By HOWARD ULMAN AP Sports Writer

BOSTON (AP) - On the last day of his remarkable career, Derek Jeter performed one final amazing feat.

He brought Yankees and Red Sox fans together.

The rich and often antagonistic rivalry showed its softer side Sunday: A pregame ceremony honoring New York's retiring captain produced numerous standing ovations from a crowd filled with shirts from both teams. Jeter tipped his helmet to fans when he left the game for a pinch runner in the third inning of the Yankees' 9-5 win.

He had no idea that past captains of local pro teams would come out of the Red Sox dugout to embrace him as he stood on the outfield grass just behind shortstop during the ceremony.

"It was hard to envision what would happen because this is a place where we've been an enemy for a long, long time," Jeter said, "and for them to flip the switch this last time coming here made me feel extremely proud."

One by one, the captains came, starting with Carl Yastrzemski. He was Boston's left fielder on Oct. 2, 1978, in one of the rivalries' most memorable games. Captain Carl could only look up as a much-less accomplished Yankees shortstop, light-hitting Bucky Dent, lofted a three-run homer that lifted the Yankees to a 5-4 win in a one-game AL East playoff.

"I started thinking about how great this rivalry has been over the years and all the things that have happened - the playoff games, everything," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "And I don't know how people could really unite a crowd like he did today.

"Such big rivals, so much history between the teams, but you would have thought that it was one team in a sense today. And I don't know how many players can do that in any sport. But I think it shows you the respect he has even against your toughest rival."

The other former captains who embraced Jeter during the half-hour ceremony were Jason Varitek of the Red Sox, Bobby Orr of the Bruins, Troy Brown of the New England Patriots and Paul Pierce of the Celtics.

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Derek Jeter has RBI single in last at-bat - NBC40.net