Lucky fans get special treat from Jeter

Deven Quinones said he had never seen his father cry before. But then, no Yankee had reached 3,000 hits before.

As Derek Jeter rounded the bases in the third inning -- a home run trot after a 17-season march to the milestone -- Tulio Quinones said he was overcome with emotion. Deven, 9, said it was "weird" seeing his father break down.

"I got goose bumps when they announced Jeter's name," said Tulio, 39, who paid $150 per for outfield grandstand tickets for himself, his wife and their son. "I just had a feeling when Jeter was up that it would be another special moment. I was recording it and I just started crying."

To think, the family was unsure about making the trip from Secaucus, N.J., until 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Tulio's brother insisted Jeter wouldn't get the two hits he needed. Deven thought "it was too hot out."

"I'm glad I didn't listen to them," Tulio Quinones said. "We were lucky."

So it was for several of the 48,103 in attendance. Friday's rainout delayed Jeter's hit parade, which proved a boon for those who guessed Saturday or were simply fortunate.

Pat Mulligan of Paterson, N.J., said he bought his ticket off a buddy Saturday morning because "I just had a feeling." Mulligan said the friend charged $40 for the $20 ticket, "but it's worth it now."

Marlene Merchant, who lives just a few blocks from Yankee Stadium, said she got her ticket as a gift from her boss.

"[Jeter] has been hitting the ball better lately, so I was worried he'd have a big game and get it on Friday," said Merchant, 33, who left the Stadium about 40 minutes after Jeter homered. "The rainout was the best thing that could've happened."

Brothers Matt and Andy Davern bought tickets in May and drove from Binghamton with their 78-year-old grandmother, Phyllis.

Ed Mutch, 31, of Hoboken, N.J., said it was "pure luck" that he and a friend got tickets in April, when they thought the Yankees-Rays division rivalry would be this game's allure. "Everyone was hanging on every pitch," Mutch said, "and the guy knows how to rise to the occasion."

For several fans, that occasion will be commemorated with framed tickets and Stub-Hub printouts. Jim Tallickson, there with his wife, Dawn, and sons Wyatt, 7, and Jake, 5, said the tickets will go in his sons' bedroom -- "high on the wall where they won't knock it down."

Many others camped outside the Stadium afterward looking to buy stubs for the collectibles aftermarket. Jeter 3,000 tickets were abundant on eBay Saturday, with auction starting prices as low as $5 and Buy-It-Now prices as high as $100.