NEW YORK -- To Derek Jeter, it was just another day to get r

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NEW YORK -- To Derek Jeter, it was just another day to get ready for spring training. Cheap New Balance Shoes China . On a minor league field at the New York Yankees complex in Florida, he took batting practice, fielded grounders and chatted with teammates. And then he drove away in his Mercedes, offering no hint that the countdown to his retirement had already begun. Hours later, Jeter alerted the sports world: This will be his final season. "I know it in my heart. The 2014 season will be my last year playing professional baseball," Jeter posted Wednesday in a long letter on his Facebook page. "I have gotten the very most out of my life playing baseball, and I have absolutely no regrets," the shortstop wrote. While it was no secret the team captain was getting close to the end of his brilliant career as he neared 40 -- especially after injuries wrecked him last season -- Jeters announcement caught many by surprise. In fact, some people wondered whether his account had been hacked. But it was quickly confirmed that one of the greatest players in the history of baseballs most storied franchise was serious. A 13-time All-Star shortstop who led the Yankees to five World Series championships, Jeter was the last link to the powerful Yankees teams that won three straight crowns from 1998-2000. Longtime teammates Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte retired after last year. "Derek Jeter is Mr. Yankee of his era," Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner told The Associated Press. "He was the face of one of the greatest teams ever." Jeter was limited to 17 games last season while trying to recover from a broken left ankle sustained during the 2012 playoffs. He hit only .190 with one homer and seven RBIs. "Last year was a tough one for me. As I suffered through a bunch of injuries, I realized that some of the things that always came easily to me and were always fun had started to become a struggle," Jeter wrote. "The one thing I always said to myself was that when baseball started to feel more like a job, it would be time to move forward." "So really it was months ago when I realized that this season would likely be my last. As I came to this conclusion and shared it with my friends and family, they all told me to hold off saying anything until I was absolutely 100 per cent sure," he wrote. "And the thing is, I could not be more sure," he wrote. His agent, Casey Close, said Jeter wanted to declare his intentions before the Yankees start spring training later this week so that his future status wouldnt be a distraction. The Yankees open camp for pitchers and catchers on Friday. Jeter has said hes healthy and ready to go -- at 39, his next birthday is in June. "Derek called me this morning to tell me that he planned to retire following the season," Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner said. Said Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, a former Jeter teammate: "Im excited for him. Its kind of nice to see him go out on his own terms." Jeter is the Yankees career hits leader with 3,316. Hes ninth on the all-time list; a 200-hit season would put him in fifth place. Jeter is a lifetime .312 hitter in 19 seasons, with 256 home runs and 1,261 RBIs. He has scored 1,876 runs, stolen 348 bases and is a five-time Gold Glove winner. Added up, his numbers put him among the greats in Yankees history, with fans often invoking the names of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle when mentioning Jeters legacy. But No. 2 is defined by so much more than his numbers. His backhanded flip in the playoffs, his diving catch into the stands, his speech to close old Yankee Stadium and his home run for career hit No. 3,000. An October presence for so many years -- Jeter is a career .321 hitter in seven World Series -- he also became Mr. November in 2001. His winning, 10th-inning homer came shortly after midnight in a Game 4 that began on Halloween. Jeter was the AL Rookie of the Year in 1996, the season the Yankees won their first World Series since 1978 and re-established themselves as a major force. He was the MVP of the 2000 World Series. Commissioner Bud Selig said during his tenure, "Major League Baseball has had no finer ambassador than Derek Jeter." A staple for so long in the Yankees lineup, Jeter missed the first 91 games last year. He felt pain in his right quadriceps when he returned July 11 and again went on the disabled list. Jeter came back for three games but strained his right calf. In early September, he was done for the year. The Yankees will open the 2014 regular season on April 1 in Houston. Their final game is scheduled to be at Fenway Park, against the longtime rival Boston Red Sox. Rivera announced a