, Going, Beat

I'm very, very competitive. If my grandmother asks to race me down the street, I'm going to try to beat her. And I'll probably enjoy it!

- Derek Jeter

Race, Going, Very, Beat

I always take criticism as a challenge. It's the way I've always looked at it.

- Derek Jeter

Always, Take, Looked, Criticism

My dreams do not end with playing Major League Baseball.

- Derek Jeter

Dreams, Major, League, Major League

Not everybody's a baseball fan.

- Derek Jeter

Fan, Everybody, Baseball

I can have fun anywhere, as long as I'm with good people. But in the offseason, I like to go somewhere warm, a nice spot in the Caribbean.

- Derek Jeter

Have Fun, Go, Like, Somewhere

Obviously, you're known for what you do. But you still want to be known as a good person. You're a person a lot longer before and after you're a professional athlete.

- Derek Jeter

Athlete, Before, Still, Professional

You're a person a lot longer before and after you're a professional athlete. People always say to me, 'Your image is this, your image is that.' Your image isn't your character. Character is what you are as a person. That's what I worry about.

- Derek Jeter

Worry, Always, Image, Professional

I'm not perfect; no one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. I think you try to learn from those mistakes.

- Derek Jeter

Think, Perfect, I Think, Try

You forget about it whether it was 15-2 or 3-2. It's still a loss. It doesn't matter what the score was if we win tomorrow.

- Derek Jeter

Tomorrow, Still, About, Score

You know what I want to do? Wake up one weekend and not have to go anywhere and do nothing.

- Derek Jeter

Want, Nothing, Wake, Weekend

I always have tried to treat people with respect, the way I want to be treated.

- Derek Jeter

Treat, Always, Treated, Tried

I try to stay as private as possible; I know that's difficult, especially playing here in New York, but I make an attempt at it.

- Derek Jeter

New, Here, Difficult, Private

I voted for Obama.

- Derek Jeter

Obama, Voted

Walking around sometimes, I would love to just be able to watch people, see how they act. Sometimes I would love to be invisible.

- Derek Jeter

Love, Sometimes, Around, Invisible

Your image isn't your character. Character is what you are as a person.

- Derek Jeter

Character, Person, Your, Image

I want to own a team one day. You know, that's my next goal.

- Derek Jeter

Goal, Want, Next, One Day

I've always been very aware of what I'm saying, but I'm also aware of what you're saying. I always want to make sure that my point is clear.

- Derek Jeter

Always, Been, Very, Aware

I've always had an interest in business, and my interest in business has really expanded over the years.

- Derek Jeter

Business, Always, Over, Interest

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