“But My Favorite Memory From That Trip” – When a Trip to Japan With a Former Teammate Became a Moment of Realization for New York Yankees Legend Derek Jeter

MLB great Derek Jeter rose to prominence through his legendary, storied career playing baseball. Jeter spent his whole career wearing pinstripes and earning countless accolades to his name. Derek’s love for baseball is like no other; hence, when the time came to bid farewell, it wasn’t easy for him. Captain Clutch knew that after spending over two decades of his life as a New York Yankee, he had to step into the next chapter of his life. 

Thus, he created The Player’s Tribune. The digital media company was a standout point of realization in Jeter’s life. Another stand-out point of his life came when the five-time World Series Champion went to Japan with his former teammate, Hideki Matsui. It was the trip that made him view his life from a different perspective and remains instilled in him. 

Derek Jeter knew the moment was special!

The trip to Japan with Matsui was unique in every moment, as Derek knew he was seeing life from a different spectacle. This trip had come a few months after Jeter hung up his cleats and lived a life away from the sport. During his career, because of his growing fandom, it was not easy to live life like a normal human being. And in Japan, even though many knew who he was, Jeter was under the spotlight of his friend, Hideki Matsui.

Read More: New York City’s Famous Deli Once Paid Tribute to the Legendary Career of Derek Jeter in an Iconic Way

Talking about his favorite memory from that trip in a letter in Player’s Tribune, Derek wrote, “But my favorite memory from that trip, honestly, is the time that we got to spend away from the spectacle — when I got to just hang out with Hideki in his element. We ate lunch with his parents,.. shared stories. We walked around town.”

Jeter didn’t know Japanese but knew the universal language of fans asking for autographs. And Captain Clutch wasn’t the most famous player there, it was Matsui. 

Why did Jeter create The Player’s Tribune?

Jeter’s aim in creating this media platform had only one motive – to give athletes the platform to connect with their fans. He wanted them to give a chance to tell their stories in their words and not any media outlet. 

Watch this Story: Derek Jeter spills one of his biggest secrets of parenting 3 kids aged under 5

Also, Jeter wanted them to have control over their personal brand and image. Over the years, the platform has become successful in attracting athletes from a wide range of sports and giving them a voice to speak their stories. 

What do you think of the media outlet, The Player’s Tribune? Let us know in the comments below!