Over the years, a strong rivalry has been formed between the Red Sox and Yankees. Some may even consider it the biggest rivalry in all of sports.

But no matter how much Red Sox fans can’t stand to see the Yankees win, there is one player who deserves success despite what team for which he plays.

Most Yankee players are egotistical, overpaid, and overrated, but Derek Jeter is different. He respects his teammates, his coaches, his fans, and even his enemies.

After 19 successful years of playing ball and five World Series rings, Jeter is set to retire after the 2014 season.

According to USA Today, Jeter is not blaming this retirement on his physical ability to play. He claims to feel strong and young, and he looks forward to his upcoming, last season.

Jeter says he wants to spend more time with his family, including his young nephew. Jeter’s former teammate, Mariano Rivera, respects Jeter’s decision and said Jeter has given everything for the game of baseball.

After Rivera’s retirement just last season, many fans were left heartbroken. Not just Yankee fans, but all baseball fans. There are just some players that any baseball fanatic will enjoy watching play. Rivera and Jeter are both examples of that.

I personally always hope for the Yankees to lose. The Yankees and their fans feel they are entitled to the best players in the game and unlimited money to buy them.

But Jeter is an exception. He is a skilled enough baseball player to deserve to play in the biggest stage in baseball, Yankee Stadium. He’s the good that balances out all of the Yankee bad.

I hope that everyone gets a chance to watch him as he makes his final rounds through the big leagues this season, because it will definitely be an unforgettable sight.

Years from now, he’s the player that people will brag about that they got to watch play, similar to Ted Williams or Babe Ruth in today’s society.

They go down as legends.