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Derek Jeter held the start of the University of Michigan on Saturday and talked about the importance of fighting through failure.
New York Yankees legend would have played baseball in Michigan, the state he called home in Kalamazoo if he did not turn Pro immediately as a first round in 1992. But he participated in university classes and has always shown his fandom for his teams over the years.
Jeter, who received a degree of honor from Michigan, spoke with the hundreds of students who exam and used his own failure in his message to the class.
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Derek Jeter before the 93rd MLB All-Star game in T-Mobile Park 11 July 2023 in Seattle. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
“Failure is important,” he said. “If I can promise you a thing with certainty you will fail. The bigger the dream, the greater the risk. But what is the price if you do not take the risk – if you do not commit to the dream? You may end up overmosing, or maybe you will not.”
When Jeter decided to go pro, it was not smooth sailing in the smaller leagues.
“I failed publicly. I failed miserably. There were days I literally cried because I was so bad. My first season as a professional, I made 56 mistakes. For non-baseball fans it’s hard to do with purpose,” Jeter said when the crowd burst into laughter. “And it’s not fun either.”
Jeter’s struggle through adversity prepared in the long run.
Former New York Yankee Derek Jeter during a news conference at Yankee Stadium 21 December 2022 in Bronx, New (Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
He came to the big leagues in 1995 and the rest is history. Jeter put together a Hall of Fame career while becoming one of the most skilled players for undoubtedly the most stored franchise in American sport.
But he wouldn’t have come there if he had let go define who he was on the diamond.
That’s the message he gave Michigan students who were preparing for professional life.
Derek Jeter gives his speech in his Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Clark Sports Center 8 September 2021, in Cooperstown, Ny (Jim Mcisaac/Getty Images)
“You, me, any of us have to learn to tackle failure,” Jeter said. “I wouldn’t have been successful without the failures. It’s your job to make sure a speed bump doesn’t become a roadblock.”
