Greenwich Natives Catch a Piece of Derek Jeter History

A pair of Greenwich High School sweethearts were among the legions of Derek Jeter fans around the world who watched the New York Yankees legend play his last major league baseball game at the fabled Fenway Park in Boston on Sunday.

The couple, who met at Greenwich HS and graduated in 2008, couldn’t get tickets to the sold-out final home game at Yankee Stadium. So JJ Hohorst and Courtney Kraus, who describe themselves as “ huge New York Yankee fans”, traveled from New York City, where they now live and work, to Boston to attend the captain’s last game.

The couple, whose families still live in Greenwich, was lucky enough to get tickets in a loge box along Fenway’s first-base line. And even luckier for them is that Courtney was able to scramble to catch the last foul ball Jeter hit before belting a bouncing blooper off Boston pitcher Clay Buckholz that scored the go-ahead run — the hit that was the last of Jeter’s 20-year career.

In an e-interview with Patch, the couple shared their thoughts about their admiration for Jeter and, taking a page from Jeter’s playbook, what they may do with the ball. (And here is a link to the video broadcast at Fenway after Courtney came up with the ball.)

Why are you such fans of Derek?

JJ: The reason I am such a big fan of Derek is not unlike most others. His humble demeanor, his passion for baseball, his respect for his fans and his sense of responsibility to win for the Yankees. In the past 20 years I have moved homes, learned my multiplication tables, braved through freshman year at GHS, met my first and only girlfriend (Courtney), graduated from college and moved to New York on my own to start my first job. Through all these changes in my life, Derek Jeter has been there, fielding balls at shortstop for the Yankees. That is why it was so important to be there for his last game, to say thank you.

How long have you been Derek fans and Yankees fans?

Courtney: I grew up with my father and Grandfather being huge Yankee fans, so I probably didn’t have a choice. One year when I was younger, my father dressed me for Halloween as a “Crazy Yankee Fan” complete with a wild yellow wig, Yankee hat and jersey, and covered in NY Yankee tattoos. He also took me and my siblings to countless games throughout the years.

JJ: I grew up in a big Yankee family. The biggest of all being my grandmother who watches every game. She first started following Derek when he was a prospect. My first memory of baseball was when Jeter played in his first game against the Mariners in 1995. I was only four years old. After that, he became my childhood idol as he did for so many others.

Was your trip to Boston the first time you’ve traveled to follow his final year in MLB?

JJ: We have been to other games at Yankee stadium this year but this was the first other stadium we traveled to. The moment Derek announced his retirement, I tried to buy tickets to the last game in Yankee Stadium. After receiving the confirmation email, I got a notice that the seller pulled the tickets. By then, all the tickets were sold out or were thousands of dollars. We decided we would do whatever we could to see him and bought tickets to the last game of the season instead. In the end, it was an amazing weekend that I couldn’t have even imagined in my wildest dreams.

Is this the first ball you’ve ever caught at a game?

Courtney: Yes! And I have always wanted to get on the “Jumbotron” and it finally happened!

JJ: Yes it is. Well worth the wait.

What are your plans for the ball?

JJ: We haven’t fully decided yet but we are considering selling the ball and donating the money to Derek Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation. We think it is the best way to thank Jeter for the past 20 years. We have reached out to the Turn 2 Foundation to ask if we could have the ball signed so we can raise more money. The other option would be to keep it within our families.

Have you considered approaching Derek’s camp to see whether he’d autograph the ball? Or would you give it back to him?

Courtney: Yes we would love to meet him! That experience would be more valuable than the ball itself.

JJ: Would love some tips on how to get in touch with them! I don’t think he cares for his last foul ball, though.

Please describe the experience of being at Derek’s last game, let alone catching that ball.

Courtney: Jeter’s last foul ball at his last time ever at bat bounced off the hands of fans a few rows behind us in section 112 at Fenway. I immediately dove down under the seats and grabbed the ball from the many hands fighting for it. I cut my finger in the process and ended up bleeding on JJ’s pristine, never-worn Jeter jersey but it was worth it! JJ is a huge Yankee and Derek Jeter fan so me getting the ball for him really meant a lot. (It was the least I could do to thank him for taking me to the game!)

JJ: After fighting for the ball and Courtney coming up with it, I couldn’t believe the moment we were experiencing. We spent the rest of the game taking pictures with countless fans and their children. The experience of being at the game was unlike any other because whether you were a Yankees or Red Sox fan, everyone was there out of admiration for Jeter. It was an amazing atmosphere and the Red Sox and their fans showed a tremendous amount of respect for Jeter and all his fans that came to see him.

If you had a chance to talk with Derek, what would you say to him?

Courtney: I would congratulate him on being an outstanding player and captain to the NY Yankees, but also thank him for being one of the most beloved athletes in the world by acting as a great role model to his fans.

JJ: I would probably verify a few of the Derek Jeter stories my grandmother loves to tell. But after that, I would just say thank you because I am certainly a better person for being able to look up to him all of my life.

Thanks to Courtney for reaching out to Patch with their story. You can share your great stories by emailing: tips@patch.com.

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Photo courtesy of Courtney Kraus and JJ Hohorst.