Derek Jeter Named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year

It's been a pretty incredible year for New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. He just won his fifth World Series earlier this month after having one of the best offensive seasons of his career, and also got his fourth Silver Slugger award and fourth Gold Glove to go along with it. He also passed Lou Gehrig as the Yankees' all-time leader in hits, which considering the history of the Yankees, is quite an achievement.

Now he has some more hardware to add to the trophy case ,as it was announced on Monday that Jeter has been named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year.

Said Sports Illustrated Group Editor Terry McDonell, "Derek Jeter has always presented himself with class; he does numerous good works for the community with his Turn 2 Foundation, which is one of the most efficient, effective foundations of its kind; and he's extremely generous with not just his money but with his time, which in many cases is more valuable. He also had another signature year on the field."

Another feather for Jeter's cap? He's the first Yankee to ever win this award, which has been handed out by the magazine since it started hitting newsstands in 1954. Apparently Mickey Mantle's off-field achievements weren't quite what the magazine was looking for.

He's not the first baseball player to win it, however, as the entire Boston Red Sox team won it in 2004. He is the first individual player to win the award since Cal Ripken did it in 1995.

The issue of Sports Illustrated with Jeter on the cover will hit newsstands on Wednesday.