Derek Jeter pens a heartfelt thank you to New York ahead of jersey retirement

The New York Yankees will retire Derek Jeter’s legendary No. 2 jersey Sunday and enshrine him into Monument Park at Yankee Stadium. But before 55,000 fans say thank you to Jeter, the lifelong Yankee decided to thank them — and the entire city.

Jeter, whose 20th and final season in pinstripes came in 2014, write a touching tribute on The Players’ Tribune. Calling himself a 'kid who grew up in the Midwest' and a 'homebody at heart,' Jeter thanked New York City for taking him in and helping to make him great.

 Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

From his post:

“Thank you, New York, for asking a lot of me. For challenging me. For giving this kid a place to grow up. I wasn’t born a New Yorker — you asked me to earn it. I wasn’t born a Yankee, but you made me into one.

Everyone comes to this city with dreams of being No. 1. You showed me that being No. 2 was more than enough.

Today I’m no longer that kid. I’ve hung up my uniform, and I know this much for a fact: I wouldn’t be the person I am today without you. Because the truth is, no matter where you go in the world, when a place feels like home, as New York does to me, you never really leave.

It will always be with you.”