After a Rollercoaster Relationship, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez Finally Took the Plunge to Mend Their Ways for World Series Sake

Everyone knows their story. They were inseparable friends, so close they used to be called boyfriends. When one’s jealousy drove a wedge in their relationship, it seemed like nothing would heal it. Alex Rodriguez had created an uncrossable rift between himself and Derek Jeter. Then, 2009 rolled around.

The duo had infamously become teammates for the New York Yankees in a cruel twist of fate. The Pinstripes they shared on the field, however, translated into a challenging relationship off of it. Rodriguez and Jeter had taken vastly different personal development directions in their years apart. But the jerseys they wore on their back finally mended their broken bond.

For the Sake of the World Series, Alex Rodriguez Wanted to Work Together With Derek Jeter

If the Bronx Bombers of the 2000s are to be looked at, there is a straightforward hero and an unmistakable villain. Derek Jeter, the calm captain who led by example, was never one to indulge in his personal life if it didn’t have to do with baseball. Alex Rodriguez, the resident bad boy with high-maintenance ways, usually made headlines for his hotheadedness.

READ MORE – “I Promise I’ll Stop Lying to You”: When Alex Rodriguez Tried to Cut a Deal With Those Exposing His Sour Relationship With Derek Jeter

But according to Ian O’Connor’s The Captain: The Journey of Derek Jeter, A-Rod finally decided to straighten himself out after a harsh intervention from some friends. This won over the captain’s heart, and the two conversed more. O’Connor writes on page 319, “They acted less like business partners with competing agendas and more like teammates with a common goal.”

Rodriguez, by that point, had not won any World Series and was evidently willing to take whatever measures necessary. “Alex really believes that for us to win a championship, he needs to have a good working relationship with Derek, and vice versa,” one team official said. “I think they have it now. I think they’ve found enough common ground where Derek can laugh off some of the stuff about Alex in the newspapers.”

The team won their 27th championship that year, the only one of Rodriguez’s career. Unfortunately, that also remains the last championship until today, with a long 13-year drought.

Will the 2023 New York Yankees Bring the Fall Classic Drought To An End?

In simple terms: probably not. The underperforming team, despite the big names and bigger payrolls it boasts, is at the bottom of the AL East. The players, owners, and managers keep hope alive, but fans have seen the writing on the wall.

Unless a drastic change occurs, the 14th year of the World Series drought will almost certainly continue. Perhaps the all of Famer and A-Rod ought to share tips!

WATCH THIS STORY–From Seattle Mariners To Toronto Blue Jays, MLB’s Longest Active World Series Title Droughts