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NEW YORK -- To Derek Jeter, it was just another day to get ready for spring training. On a minor league field at the New York Yankees complex in Florida, he took batting practice, fielded grounders and chatted with teammates. And then he drove away in his Mercedes, offering no hint that the countdown to his retirement had already begun. Hours later, Jeter alerted the sports world: This will be his final season. "I know it in my heart. The 2014 season will be my last year playing professional baseball," Jeter posted Wednesday in a long letter on his Facebook page. "I have gotten the very most out of my life playing baseball, and I have absolutely no regrets," the shortstop wrote. While it was no secret the team captain was getting close to the end of his brilliant career as he neared 40 -- especially after injuries wrecked him last season -- Jeters announcement caught many by surprise. In fact, some people wondered whether his account had been hacked. But it was quickly confirmed that one of the greatest players in the history of baseballs most storied franchise was serious. A 13-time All-Star shortstop who led the Yankees to five World Series championships, Jeter was the last link to the powerful Yankees teams that won three straight crowns from 1998-2000. Longtime teammates Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte retired after last year. "Derek Jeter is Mr. Yankee of his era," Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner told The Associated Press. "He was the face of one of the greatest teams ever." Jeter was limited to 17 games last season while trying to recover from a broken left ankle sustained during the 2012 playoffs. He hit only .190 with one homer and seven RBIs. "Last year was a tough one for me. As I suffered through a bunch of injuries, I realized that some of the things that always came easily to me and were always fun had started to become a struggle," Jeter wrote. "The one thing I always said to myself was that when baseball started to feel more like a job, it would be time to move forward." "So really it was months ago when I realized that this season would likely be my last. As I came to this conclusion and shared it with my friends and family, they all told me to hold off saying anything until I was absolutely 100 per cent sure," he wrote. "And the thing is, I could not be more sure," he wrote. His agent, Casey Close, said Jeter wanted to declare his intentions before the Yankees start spring training later this week so that his future status wouldnt be a distraction. The Yankees open camp for pitchers and catchers on Friday. Jeter has said hes healthy and ready to go -- at 39, his next birthday is in June. "Derek called me this morning to tell me that he planned to retire following the season," Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner said. Said Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, a former Jeter teammate: "Im excited for him. Its kind of nice to see him go out on his own terms." Jeter is the Yankees career hits leader with 3,316. Hes ninth on the all-time list; a 200-hit season would put him in fifth place. Jeter is a lifetime .312 hitter in 19 seasons, with 256 home runs and 1,261 RBIs. He has scored 1,876 runs, stolen 348 bases and is a five-time Gold Glove winner. Added up, his numbers put him among the greats in Yankees history, with fans often invoking the names of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle when mentioning Jeters legacy. But No. 2 is defined by so much more than his numbers. His backhanded flip in the playoffs, his diving catch into the stands, his speech to close old Yankee Stadium and his home run for career hit No. 3,000. An October presence for so many years -- Jeter is a career .321 hitter in seven World Series -- he also became Mr. November in 2001. His winning, 10th-inning homer came shortly after midnight in a Game 4 that began on Halloween. Jeter was the AL Rookie of the Year in 1996, the season the Yankees won their first World Series since 1978 and re-established themselves as a major force. He was the MVP of the 2000 World Series. Commissioner Bud Selig said during his tenure, "Major League Baseball has had no finer ambassador than Derek Jeter." A staple for so long in the Yankees lineup, Jeter missed the first 91 games last year. He felt pain in his right quadriceps when he returned July 11 and again went on the disabled list. Jeter came back for three games but strained his right calf. In early September, he was done for the year. The Yankees will open the 2014 regular season on April 1 in Houston. Their final game is scheduled to be at Fenway Park, against the longtime rival Boston Red Sox. Rivera announced a year in advance that he would retire, and was saluted everywhere he played last season. Jeter is sure to get a similar farewell tour. "I wish everybody does it like that," Rivera told ESPN radio. "I think that would be the right thing for him to do." Jeter wrote that he wants to pursue business and other interests "in addition to focusing more on my personal life and starting a family of my own." "And I want the ability to move at my own pace, see the world and finally have a summer vacation," he said. "But before that, I want to soak in every moment of every day this year, so I can remember it for the rest of my life. And most importantly, I want to help the Yankees reach our goal of winning another championship," he said. Air Max Pas Cher Solde . Mladenovics quick hands at the net made the difference while Bencics inexperience in doubles showed. "We