There were a lot of elements to that perfect storm of 1996, when Derek Jeter easily settled into his role as a fixture at shortstop.
The Yankees had plenty of veterans to bear many of the early burdens. The manager, Joe Torre, offered a preternatural feel for young talent, having been a hotshot kid himself once. There was, of course, this: Jeter was highly skilled on both sides of the ball, blessed with a natural gift for leadership at a position where that is a bountiful asset.
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All of that is true. But so is this:
Derek Jeter didn’t have to worry about following Derek Jeter.
