MLB Network airing 64 hours of Jeter moments

It was 25 years ago on Friday that Derek Jeter carried a black Louisville Slugger P72 into the on-deck circle at the long-defunct Seattle Kingdome. It was the only model he’d swing throughout his Major League career, and it was the first plate appearance of a journey that would produce five World Series championships and first-ballot enshrinement in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Jeter went hitless in five at-bats as part of the Yankees’ 8-7, 12-inning loss to the Mariners that day, but there was greatness to come. MLB Network is paying tribute to the silver anniversary of Jeter’s debut with 64 consecutive hours of programming related to the Yankees captain, including 13 signature games, beginning on Friday at 6 a.m. ET.

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“I remember after the game walking with my dad [Charles], and we went to McDonald's because there were no restaurants open,” Jeter recalled earlier this year. “It was the first time I was playing in a dome. Other than the statistics of that day, I can't tell you anything else because I don't remember. It was all a blur.”

After a morning spent airing highlights, MLB Network at 12 p.m. ET will air the game Jeter recorded his first Major League hit, on May 30, 1995, against the Mariners.

Bob Costas will introduce each of the 13 games and offer commentary about the four games he called, including Game 1 of the 1996 American League Championship Series, Game 5 of the 1996 ALCS, the 2000 MLB All-Star Game at Turner Field and Jeter’s final game at Yankee Stadium in 2014.

“People ask me what game stands out the most,” Jeter said. “It's a little unfair because it's the freshest in my mind. The last game I played in New York was the only game I ever played in New York where we were eliminated, which shouldn't mean anything, right? But the relationship I had with the fan base, it was a playoff-like atmosphere.

“I’ve said time and time again how much respect and gratitude I have for the fan base in New York, the way they treated me -- not only just the final game, but my entire career. It was great to have one last magical moment at Yankee Stadium.”

MLB Tonight (6 p.m. ET on Friday) and Play Ball (9 a.m. ET on Saturday) will extensively cover Jeter’s career, including interviews with Jeter and former teammate Bernie Williams, features, vignettes and highlights.

Here is the programming rundown for ‘Jeter Weekend’:

Friday
6 a.m.: World Series Highlights: 1996, Yankees vs. Braves -- The Yankees defeat future Hall of Famers Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz in six games as Jeter captures his first World Series ring.

7:30 a.m.: World Series Highlights: 1998, Yankees vs. Padres -- Looks back at New York’s sweep of Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn and the Padres.

9 a.m.: 2009 World Series Film -- Jeter bats over .400 as the Yankees defeat the Phillies in six games, capturing his fifth and final World Series championship.

11 a.m.: Baseball’s Seasons: 1995 -- A look back at the 1995 season as Cal Ripken Jr. breaks Lou Gehrig’s consecutive game record, Jeter makes his Major League debut and the Braves meet the Indians in the Fall Classic.

12 p.m.: Yankees at Mariners, May 30, 1995 – Jeter collects his first career hit with a fifth-inning single off Tim Belcher.

3 p.m.: Yankees at Indians, April 2, 1996 -- On Opening Day, Jeter hits his first career home run off Dennis Martinez and contributes a memorable over-the-shoulder catch.

6 p.m.: MLB Tonight -- Matt Vasgersian, Dan Plesac and Harold Reynolds discuss the latest baseball news and reminisce about Jeter’s career.

7 p.m.: Orioles at Yankees, 1996 ALCS Game 1 -- Jeter goes 4-for-5 with a home run in New York’s extra-innings 5-4 win over Baltimore.

10 p.m.: Yankees at Orioles, 1996 ALCS Game 5 -- Jeter goes 2-for-5 in a 6-4 Yankees victory to stamp the Bombers’ ticket to the World Series.

Saturday
9 a.m.: Play Ball -- An all-Jeter and Yankees edition of MLB Network’s kids-focused program, including tips from Jeter on how to develop baseball skills.

10 a.m.: 2000 MLB All-Star Game at Atlanta’s Turner Field -- Jeter goes 3-for-3 against Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson and Al Leiter, winning the All-Star Game MVP Award.

1 p.m.: Yankees at Mets, 2000 World Series Game 4 -- Jeter hits a leadoff home run off Bobby Jones as the Yankees claim a 3-1 series lead.

4 p.m.: Yankees at Athletics, 2001 ALDS Game 3 -- Jeter completes his famous “flip play” to nail Jeremy Giambi at the plate as part of a 1-0 Yankees victory.

6:30 p.m.: MLB’s 20 Greatest Games: D-backs at Yankees, 2001 World Series Game 5 -- Joe Torre and Tim McCarver join Costas and Tom Verducci to relive the 12th-best game in MLB history (as voted by an expert panel).

8 p.m.: D-backs at Yankees, 2001 World Series Game 4 -- Jeter becomes “Mr. November,” hitting a walk-off home run in the 10th inning to push the Yankees to a 4-3 victory.

Sunday
7:30 a.m.: World Series Highlights: 2000, Yankees vs. Mets -- The Yankees win a third straight World Series championship and their fourth in five years as Jeter is named World Series MVP.

10 a.m.: Red Sox at Yankees, July 1, 2004 -- Jeter leaps headfirst into the stands as part of the Yankees’ come-from-behind victory.

12 p.m.: Orioles at Yankees, Sept. 11, 2009 -- Jeter breaks Gehrig’s all-time Yankees hit record, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

2 p.m.: Phillies at Yankees, 2009 World Series Game 6 -- Jeter goes 3-for-5 as the Yankees clinch the franchise’s 27th World Series championship.

5 p.m.: Rays at Yankees, July 9, 2011 -- Jeter goes 5-for-5, homering off David Price for his 3,000th career hit.

8 p.m.: Orioles at Yankees, Sept. 25, 2014 -- Jeter collects a walk-off hit in his final career game at Yankee Stadium.