Derek Jeter turns 40: A look at his '40' milestones

Derek Jeter turns 40 years old on Thursday, bringing with him into his next decade 19 seasons of major-league memories with the Yankees as he plays his final games this year.

Jeter, the face of the Yankees and in many ways Major League Baseball for the past 15 years or so, will retire at season’s end.

Jeter grew up in front of several generations of Yankees fans, all the while cultivating an image of class and respect both on and off the field.

He's been known as “Captain Clutch” for his knack for timely hitting in big spots and “Mr. November” for that game-winning home run in Game 4 of the 2001 World Series in what was the first MLB game ever played in that month.

As you watch Jeter go from an 18-year-old kid in 1993 to a 40-year-old elder statesman in 2014 in the video above, take a moment to look back on these “40” moments from the captain’s career in pinstripes, in chronological order.

40TH PLATE APPEARANCE

Jeter, batting ninth, capped a 1-for-4 performance on June 8, 1995, by grounding out to Oakland second baseman Brent Gates in the bottom of the ninth inning of an 8-3 loss at home.

40TH GAME

Jeter played it on May 3, 1996, with the Yankees beating the Chicago White Sox, 2-0. Jeter, batting ninth, went 1-for-3 that night at the Stadium as the Yankees won their fifth straight game.

40TH HIT

In his 44th career game, Jeter reached on a bunt single up the first-base line off Detroit Tigers reliever Richie Lewis on May 7, 1996. The hit scored Joe Girardi as part of an eight-run sixth inning for the Yankees. Jeter went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI in the Yankees’ 12-5 win at the old Yankee Stadium.

40TH STRIKEOUT

On the sixth pitch of his first at-bat of the game on May 8, 1996, Jeter struck out looking against Detroit’s Greg Keagle. Jeter wound up 1-for-4 in the Yankees’ 10-3 home win.

40TH SINGLE

With two outs and Ruben Rivera on first base, Jeter bunted down the third-base line and beat the throw. It was career hit No. 51 and came off Oakland’s Billy Taylor on May 23, 1996. That gave Wade Boggs the opportunity to single in Rivera for the go-ahead run in a 4-3 win at the Stadium against Oakland.

40TH RUN

Jeter scored on a sacrifice fly to centerfield by Bernie Williams in the bottom of the eighth inning against Cleveland on June 13, 1996. That cut the Yankees’ deficit to 4-2 but lost, 6-2.

40TH RBI

Gerald Williams scored from third base on a sacrifice bunt in the top of the sixth inning for a 5-2 lead against Minnesota on June 25, 1996. The Yankees won, 6-2, in what was the second game of a doubleheader.

40TH WALK

On Aug. 13, 1996, Jeter drew a two-out walk against Bill Simas of the White Sox in the top of the seventh inning in an 8-4 loss by the Yankees.

40TH DOUBLE

Career hit No. 272 for Jeter was double off the Mets’ Juan Acevedo on June 18, 1997. The Yankees won the third Subway Series game in history, 3-2, at Yankee Stadium.

40TH STEAL

Jeter doubled off Oakland’s Tom Candiotti in the bottom of the first inning on April 11, 1998. Two pitches later, Jeter stole third base off Candiotti and catcher A.J. Hinch. The Yankees won, 3-1.

40TH HOME RUN

Jeter has two career hits off former Oakland pitcher T.J. Mathews, the second of which was a home run. On a full count, Jeter hit a solo shot to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead at Network Associates Coliseum on April 5, 1999. It was career hit no. 591 and one of three Opening Day homers in Jeter’s career. The Yankees lost the game, 5-3.

40TH POSTSEASON HIT

Jeter dropped a fly ball near the line in short right field off Padres starter Kevin Brown in Game 4 of the World Series on Oct. 21, 1998. Jeter went 2-for-4 with two runs scored as the Yankees won the game, 3-0, and swept San Diego for the shortstop’s second World Series title.

40TH POSTSEASON GAME

Jeter, batting second behind Chuck Knoblauch, went 1-for-5 with a run scored and turned two double plays as the Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox in Game 4 of the ALCS on Oct. 17, 1999. It was the 40th of Jeter’s 158 postseason appearances. The Yankees won the ALCS in five games, then swept the Atlanta Braves in the World Series.

40TH TRIPLE

The triple — which was career hit No. 1,414 — came on May 31, 2003, in the fifth inning off Detroit's Adam Bernero at Comerica Park. He drove home Todd Zeile  for a 2-1 lead in what turned into a 4-2 win for the Tigers.

40TH WORLD SERIES HIT

In the bottom of the third, Jeter hit the first pitch from the Phillies' Cliff Lee to right field for a double in Game 1 of the World Series on Oct. 28, 2009. Jeter went 3-for-4 in the Yankees' 6-1 loss. Jeter hit .407 (11-for-27) overall as the Yankees won the World Series in six games. It was Jeter's fifth championship ring.

JETER'S BIRTHDAY NUMBERS

The Yankees have an off day Thursday before beginning a six-game homestand Friday with three games against both the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays.

But in 12 career games on June 26, Jeter hit .327 (16-for-49) with eight runs scored and three RBIs. He doubled twice, walked seven times and struck out nine times in 58 total plate-appearances on his birthday.