MOOSIC-- Derek Jeter's first at bat may have resulted in a walk, but for the thousands of folks who packed PNC Field Saturday to see the legend return to the game, it was a home run.
We asked Jay Suffern of Kingston where he thought this night would rank in local baseball history. He says, "I think this is number one. Jeter is a good guy everybody likes him."
It was Jeter's first time playing since he broke his ankle last October.
When the word went out he would make his rehab appearence in Moosic, it electrified the team's followers from Lackawanna County to Long Island.
Jeff Lanning of Hickville, Long Island says, "We are very excited we cant wait for him to come back, were all big fans of the captain so it is good to see him playing again."
Fans started lining up in the heat two hours before the gates opened, hoping not to just see Jeter but maybe get his autograph. Before they could see the shortstop take the field as a RailRider, they had to face plenty of traffic. The same roads that bring fans to the field also lead to the Toyota Pavillion at Montage Mountain where tailgating music lovers were getting ready to see Kid Rock. But wheter they were here for the "Kid" or the "Captain" everyone seemed to be enjoying the day.
One fan John Dorohovech of East Stroudsburg really earned his stripes. He had tickets to see the Yankees in the Bronx earlier in the day and ended up pulling a double header.
"I picked up my Andy Pettite figurine, walked around Monument Park, bought a ticket for Monday, went back to East Stroudsburg, changed my clothes, and came up to see the RailRiders and Derek Jeter."