Brian Cashman: Derek Jeter should be the Yankees' last captain
New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said during a radio interview on Thursday that he thinks the team should not have any captains after Derek Jeter's No. 2 uniform is retired.
Jeter served as the team's captain from June 2003 until when he retired at the end of the 2014 season. Over 20 seasons in New York, Jeter recorded a franchise-record 3,465 hits and 260 home runs while batting .310.
Speaking on The Mike Lupica Show on ESPN Radio Thursday, the Yankees general manager suggested that when the Yankees retire Jeter’s No. 2, the "captaincy should be retired with" it.
"As far as I’m concerned, and I’m not the decision maker on this, that captaincy should be retired with No. 2," Cashman said. "I wouldn’t give up another captain’s title to anyone else."
The Yankees GM said making that a reality would be the owner’s call, not his, adding that Jeter was "so perfect" for the role.
"Leadership comes in a lot of forms, it would be a hard one to anoint someone captain," Cashman continued, "regardless of how great they might be."
When Jeter was named captain more than a decade ago, it was the first time a Yankee had filled the role since Don Mattingly retired in 1995. One of Jeter's nicknames is "The Captain."
