The House That Jeter Built

Second base from Jackson’s first game at Yankee Stadium, which was Jeter’s second to last game. It’s autographed by Derek and now hanging in Jax’ room.

Sometimes things in life get taken for granted. Growing up so close to Yankee Stadium, having family in the Bronx and spending summers with a grandfather who could name every player who ever wore the Pinstripes made days like today a common occurrence.

The problem with days like these, where you may just be on autopilot is how sometimes a moment may brush past you like a stranger in a crowd. At the time you don’t even realize how significant it was. We so often don’t notice the most important moments in our lives as they’re happening and only wind up distant memories we try to recal through the years.

As a new dad I have been determined to not let these moments slip away from me. This blog definitely helps, but today was more than a moment captured in words or photos… It was a day that I will never forget. Baseball has always been that one constant. The one thing that always seems to be there.

It’s a rite of passage, a grandfather/father/son tradition. The grass smells different, the sky is a clearer shade of blue and even paying $37 for a hotdog seems reasonable when you consider that all that really matters is you are with your son.

Today Jax and I and mom spent quality time together. Time that wasn’t measured by minutes or seconds… But measured by the fact that this moment will never slip away from me.

Growing up my grandfather talked about how indescribable it was watching Mantle and DiMaggio play. The aura that they exuded was legendary and defined a generation. To us, to me… Derek Jeter is that generation defining player. He is and always will be the greatest Yankee I’ve ever seen play. I just hope Jax can watch someone he can call an iconic Yankee too.

I love this picture and was stoked to get a shot of us two with Jeets in the background:

#NYY #DerekJeter #RE2PECT

Huge thank you to Coach G for making this day happen.

“Ray. People will come, Ray. They’ll come to Iowa for reasons they can’t even fathom. They’ll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. “Of course, we won’t mind if you look around”, you’ll say. “It’s only $20 per person”. They’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they’ll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They’ll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they’ll watch the game and it’ll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they’ll have to brush them away from their faces. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it’s a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good and that could be again. Oh… people will come Ray. People will most definitely come.”

Jax now joins the shadows of Yankee greats that have walked the hallowed grounds of the #HouseTheJeetsBuilt #NYY #Yankees #Yankees #RE2PECT

Is there a better moment and a father’s life then taking his son to his first #Yankees Game? #fatherandson #Baseball #Jax1stGame #FarewellTour #Jeter # RE2PECT #JaxSawJeter