Derek Jeter played 2,747 games in his major league career. On a Tuesday evening in 2014, he had 35 left to play.
The shortstop for the Houston Astros that night was about to turn 30. Gregorio Petit still was classified as a rookie. He had played professional baseball for 12 years, but only 38 games in the major leagues.
In his first at-bat, he hit a ground-rule double, and Jeter greeted him at second base.
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“Hey, attaboy,” Jeter said.
In his next at-bat, Petit doubled again, down the left-field line.