I think it's all about circumstances... I don't think Junior announced prior to his last season that it was his last. I don't think most players do that. Jeter did it and teams and the media seized the opportunity. There's definitely enough interest among baseball fans for something like this whether we like it or not.
I would have liked to have seen teams recognize Konerko... funny - the Yankees were one of the few, if not the only team to actually do that.
Jeter is unique in that he spent his whole career in NY under the biggest spotlight in sports. His being 6th all time in hits is absolutely amazing when you consider the names of people who has fewer hits than him....