Derek Jeter got to return the favor Sunday at Yankee Stadium to Paul Konerko, who was the White Sox representative when the Captain was honored earlier this year at U.S. Cellular Field.
Derek Jeter got to participate in this farewell-tour stuff from the other side Sunday at Yankee Stadium.
Jeter has been feted at ballparks across North America in his 20th and final season in the major leagues. Sunday, the Captain took on the role of presenter to another popular veteran who is playing in his last season in the majors, Paul Konerko. In a brief, pregame ceremony, Jeter on behalf of the Yankees organization presented a first base bag to Konerko, who has been a first baseman for the majority of his 18 big-league seasons, the past 16 with the White Sox.
Konerko has played sparingly (69 games) this season as a back-up player for Chicago and wanted to be in the lineup for his last regular-season game at the Stadium, one of his favorite parks, so manager Robin Ventura started him as the designated hitter and batting sixth. Entering the game, Konerko was a .327 career hitter with 24 home runs and 59 RBI in 196 at-bats at the Stadium.