took a lot of pleasure," Mladenovic told Sport Plus television. "Its extremely difficult to play in such conditions, but our doubles team showed a lot of quality. Air Max Pas Cher France . "Its way better than running gassers, thats for sure," the inside linebacker said Monday, when the Chargers started their third and final week of organized team activities, which are practices in shorts, jerseys and helmets. http://www.airmaxpascherfrance.fr/ . If Vettel wins at Suzuka on Sunday, and his nearest rival Fernando Alonso finishes worse than eighth, the German driver will join his compatriot Michael Schumacher and Argentine Juan-Manuel Fangio as the only men to win four consecutive titles. Achat Air Max Pas Cher . -- Michael Bennett gambled last off-season that playing on a one-year deal in Seattle would pay off in the future with the long-term contract he always wanted. Site Air Max Pas Cher .com) - It may just be the right place and the right opponent for the Detroit Red Wings to snap their longest losing streak of the season.TORONTO -- After sitting out the previous two games, Kenny Ryan made a loud statement Sunday according to his head coach Steve Spott. The Marlies centre set up three goals, including the game-winner, as Toronto cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Oklahoma City Barons in American Hockey League action. "He came in and gave us great minutes on that fourth line with (Brad) Staubitz and (Jamie) Devane," said Spott. "Kennys one of those guys that can be an unsung hero. He kills penalties, he plays against other teams top lines and he brings us that speed and energy that you need on the depth of your lineup." After Anton Lander opened the scoring, Ryan set up Greg McKegg and Devane sixty-eight seconds apart in the second. Ryan also set up McKeggs second of the night in the third. Brandon Kozun had the other goal for the Marlies (31-17-4) whove won three straight and earned a spilt in the season series with Oklahoma City winning one game a piece. "I think Ive been struggling a little bit trying to get my feet underneath me and felt like the breaks werent going my way," said Ryan, who was playing in his 27th game with the Marlies. "Tonight I was pretty confident out there. Making plays, hanging on to pucks as long as I could and fortunately got a couple bounces." With the loss the Barons (23-24-7) dropped two of three in a three-game, three-night stretch over the weekend. The Barons won the only other meeting of the season between the two clubs, 5-3, Jan. 30 in Oklahoma City. Garret Sparks, who was making his first start since Jan. 31, made 38 saves for the win and improved to 2-2-0 at Ricoh Coliseum this season. Richard Bachman made 27 saves for his 14th loss of the season. Kozun made it 4-1, on a power play, at 17:10 re-directing a T.J. Brennan shot past Bachman. McKeggs second of the night at 9:42 gave the Marlies a 3-1 lead. McKegg picked up a pass from Ryan and beat Bachman blocker-side for his 13th of the season on a power play. With the two-goal game, McKegg now has four goals and four assists in seven February games. "Hes now turning himself into a legitimate NHL prospect and Im sure theres a number of teams, not only the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the 29 other teams that are seeing that as well," said Spott. "Its great to see the confidence that hes playing with.dddddddddddd" The Marlies scored twice in just over a minute during the middle frame to erase an early 1-0 deficit. McKegg tied it 1-1 at 8:34 taking a Stuart Percy feed and one timing it over the glove hand of Bachman for his 12th of the season. Just over a minute later, Devane slapped a loose puck past a screened Bachman for his third of the season giving Toronto its first lead, 2-1. Oklahoma City opened the scoring on a second period 5-on-3 power play as Landers pass re-directed off of Korbinian Holzer and past Sparks at 3:48 of the second. Toronto had an excellent chance to open the scoring at 12:15 of the first period as Josh Leivo re-directed a Ryan feed past Bachman, but hit the post. With a minute remaining in the opening period, Mark Acrobello beat Sparks glove-side but rang his shot off the post. Just prior to the Acrobello chance, Peter Holland got a shot through the pads of Bachman, but Barons defenceman David Musil was there to clear the rolling puck before it crossed the goal line. "Hes so dynamic. The challenge we have now is do you play him with Kozun, Leivo, Abbott so well have to make some decisions as we go forward," Spott said of Holland. "Hes a puck procession guy, he likes to move the puck and hes just so dynamic through the neutral zone. "A good effort by him. He hasnt played hockey in a long time. Hes been off for quite some time with the break. Hell only get better as we go." Holland was playing his first game with the Marlies since being re-assigned on Saturday. In three games with the Marlies this season, Holland has three goals. With the March 5 NHL trade deadline fast approaching a plethora of scouts were in attendance to watch the Maple Leafs and Oilers affiliates Sunday. Spott said hes noticed chatter among his players. "We have a room there where guys get coffee, you definitely hear some of the banter, but all they can do is control their play," said Spott. "They cant control anything else outside of that so, its just staying positive and allowing them to play. "Were a four line team, we get everybody out on the ice, and if they want an opportunity to continue to play in the National Hockey League, its a great program to be in." 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