Derek Jeter is a name that resonates across different sports. The feats of the New York Yankees baseball legend are fondly remembered by sportspersons across the realm. Now, nine years after saying goodbye to the sport, Jeter received a hearty admiration from another champion. He is Jim ‘The Shark’ Dreyer. Over the years, Dreyer has garnered several accolades for his extraordinary swimming feats. It started with his 1998 swim across Lake Michigan when he swam 65 miles in 40 hours and 56 minutes. He followed this up with a swim across Lake Huron in 1999 when he swam from Point Aux Barques Lighthouse to Point Clark Lighthouse in 39 hours and 38 minutes. Dreyer is also the first person to set swimming records across all five Great Lakes, along with garnering several other recognitions.

But swimming is not the only sport that amazes The Shark. Like a true sportsman, he harbors a passion for many other sports and he has made quite a name for himself in most of them. During an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, Jim ‘The Shark’ Dreyer opened up about his love for baseball and also shared a heartfelt message for the legendary Derek Jeter.

Jim Dreyer takes his hat off to Derek Jeter

While Jim Dreyer is famous for his daring swimming endeavors, he also has a sweet spot for baseball. In fact, during the exclusive EssentiallySports interview, Dreyer mentioned that baseball is actually his favorite sport. He himself was a semi-professional baseball player. Among the Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, Jim is a staunch supporter of the Detroit Tigers. When we specifically asked Dreyer about Derek Jeter, the ace swimmer was quick to point out that he had immense respect for Jeter. But here things became a bit “tricky” for him being a Tigers fan while Jeter is a New York Yankees!

The Shark revealed that Jeter grew up just sixty miles south of where he grew up. Jim Dreyer said in the interview, “You’ve gotta respect Derek Jeter. One of the greatest of all time and he played the game right. He really played the game the way it’s supposed to be played. I mean hats off to Derek Jeter.” However, being a 60-year-old, he is not hooked to the veterans only. Dreyer still follows the sport ardently and went on praising a crop of youngsters of the Detroit Tigers. Among all these, he seems to be completely bowled over by one particular player.

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Which Detroit Tigers player has charmed Jim ‘The Shark’ Dreyer?

During the exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, Jim Dreyer mentioned that the trio of Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson, and Kerry Carpenter has impressed him thoroughly. Among them, he couldn’t seem to have enough of Carpenter. The Shark said, “And Kerry Carpenter, you know, talk about somebody that I really have a lot of respect for.” Dreyer further elaborated how Carpenter, despite being a 19th-round draft pick from Virginia Tech University, has shown his potential not just in the minor leagues but is also excelling now in the major leagues for the Detroit Tigers. The Shark did not stop here. Soon he delved into the history of the Tigers.

Jim Dreyer went on recalling his meet-ups with several yesteryear stars of the Detroit Tigers. One among them is Hall of Famer Alan Trammell. The National Baseball Hall of Fame website says, “For 20 seasons, Alan Trammell was the face of the Detroit Tigers.” And during the exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, Dreyer describes him as “a class act”. Moving back further, he recalls Mickey Stanley, a Tigers veteran playing during the 1960’s. Stanley is also from Dreyer’s hometown, Michigan.

All these reminiscences of Jim Dreyer are a testament to his unwavering passion for the sport of baseball. Interestingly, In spite of striking a chord with the Detroit Tigers, he is loud and clear about his admiration for Derek Jeter. This only reflects his impeccable sportsmanship and class that puts humane qualities beyond everything else.

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