From the New York Daily News

By BILL MADDEN Daily News Sports Writer

11/05/96

It began with a fifth-inning solo homer off Dennis Martinez, followed by a spectacular over-the-head, run-saving grab of Omar Vizquel's blooper into shallow left-center field.

From that attention-grabbing afternoon, on a blustery, snow-delayed Opening Day in Cleveland, Derek Jeter embarked on his personal journey to star status as the Yankees' shortstop. It was a dream he began cultivating as a kid growing up in Kalamazoo, Mich. and yesterday it culminated in his winning the AL Rookie of the Year by a unanimous vote.

"I wanted to make the team, play well and win a world championship," Jeter said last night at Yankee Stadium. "To do all three and win this award too. . . . well I'm still dreaming."

There were plenty of skeptics who wondered if Jeter was too young (22) to shortstop a Yankee team expected to contend for a pennant, or too awkward at times with his footwork to provide the necessary smoothness for the position.

"I had heard that stuff about his feet," said Joe Torre, who also attended last night's press conference along with Jeter's father, Charles. "But I checked with people I knew from other organizations and they all assured me he'd be fine. I just wondered what he'd hit. But when I said I'd be happy with .250 as long as he played a good shortstop, they told me he'd hit a lot more than that."

Suffice to say Jeter dispelled all the doubts, starting on day one of the Yankees' championship '96 season when he served notice as a shortstop to be reckoned with.

"I know a lot of people doubted me," Jeter said. "For me, though, I had a lot of confidence in my ability. I felt that if I just did what I had done in the minor leagues I'd be successful."

"I think that play he made on Opening Day - a play that only Ozzie Smith makes with regularity - opened some eyes, as did the homer," Torre agreed.

Jeter's 78 RBI were the most by a Yankee shortstop since Frank Crosetti's 78 in 1936. Torre even conceded it is possible that Jeter could evolve into a Cal Ripken-type of high-RBI man.

"You don't hit .300 with 600 at-bats unless you've adjusted to all the adjustments other people have made on you," Torre said.

"I need to get stronger," Jeter said, "but I got a long way to go before I get too strong."

Jeter becomes only the fifth ALer to win Rookie of the Year by unanimous acclaim - Tim Salmon ('93), Sandy Alomar (90), Mark McGwire ('87) and Carlton Fisk ('72) were the others - and he is eighth Yankee to win the award. Dave Righetti ('81) was the last Yankee Rookie of the Year and Tom Tresh ('62) and Tony Kubek ('57) were the only Yankee shortstops to win.

If his rookie season is any indication of what's to come, there won't be another one for long while. Indeed, it would seem about the only thing that could deter him from even more fame and success is fame itself.

"This (all the sudden acclaim) isn't going to go to my head," Jeter vowed, glancing over at his father. "I can't go home if my head is too big. My parents wouldn't let me in the house."