When discussing the New York Yankees in recent decades, talking about Derek Jeter is a must. The 15th franchise captain, Jeter is famous for his winning mentality as well as his unique approach to baseball. In the twenty seasons that he played in pinstripes, Captain Clutch became a well-recognized name throughout the league. From teammates to rival players, he commanded the respect of many.

Another thing Jeter was known for was his reluctance to talk about anything but baseball to the media. The press usually had a hard time getting him to open up, but he remained stoic. However, one of his former teammates recently revealed what the Yankees captain was like behind the scenes.

Doug Mientkiewicz says Derek Jeter was a ‘consummate clown’

Ever since Derek Jeter debuted with the Yankees, everyone came to know him as a serious ballplayer that was all about the game. His interviews reflected his passion for baseball and nothing else. But the clubhouse was a different story. Doug Mientkiewickz, who played on the 2007 New York Yankees roster, was pleasantly surprised when he started playing alongside Jeter.

In an interview with Foul Territory, the former first baseman said about the Captain, “He was the consummate clown. I was totally blown away at how down-to-earth he was.” He went on to say that Jeter came across as a surprisingly relatable ballplayer who was just trying to do his best on the diamond. Interestingly, the two once played against each other in an infamous game series.

Mientkiewicz was with the Boston Red Sox during the 2004 ALCS

In the notorious 2004 ALCS games that the Boston Red Sox won against the Yankees, Mientkiewicz was present in each of the last four games. The Yankees seemed headed for the World Series as they defeated their archrivals night after night. But then came game 4, and everything got turned upside down. The Red Sox made an astonishing comeback and eventually won the World Series.

READ MORE – “He’s Going to Die a Lonely Man. “ World Series Champion Doug Mientkiewicz Has Some Harsh Words to Share for His Former Teammate Alex Rodriguez

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Interestingly, Mientkiewicz revealed in the same interview that he didn’t wear his ring for years afterward because he was angry at the Red Sox front office. He had caught that final out and wanted to keep that ball, but Boston wanted it back to put it in the Fenway Hall of Fame. The arguments escalated when ultimately, the former baseballer gave it to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

WATCH THIS STORY – “Are You F**king Serious?”: Derek Jeter’s Ex-Teammate Recalls How the Captain Changed Him With Brutal Prank