Saturday, September 12th 2009, 4:16 AM
As Derek Jeter slashed a single to right in the third inning, "2722" flashed in giant, bright numerals on the scoreboard. And Mike Donahue, standing in a shallow puddle of water and beer out in Section 203, immediately made note of two things:
Jeter didn't just stop at first base. He made the turn toward second.
And as for that historic number, Donahue figured, "That's how much the Yankees are going to charge next season for the seats behind home plate."
There it was, another bad joke. But even for the Bleacher Creatures Friday night, it was tough to make fun of this sentimental moment. Goose bumps were spotted. Eyes watered, and it wasn't just from too many pregame beers at the local bodega.
"If there's anyone in the world who should get that attention, it's him," said Tina Lewis, queen of the Creatures. "He's the nicest young man I've ever met. They all think I'm saying that because he's a pretty boy, but I'm old enough to be his mother - and I wish I was."
So there you had it. The new touchy-feely Creatures were swept away by this moment, just like everybody else.
Except, of course, for Little Mike. Little Mike probably would have booed the "Luckiest man in the world" speech by Lou Gehrig. But now Gehrig wasn't around. Jeter was. So Mike was busy defending the Iron Horse.
"No, he's not even in the same league," Little Mike said about the Jeter-Gehrig comparison. "Once you bring numbers into it, you can't put him in the same category. Jeter's a great Yankee, a good player. But I'm tired of all the hype. When he gets to 3,000, then let's talk about it."
Most people don't know exactly when Jeter will get to 3,000. But out in the Bleachers, Statman has it all figured out. It will happen in the spring of 2011, and then Jeter will retire with 3,400 hits, give or take 25.
Statman had Jeter's 2,722nd hit all charted out before the season began, except that he figured it would come against the Red Sox later this month.
"He's two weeks ahead of schedule," Statman said, his thick glasses fogged a bit by the mist. "I didn't figure this hot streak."
Look, let's be honest here. The core Creatures love Jeter, but he is not quite Bernie Williams to them. There is a general feeling out in Section 203 that Jeter is a bit too beloved. There are too many No. 2 jerseys in the box seats for anybody's liking, and too there are too many women wearing them.
Still ...
"He's obviously not Gehrig, but you've got to appreciate what he's done, even if it is girly to do it," said Marc Chalpin.
Chalpin was just happy the big moment occurred on a night when the half-season ticket holders had seats. If Jeter had waited until Saturday, a lot of the regular Creatures would have missed out, like when they missed out on Hawaiian shirt night on Wednesday because of the every-other-day deal.
In any case, it was a wonderful, soggy night out past the right-field wall. Bald Vinny screamed out roll call. The fans cheered loudest for Jeter, softest for A-Rod. And although Sheriff Tom Brown, a founding Creature, was AWOL, rumor had it that he was making his way in one state or another from the bodega toward the stadium.
"You want to put Jeter down, good luck, have fun," Donahue said. "I'm not diving on that grenade."
Nice guy slaps a single. Those who saw it from the right-field bleachers consider themselves the luckiest Creatures on the face of the EarthSource