Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated
Under a brilliant blue sky, Derek Jeter's magical mystery tour arrived in Cleveland.
For most Indians fans, Jeter's final visit to Northeast Ohio as an active player is bitter sweet; some undoubtedly are glad to see him go for all the punishing misery he’s inflicted on the team over the last 20 productive seasons; but others will surely be sorry to see such a courageous gladiator in the field of battle, a true embodiment of class and tireless champion-leave for good when the curtain comes crashing down on Thursday evening at Progressive Field.
A vast majority of baseball fans in Cleveland, however, will have to dig a little deeper into their pockets if they hope to catch a final glimpse of the All-Star shortstop, future Hall of Famer, and matinee idol.
According to Jason Weingold, analyst for SeatGeek http://goo.gl/cOVym7 , a ticket search engine for sports and entertainment venues, the average ticket for the remaining three games series against Cleveland is $72, 60 percent more expensive than the average Indians ticket this year.
With the Indians barely cracking .500 for most of the year, the average ticket price for a Tribe game is about $45. This, of course, will change dramatically during Derek Jeter's final curtain call at Progressive Field.
Weingold informs me that Jeter’s final game in Cleveland on July 10th is costing fans an average of $81, 80 percent more expensive than the average game. Fans have spent upwards of $359 to catch the last glimpse of Captain Courageous and future Cooperstown inductee.
Prior to the Yankees storming into town, the most expensive Indians’ home game this season against a team other than the Bombers has been the Texas Rangers with an average ticket price of $55. The Rangers come to Progressive Field in August.
Weingold is quick to point out, however, that fans can land tickets to Jeter's final series at Progressive Field for as low as $25 by searching SeatGeek's online database. http://goo.gl/jRiiD5
The Yankees, of course, are becoming all too familiar with farewell tours. It was just last year that Mariano Rivera, the celebrated flamethrower and Yankee legend, bid a fond, heartfelt farewell to all the parks he visited during his illustrious career. Last season at Progressive Field, the first two games of Rivera's final stop to Cleveland averaged $62 on the secondary market, 59 percent higher than the average 2013 home game ($39). Detroit averaged $51 a ticket in a series later that year. And as was the case in previous years, the Yankees visit to Cleveland last season was the Indians’ most in-demand of the year.
Face value for Monday's game ranged from $25-$150.
Despite the high demand for Jeter's final three games in Cleveland, tickets can still be bought through the Indians’ website, http://goo.gl/LoAHZd
According to Weingold, Cleveland ranks 13th in average price markup for the Yankees in 2014. A $72 ticket is the 5th cheapest to see Jeter’s final series, and the 60 percent markup is among the lowest for all teams that the Yankees visit.
Of all of Jeter’s milestones and monstrous numbers he’s posted over the past two decades, the one the mighty captain will probably remember the most is his first major league home run, which he belted at Jacobs Field on April 2, 1996 against the Indians Dennis Martinez "El Presidente.’’
-Bill Lucey
July 8, 2014
NOTE: The accompanying chart ranks MLB teams based on percent markup for the Yankees final road trip to the respective city.
Derek Jeter’s Career Snapshot
- Born: Derek Sanderson Jeter on June 26, 1974, in Pequannock, New Jersey, to Dorothy (who is an accountant) and Charles Jeter (who has a Ph.D. in substance abuse counseling).
- Rookie of the Year: 1996.
- Voted to the All-Star Team: 14 times; 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014.
- Silver Slugger Award: 5 times (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012).
- Player of the Week: 3 times (8/5/2001, 9/12/2004, 7/11/2011).
- Rawlings Gold Glove Award: 5 times (2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2010).
- SI's Sportsmen of the Year: 1 time (2009).
- World Series Championships: 5 times: 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2009
- Hank Aaron Award: 2 times: 2006, 2009.
- Roberto Clemente Award: 1 time, 2009
- Babe Ruth Award: 1 time, 2000.
- MLBPAA YANKEES HEART AND HUSTLE AWARD: 2 times: 2006, 2008.
- MLB.com Hitter of the Year: 2006.
- World Series MVP: 1 time, 2000.
- All-Star MVP: 1 time, 2000.
Career Batting Totals through July 8, 2014:
- Hits: 3400
- Home Runs: 258
- RBI's: 1284
- Stolen Bases: 354
- Batting Average: .311
- Slugging Percentage: .443
Source: New York Yankees.
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Derek Jeter vs the Cleveland Indians
NOTE: Stats compiled prior to Monday July 7, 2014
Derek Jeter's career line vs. Indians (132 games/589 plate appearances):
- .338 average (178-for-526), 10 HR, 69 RBI, 48 BB, 101 K, 19 SB, 97 R, .859 OPS.
Jeter's career line in Cleveland (66 games/309 plate appearances)
- .359 average (97-for-270), 5 HR, 34 RBI, 30 BB, 54 K, 11 SB, 49 R, .911 OPS
Jeter's career line in Cleveland, broken down by stadium name
- Jacobs Field (1996-2007; 48 games/225 plate appearances): .383 average (74-for-193), 5 HR, 26 RBI, 25 BB, 41 K, 11 SB, 41 R
- -Progressive Field (2008-present; 18 games/84 plate appearances): .299 average (23-for-77), 0 HR, 8 RBI, 5 BB, 13 K, 0 SB, 8 R
Source:YesNetwork
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