12/24/2003 8:00 AM ET

Jeter loves the holiday season

By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com

 

 

Derek Jeter hosted his annual holiday party for children last Thursday. (Christie Cowles/MLB.com)

 

NEW YORK -- Derek Jeter loves the holiday season, especially in New York. Every year, Jeter takes time during December to visit children in hospitals and give gifts to underprivileged youngsters around the Metropolitan area, giving back to the community in which he plays.

Last Thursday, Jeter and his Turn 2 Foundation rented out the Big Apple Circus in Manhattan to host his holiday party, welcoming almost 1,200 children for the party of the year.

 

Jeter recently talked with MLB.com's Mark Feinsand about his favorite holiday memories, his favorite holiday entertainment and his favorite presents of all time.

 

MLB.com: What was the best Christmas present you ever received?

 

Jeter: Probably my first baseball glove.

 

MLB.com: What was the best give you've ever given someone else?

 

Jeter: I gave my mom a Mercedes last year. When I was younger, she told me what her dream car was, so I bought it for her last year.

 

MLB.com: What is your favorite holiday movie?

 

Jeter: I just saw Bad Santa, which I thought was really funny.

 

MLB.com: What is your favorite holiday song?

 

Jeter: "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas." I really like that song.

 

MLB.com: What do you want for Christmas this year?

 

Jeter: Good health. And two more wins.

 

MLB.com: You hosted your foundation's holiday party at the Big Apple Circus. What made you choose that venue?

 

Jeter: We had almost 1,200 kids coming, and some of them are children who haven't really experienced Christmas before. It's fun to see the kids, pass out gifts that the Fleet customers donated. It's a great experience.

 

MLB.com: What is your favorite part of the event?

 

Jeter: I love interacting with the kids. They get to smile for at least one day, and that's what Christmas is all about.

 

MLB.com: Better holiday TV show: Frosty the Snowman or Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?

 

Jeter: Frosty. He's the man.

 

MLB.com: Who's more popular, you or Santa Claus?

 

Jeter: Santa's still got me. He's got all the gifts to give out.

 

Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

I don't get jeter, he's biethnic one day, then he's white the next, and now he's black. I'm pretty much just white, white, and then white.

 

In the minors he looked almost black, most of the time now he looks almost white...jeter just keeps changing like britney spear's boob size.

 

Jeter is a good guy, this just shows it more...hopefully he's not tricking us like puckett.