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I read this on MLB ESPN , No responses necessary just read. Jeter better overall player than Ripken Making the case for why Yanks’ captain is second-best SS, behind only Honus Wagner Email Share Schoenfield By David Schoenfield ESPN.com Archive Editor’s note: Hot Stove U. is a six-week course devoted to higher learning, a series consisting of 30 need-to-know topics for 2010. The Setup “Derek Jeter has the killer instinct of Jackie Robinson, the hustle of Pete Rose, the bat artistry of George Brett, the leadership of Kirby Puckett, the clutch hitting of Reggie Jackson, the acrobatics of Ozzie Smith, the eyes of Grace Kelly. He’s the perfect ballplayer.” –David Schoenfield, 2010 For a long time, there was heated debate about Derek Jeter’s value as a player. On one side sat those who agree with the above statement that I just made up. Their adulation reached an apex most notably after his famous “flip play” against the A’s in the 2001 playoffs. The play became a symbol of his baseball genius (you can even purchase a signed 16×20 sepia-toned photo of the play for a mere $649.99). On the other side sat the statistical analysts who argued that while he was a good hitter, he wasn’t a good defensive shortstop (was, in fact, a horrible shortstop). Their disgust reached an apex when Jeter won his first Gold Glove in 2004 (he’s won three more since). The award became a symbol of the often-embarrassing fawning over Jeter’s abilities. Back when Jeter made that play, it was used as ammunition in popular debates: Who was better, Jeter or A-Rod? Jeter or Nomar? Jeter or Tejada? Eventually, those debates were settled: Alex Rodriguez moved to third base, Nomar Garciaparra moved to the disabled list and Miguel Tejada moved to Baltimore. Jeter, meanwhile, kept churning out .300 seasons. And now? He may be the second-greatest shortstop of all time.