Derek Jeter and David Wright to Compete for Charity

NEW YORK (AP)  -- Derek Jeter and David Wright are competing for more than just pennants this year.

The New York Yankees captain and the New York Mets star will try to outdo each other offensively for their foundations. Delta Air Lines will award $100,000 to the foundation of the player with the highest batting average and $50,000 to the foundation of the runner-up.


Juliet Papa Reports

"It's a win-win situations for both foundations,'' Jeter said at a news conference before adding jokingly: "We'd like to thank Delta for giving -- what is it? -- a million dollars to the winner.''

The competition benefit's Jeter's Turn 2 Foundation and the David Wright Foundation. In the event one of the players fails to reach 400 plate appearances, each foundation will receive $75,000.

"To kind of emulate, you know, the Turn 2 Foundation, to try to get my foundation to that level, is definitely a goal of mine,'' Wright said.

Delta is making a major investment in New York baseball, sponsoring a 22,500-square foot Delta Sky360 Club at Citi Field and a 16,460-square foot Delta Sky360 Suite at the new Yankee Stadium.

"Yesterday was the first time I've been there since before December,'' Jeter said. "It was a lot bigger and better than I even anticipated. ... The fans are going to be spoiled there.''

The teams were scheduled to play their first exhibition games at the new ballparks on Friday night, with the Yankees meeting the Chicago Cubs and the Mets facing the Boston Red Sox.

"We had a chance to take a tour last night,'' Wright said. "It's kind of got an old-school feel, a lot of character, and then the new amenities of the new ballparks.''