The Florida Marlins have long been considered one of the less prosperous teams in Major League Baseball, and they missed an important opportunity to generate revenue when Yankees legend Derek Jeter was ousted as CEO last year: a raffle that would have given the winner the chance to hold open the door.
While Jeter was a celebrated figure in New York, he faced considerable animosity in Florida. He dismantled the team, replacing established players with unremarkable, low-paid talent. When the minimal fan base and local media criticized his decisions, he seemed to dismiss their concerns, flaunting his championship rings as if to say, “Who are you to question me?”
The backlash was intense, especially after Jeter traded Giancarlo Stanton to the Yankees. Even traditional baseball figures like New Jersey’s Jack McKeon had harsh words for Jeter: “They couldn’t stand him down there,” McKeon told NJ Advance Media. “Many writers I speak with describe him as an arrogant son of a bitch.”
With Jeter’s departure, there is a strong desire among fans and writers for the team to make amends. While winning games would be ideal, that might take some time. For now, the priority is to reinstate the garish but beloved sculpture that Jeter had removed from the ballpark. Although local officials initially resisted, Jeter’s persistence eventually led to their acquiescence.