It’s always been a dream of Derek Jeter to bring forth the voices of athletes. This was one of the reasons why the New York Yankees legend and later one of the most successful businessmen founded Players’ Tribune – the one place where sportspeople tell their tales to the world. But that mission isn’t over yet as the Players’ Tribune has taken another major step in showing the world a different side of icons. This time it’s through their book which contains first-hand stories of the world’s greatest icons.

Titled “I’ve Got a Story to Tell,” the new book contains stories from the likes of Derek Jeter, Cristiano Ronaldo, Stephen Curry, and Tom Brady. Even more interestingly, the book also contains a foreword written by the Yankees’ legendary captain. Certainly, this is a huge moment for Jeter who is watching his own creation become immortalized in the form of literature. The book, whose presale will be starting on September 12, is the next step in Players’ Tribune’s evolution.

“What I’ve always understood is that athletes are not two-dimensional,” Derek Jeter said to Vogue. “They had and have other interests and other beliefs and things they want to share and talk about, but they just weren’t asked those question.” Later the Hall-of-Famer noted how it isn’t just on-field activities that matter, it’s what the athletes do behind the scene that is equally important. The Players’ Tribune has recognized just that.

One of the stories that deeply affected Jeter was Kevin Love’s account of his mental struggle. The Miami Heat player was a trailblazer in understanding the importance of mental health. Love’s story “actually crashed our site, because so many people had comments and questions,” Jeter noted. That was a signal for Jeter that Players’ Tribune was more than just a platform for athletes. It was a way for them to be completely open with their fanbase.

For Derek Jeter, Players’ Tribune is the biggest gift to athletes

“I’ve just always been interested in what’s behind the scenes,” Jeter said. This interest is what first drove the Yankees’ legendary captain toward starting this truly iconic platform. When starting the Players’ Tribune for the first time, Jeter noted, “Fans deserve more than ‘no comments’ or ‘I don’t knows’”, while mentioning how the fear of being misconstrued has always forced athletes from taking a safe route even though they want to be more upfront with their answers.

“We all have emotions. We just need to be sure our thoughts will come across the way we intend,” Jeter noted. So is it any surprise that the superstar decided to open this platform? Players’ Tribune’s place as athletes’ favorite place to share their thoughts has only grown stronger over time. Some of the sports’ biggest names have shared numerous stories that have inspired and sometimes even given tears to their fans. “I’ve Got a Story to Tell”  is just another step towards making athletes even more accessible to their fans.

So, as it stands, this book is surely a must-have for every sports lover. It is a way for athletes to connect with their loyal fanbase, and it is always eye-opening to see how a human charted his/her path toward immortality.