year in advance that he would retire, and was saluted everywhere he played last season. Jeter is sure to get a similar farewell tour. "I wish everybody does it like that," Rivera told ESPN radio. "I think that would be the right thing for him to do." Jeter wrote that he wants to pursue business and other interests "in addition to focusing more on my personal life and starting a family of my own." "And I want the ability to move at my own pace, see the world and finally have a summer vacation," he said. "But before that, I want to soak in every moment of every day this year, so I can remember it for the rest of my life. And most importantly, I want to help the Yankees reach our goal of winning another championship," he said. New Balance Shoes Clearance Sales . Trailing 5-4 in the third set, the 12th-ranked Isner fought off two match points and evened it at 5-5 with consecutive aces. The former University of Georgia star had his only service break of the match to go up 6-5 before firing the last four of his 30 aces to close out Ginepri, an Atlanta resident ranked 281st. New Balance Running Shoes Discount . Joel Embiid was nearly unstoppable in the paint in the second half, and Naadir Tharpe seemingly couldnt miss. http://www.newbalancediscount.com/ . Roma has a game in hand but now second place is even at risk for the capital side as Napoli moved to within three points with the win. "The result is not always fair," Roma coach Rudi Garcia said. "If we play like this until the end we will win many matches.This could mean something or it could mean absolutely nothing. There are nine Blue Jays scheduled to take part in the clubs 4th Annual Winter Caravan, running from January 9-18. I say 4th Annual because the Caravan was an annual event in the clubs early years but was abandoned for a time, only to be revived in 2011. Skipper John Gibbons and the players will be making stops in six spots around Ontario, including Oshawa, Kingston, Peterborough, St. Catharines, London and Mississauga to drum up interest in the team and the upcoming season. The Blue Jays have done this from coast to coast over the years, and for some fans its their only chance to meet the players up close. But the point is that the players involved, you would think, will have a role with the 2014 squad - or at least in the beginning. In other words, the odds of them being dealt between now and January 9 would appear to lessen. The nine include pitchers Brandon Morrow, Todd Redmond and Dustin McGowan and reliever Steve Delabar, along with catcher Justin Thole, outfielders Colby Rasmus and Anthony Gose and 1B/DH Adam Lind. Of that group, Rasmus and Lind have both been mentioned in trade talk. However, if Alex Anthopoulos is still trying to move them now, youd have to wonder why they are on this list thats being publicized the way it is. Rasmus, Gose and Lind are actually repeaters from last years Caravan. The other who took part last year included Drew Hutchison, Jose Bautista, Brett Cecil, Aaron Loup and J.P Arencibia. None of those players were moved , save for J.P. who was cut loose a few weeks ago and then signed on with Texas. The Caravan doesnt guaranteee all these players will open the season as Blue Jays, it just show a degree of commitment from both sides at least for now. Wholesale New Balance Shoes. The other day, former "Big League" catcher Ed Herrman passed away. He spent 11 years in the Majors and is best known for his time with the Chicago White Sox. He actually finished his career in 1978 as the backup to Hall of Famer Gary Carter. Ed "Hoggy" Herrman, besides being tough as nails, was known for his ability to catch knuckleballers. In 1972, he made some history by catching all 49 starts of lefty knuckler Wilber Wood. Yes, that was 49 starts, when today a good durable pitcher starts between 32 and 35 per season. Well, those 49 appearances working together by Herrman and Wood were the most of any battery since Hardie Henderson and catcher Sam Trott of the old Baltimore Orioles in the American Association, who were together for 52 back in 1884. I cant see anyone touching that modern day mark put together by Herrman and Wood. One more note on Ed Herrman. His grandfather Marty "Lefty" Herrman pitched in the Majors - one game to be exact. He pitched one shutout inning of relief for the Brooklyn Robins on July 10 of 1918. When we talk about the Angels Mike Trout and the Nationals Bryce Harper and how good they are at such a young age, it brings me back to Tigers Hall of Fame legend Al Kaline. In 1955 at the age of 20, Kaline won the American League batting title with a .340 average. He slugged 27 homers, drove in 102 runs and had 200 hits on the nose for the only time in his career. Al Kaline, one of the Tigers all-time greats, turned 79 years old on December 19. 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