One of the major stories in Major League Baseball this year was the final season of New York Yankees' shortstop Derek Jeter.  As the Yankees visited other ballparks, Jeter was showered with gifts and fond farewells.

Others have described his contributions to the game. But the focus of this piece is to uncover  lessons from Mr. Jeter that you can apply to your career development.  Here are five to think about:

"Play" in a Big Market  Certainly a key to the way Derek Jeter's career will be remembered is the fact that he played in the largest American media market New York.  He, of course, had no choice in this outcome, as he was drafted by the Yankees.

But in your career you do have a choice about geography.  Can you get to a bigger market?  Will that increase your career opportunities?  Carefully consider how the step up to a larger market can create a tremendous career advantage for you.

Start Your Career Early  Derek Jeter was in the major leagues by the age of 21, which is an impressive accomplishment.  That early start to his career played an important role in the incredibly impressive stats he aggregated during his career.

If you are a student reading this piece, the advice is: start your career right away.  Volunteer at events.  Take internships.  Read voraciously about the industry.  Build your network of connections.

Just as Jeter had a big advantage in compiling statistics compared to players who did not reach the majors until age 25, you can accumulate an incredible amount of industry experience before you are 25, if you get started early - and it will benefit you throughout your career.

Embrace Your Organization's History  Jeter wore number 2.  In Yankees lore single digit numbers hold special significance and once Jeter's number is retired that is the final one that will ever be worn by a Yankee.

In addition to the serendipity of being given that number at the outset of his careeer, Jeter has actively positioned his personal brand to be connected to the great history of his franchise.  To fans under the age of thirty, he is a bridge to Yankee lore.

I'm regularly surprised by sports professionals who have only a passing knowledge of their team's history.  Regardless of your role in a firm, actively study (and learn) about your organization's history on the field and off.  The sports industry leverages nostalgia, so be sure you know all the details of your employer's history - as many fans certainly will.

Your Reputation Can Be Made in First Five Years of Career  As Keith Olberman points out in this video, Jeter's Yankees won the World Series four times in his first five full seasons in the big leagues, and have won only one more in the ensuing fifteen years.  Yet, of course, he will be remembered as a "winner".

There is an important reminder for your career in that fact: initial impressions matter - and linger.  Be aggressive in cementing your reputation early in your stint with a company.  Be careful of having a mindset that you will gradually grow into roles.  Sometimes that is the case, but your mindset has to be that you want to make your mark in the first few years at any organization you work for.

"Play" Hard Every Day  Jeter certainly did.  Think of all the hours he spent working out and preparing to play the game he loves.  Be sure you have that same level of dedication to your career.