The last time we saw Derek Jeter in uniform as part of the storied Yankees vs. Red Sox rivalry, he was basking in the adulation of Boston players and fans at Fenway Park who begrudgingly celebrated his greatness when the shortstop slapped an infield hit in the final at-bat of his career.
Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz stood on the top step of the dugout and respectfully applauded as Jeter, pulled for a pinch runner, jogged off the field for the last time. And why not? They both ended up in the Hall of Fame — and are now colleagues on FOX Sports broadcasts.
But that’s as far as it goes: Teammates in the studio.
So, when Big Papi presented Jeter with a surprise gift during Jeter’s debut on Saturday with Ortiz and fellow Yankees star Alex Rodriguez, Jeter warily opened the box. He was right to suspect tomfoolery.
“You know what?” Ortiz said. “I got a gift for you.”
“OK,” Jeter said.
“From all of us,” Ortiz said. “Open it up, Cap.”
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Jeter pulled a Red Sox jersey with his name across the shoulders.
With his colleagues laughing, Jeter tossed it aside.
“Come on, man,” Ortiz said. “That’s a gift!”
“It’s been a great time with you guys,” Jeter said. “You won’t see me anymore.”
“Well, it’s been a good 24 hours,” host Kevin Burkhardt joked.
Before hiring Jeter, FOX reached out to A-Rod, his former teammate and longtime frenemy, for permission, according to a report from the New York Post’s Andrew Marchand. Rodriguez, a longtime analyst on Fox Sports’ MLB coverage, gave Jeter the thumbs up.
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