NEW YORK — Fans filed into Yankee Stadium with palpable anticipation Thursday evening, but not for a baseball game. Even with the team over 200 miles away in Boston, the lower section of the stadium was filled with Yankees jerseys as fans waited eagerly to watch the first two episodes of ESPN Films’ “The Captain” — a seven-part documentary series illuminating the illustrious career of Derek Jeter, both on and off the field.
The documentary series, which was executively produced by Spike Lee and Mike Tolin, is set to debut on July 18, following the conclusion of the T-Mobile Home Run Derby on ESPN.
Well before the premiere, with DJ Premier (ironically) providing the night’s tunes, fans found their seats and snapped pictures with Yankee Stadium’s field as the backdrop. There were also several “The Captain” themed photo stations and booths across the stadium, providing opportunities for quality photos to commemorate the evening.
With excitement radiating through the crowd, the attention soon shifted to the festivities on the field as DJ Premier introduced the night’s host, The Kid Mero. Mero, a respected comedian and TV personality, is best known for co-hosting the television show “Desus & Mero” and its embodiment of Bronx culture.
While Mero’s introduction amplified the energy in the stadium, Jeter stepping back into his domain sent fans into a frenzy. After a brief introduction, Jeter provided the crowd with insight into his decision to open up for this new documentary series.
According to Jeter, the documentary series began with an idea to capture the phone call that welcomed him into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The project soon took on a life of its own.
“I wanted to capture it so I can have it in the future and share it with my girls when they get older, because they probably wouldn’t believe most of my career,” Jeter said.
While the Yankee Stadium jumbotron is usually home to instant replays, stats and birthday wishes, it hosted episode one of “The Captain” on Thursday night. This episode highlights Jeter’s upbringing as a biracial kid in Kalamazoo, Mich., and the origins of his legendary career. Spotlighting his family life, his baseball development and his path to pinstripes, the episode features previously unseen footage of Jeter being drafted by the New York Yankees, an outcome that once seemed like a fairytale.
The episode also depicts his struggles to find his footing in the Minor Leagues while also highlighting…
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