Ever since Yankees legend Derek Jeter retired, his off-the-field business endeavors have been just as impressive as his work was on the field.
Growing up a New York sports fan, I could not go anywhere without hearing the name Derek Jeter. As a Mets fan, I couldn’t wait until people stopped talking about Jeter, and when he retired after the 2014 season, I finally got my wish. Well… at least I thought.
You see, I was hoping Jeter would fade away like a lot of other sports legends. They do an interview here and there, they receive great honors from time to time, but their names are not heard as much.
But Derek Jeter has become a great entrepreneur, businessman, and charitable man after his 20-year baseball career in the Bronx. Here are a few of the legend’s impressive business endeavors.
CEO and part-owner of the Miami Marlins
Back in the summer of 2017, Derek Jeter took on the role of CEO for the Miami Marlins. Since then, Jeter has had some highs and some lows in this new business.
In his tenure, he has made trades that led to some big names leaving the Marlins. They include Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Dee Gordon, Marcell Ozuna, and J.T. Realmuto.
These are some big names that Jeter decided to trade. And they put him on the bad side of many Marlins fans. However, fans must understand that being at the helm of a major league baseball team is complicated, and often requires unpopular opinions.
The Marlins did receive some nice young pieces in these deals that could turn out to be great baseball players. Only time will tell. But Derek Jeter’s business prowess is in breaking the mold. He did this by hiring Kim Ng as the team’s General Manager. Ng is the first woman to assume the role in MLB history.
Founder of The Players’ Tribune
An accomplishment of Jeter’s that cannot be questioned, is when he founded The Player’s Tribune in 2014.
The Players’ Tribune, for those that are unfamiliar, is a media platform that produces pieces written and created by professional athletes. Everyone from Russell Wilson to Danica Patrick has been a part of the Tribune.
This media conglomerate truly is one of the best “inventions” in this new social media world. It gives fans a first-hand experience into the lives of the players they admire. As a business, Derek Jeter’s brainchild has some room to grow. But as a creation, it is nothing short of genius.
Truly, the only way a site like this would have worked is by having a legend be at the helm, and that legend was Derek Jeter.
Founder of the Turn 2 Foundation
Derek Jeter and his father, Charles Jeter founded the Turn 2 Foundation in 1996, with the hopes of helping children turn away from the lifestyles of drugs and alcohol and “turn 2” a healthy lifestyle.
Derek Jeter has been at the helm of this incredible foundation since its start. Over its 25 year history, this foundation has donated more than $30 million.
Other charitable ventures/business for Derek Jeter
As you can tell from his foundation and what other’s say about him throughout the sports world, Jeter is a very charitable guy.
In July 2019, Jeter donated $2.5 million to the Kalamazoo School District to help them renovate their baseball and softball facilities.
From 2009, until its eventual buyout, Derek Jeter was an ambassador for the organization Weplay. Weplay was an online body for young athletes and their families. Derek Jeter was a part of many events and initiatives completed by Weplay.
It is truly remarkable what Derek Jeter has done with his business endeavors since he retired. Perhaps even more impressive has been his altruistic tendencies. GOATs are not born, but rather made. And Jeter truly sets a new standard for what it takes to be more than an athlete.