Yankees legend Derek Jeter officially made his way into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Wednesday with the 14-time All-Star part of the 2020 class enshrined in Cooperstown, New York. A longtime teammate of Jeter’s made the day even more special for him.
Bernie Williams, who played with Jeter for 12 seasons in New York, performed the national anthem ahead of the induction ceremony. Former Billy Joel band member Richie Cannata contributed on the saxophone.
On Sept. 3, Williams got a warm up for Wednesday’s event by performing the national anthem at Yankees Stadium.
Long before transitioning into a music career, Williams was a fixture in center field for 16 years with the Bronx Bombers. The San Juan, Puerto Rico native made five All-Star appearances, won four World Series, earned four Gold Gloves and added a batting title and Silver Slugger.
In Jeter’s two-decade career he won five World Series championships, a World Series MVP, five Gold Gloves, and five Silver Sluggers. The 1996 season saw Jeter win Rookie of the Year and Williams win ALCS MVP en route to a World Series win.
Jeter is a part of the 2020 Hall of Fame class alongside Marvin Miller, Ted Simmons and Larry Walker. Since the 2020 ceremony was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the four were inducted a year later than normal. The voters selected no one into the 2021 class, which also would’ve been inducted Wednesday.
Williams, a jazz musician, has released two albums with The Journey Within in 2003 and Moving Forward in 2009. Perhaps his impressive national anthem performance will help him move forward in the Hall of Fame voters’ eyes, as he’s yet to be inducted despite his illustrious resume.
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