This Is How Baseball Fans Have Said Goodbye to Yankees Shortstop Derek Jeter

The Yankee captain is set to play in his final home game tonight.

ByABC News
September 25, 2014, 2:28 PM

— -- It has been one of the longest swan songs in sports history. Ever since Derek Jeter announced his retirement before the start of the 2014 season, loyal fans have count down the final days and innings until the New York Yankees captain heads off into the sunset.

Before then, however, fans are savoring the long goodbye and have done so all season long with standing ovations each time he has come to bat.

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It's not just fans paying tribute to the 40-year-old shortstop. All season long, other teams, athletes and even a former president have said goodbye to Jeter in their own way.

Teams, President Bush Offer Lavish Gifts

You know you've made a mark when an ex-president shows up to give you a gift.

When the Texas Rangers honored Jeter earlier this summer, President George W. Bush made a surprise appearance to the ballpark and presented Jeter with a framed photo of the two from Oct. 30, 2001, the night Bush threw out the first pitch of the Game 3 of the 2001 World Series at Yankee Stadium.

PHOTO: Derek Jeter is presented with a photo by President George W. Bush during a ceremony
Derek Jeter is presented with a photo by President George W. Bush during a ceremony honoring Jeter's last game in Arlington before a game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on July 30, 2014 in Arlington, Texas.

Jeter has received a barrage of gifts -- ranging from the bizarre to the absolutely awesome. The Cleveland Indians presented Jeter with a guitar. Jeter received a kayak from the Tampa Bay Rays and a paddleboat from the Los Angeles Angels. The Toronto Blue Jays gave Jeter a trip to the Canadian Rockies, while the Baltimore Orioles gave him a bucket of steamed crabs.

Derek Jeter Day at Yankee Stadium

The Yankees pulled out all the stops to say goodbye to Jeter at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 7 with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio officially declaring it "Derek Jeter Day." All the flags along the Yankees' famed facade were replaced with flags displaying the final season logo made for especially for Jeter.

PHOTO: From right, Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees speaks to the crowd
From right, Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees speaks to the crowd as Michael Jordan, Dave Winfield, Cal Ripken Jr. and Gerald Williams look on during Derek Jeter Day, Sept. 7, 2014 at Yankee Stadium in New York.

The guest list for the event was a who's who of sports. It included Michael Jordan, Cal Ripken Jr., Dave Winfield, members of the U.S. military and three astronauts on board the International Space Station. Many of Jeter's former teammates were also on hand to honor the man who helped the Yankees to five World Series championships.

In His Final All-Star Game, Jeter is Showered With Respect

Jeter's 14th and final All-Star Game was one to remember. Jeter was 2-for-2 with a double and a run scored before he was replaced at shortstop during the 4th inning. Jeter was showered with love and received a tremendous standing ovation from fans in Minnesota, where the game was held.

PHOTO: American League All-Star Derek Jeter walks onto the field during the 85th MLB All-Star Game
American League All-Star Derek Jeter walks onto the field during the 85th MLB All-Star Game at Target Field, July 15, 2014 in Minneapolis, Minn.

Sponsors

Sponsors paid tribute to Jeter in two highly-acclaimed commercials. First, Nike paid tribute to Jeter with former teammates, current players, ordinary people and even Michael Jordan tipping their cap to the captain. If you were teary-eyed during Nike's "RE2PECT" commercial, than you probably completely lost it for the next commercial.

Gatorade produced their black-and-white commercial with Jeter personally thanking fans during a stroll through the Bronx while on his way to Yankee Stadium.

Commissioner's Award

Out-going MLB Commissioner Bud Selig presented Jeter with the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award on Sept. 23 at Yankee Stadium. Selig paid the ultimate comment to Jeter by comparing him to former Yankee great and Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio.

PHOTO: From left, Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig poses with Derek Jeter
From left, Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig poses with Derek Jeter after presenting Jeter with the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award at Yankee Stadium in New York Sept. 23, 2014.

"When I was a kid, as I've reminisced here today, my favorite player was Joe DiMaggio," Selig said. "And what Joe D. meant to my generation is what Derek has meant to his. And I've been overjoyed to see Derek join the heroes of my youth: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and all the other greats."

Farm Honors Jeter

The VonThun Farm in South Brunswick, New Jersey, about 55 miles south of Yankee Stadium, carved a likeness of the Yankees captain and a thank you message to him into its five-acre corn maze. "Thanks Captain Clutch" is carved into the maze along with a baseball and his No. 2.

PHOTO: An aerial drone photo depicts a corn maze honoring the New York Yankees' Derek Jeter
An aerial drone photo depicts a corn maze honoring the New York Yankees' Derek Jeter at a South Brunswick, New Jersey farm, Sept. 10, 2014.