Happy Birthday El Capitan, who turns 42 today! Derek Sanderson Jeter was born on June 26, 1974, in Pequannock, New Jersey. He moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan, at age 4 so his father could pursue a Ph.D. in psychology from Western Michigan University. Watching the Yankees play, specifically Dave Winfield, is what inspired him to pursue a career in baseball.
Being so lanky made Jeter perfect for basketball at Kalamazoo Central High School, but he was determined to become a Major League Baseball player. He batted over .500 in his final two years of high school, striking out just once as a senior.