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Yankees’ Jeter Named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year

By Mason Levinson

Nov. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Derek Jeter became the first member of the New York Yankees to be named Sportsman of the Year in the annual selection by Sports Illustrated.

Jeter, who helped the Yankees to their 27th World Series title this month, is the 56th honoree by the magazine and will be featured in Sports Illustrated’s Dec. 7 edition.

The 35-year-old shortstop finished third last week in voting for the American League Most Valuable Player Award after batting .334 and scoring 107 runs, leading the Yankees to their fifth championship during his 14-season career.

On Sept. 11, he passed Lou Gehrig’s franchise record for hits, and batted .344 with three home runs and six runs batted in during the playoffs, which culminated with the Yankees beating the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies in six games to claim the World Series.

The last solo baseball player to win the award was Cal Ripken Jr. in 1995. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were co-winners in 1998, Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling shared the honor in 2001, and the Boston Red Sox won as a team in 2004.

Others to win the award since Sports Illustrated began publishing in 1954 include Roger Bannister, who was the first winner after breaking the four-minute mile barrier; Muhammad Ali (1974); Sandy Koufax (1965); Michael Jordan (1991); Tiger Woods (1996 and 2000, the only two-time winner); and last year’s winner, Michael Phelps.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mason Levinson in New York at mlevinson@bloomberg.net.
Last Updated: November 30, 2009 11:01 EST