6 signs that Jeter’s farewell tour may have taken on a life of its own (my tribute to the Captain)

Jul 30, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter (2) and United States former president George W. Bush pose during a pre-game ceremony honoring Derek Jeter before the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

5. Your gifts get increasingly more extravagant as teams try to top each other.

You’re gifts and goodbyes started off as being thoughtful, the opposing fans generously applauded you and sent you off with a short standing ovation. Your first “final” game was at Minute Maid Park in Houston. You received pinstriped cowboy boots, some very nice golf clubs and a donation to your charity the Turn 2 Foundation. Then a couple teams decided maybe a vacation would be better and the checks to Turn 2 got larger.

Next you find yourself back in Texas where the Rangers, not to be outdone by the Houston Astros, had a former President there to greet you. Suddenly you have an original number two from the scoreboard at one of baseball’s oldest and most historic ballparks, Chicago’s Wrigley Field. (“Nice one Cubbies!” you think.)

Now you’ve got a custom Les Paul pinstriped guitar, the last second base from the Metrodome that was torn down five years ago – you played in that game and you won it (“Did they actually plan that far ahead?” you wonder). You begin to think of the many other things, personalized one of a kind items you’ve recieved, and you begin to wonder where you might store all this stuff. It’s nice but it sure is a lot.