How Ferocious Yankees Fans Attacked MLB Legend Derek Jeter in 1998 Despite a Division-Winning Season: “Better Turn it Around”

MLB great Derek Jeter was one of a kind ballplayer on the diamond. Throughout his lengthy and storied baseball career of over two decades, Derek Jeter won the hearts of millions of people. With every achievement of his, Jeter’s fandom increased significantly in the sporting world. But that does not mean that he never got to face the wrath of his fans whenever he made a mistake. 

After all, Jeter’s also a human and was bound to make mistakes here and there in his career. And so he made them and learned from them as well. However, when he made those mistakes, his fans did not let him escape their watchful eyes. Hence, almost eight years after Jeter bid farewell to the game, he spoke of 1998 when fans brutally bashed him despite having a league-winning season.

What did Derek Jeter say about fans attacking him?

Last year, in 2022, the New York Yankees adequately honored Captain Clutch for his legendary Hall of Famer career in the Bronx. The news of Derek Jeter returning to the Yankee Stadium had become a hot topic in the sporting world. Hence, Jeter also sat for multiple interviews before he eventually marked his return to Yankee Stadium. 

Read More: “Thank You For Everything”: Vintage Picture of New York Yankees Icon Derek Jeter 28 Years After MLB Debut Melts Fans Across the World

In one of those interviews with the YES Network, Derek Jeter spoke of the Yankees fans that make them the best. About the same, the Hall of Famer said, “They watch. They pay attention. It means something to them. Every game means something. In 98, we had basically won the division in, and we had a little bad streak there at the end of the year, and I’m walking down the streets, and people are yelling at me, telling me, we better turn it around. I mean, we won 125 games that year, but they pay attention, and they have high expectations. I think that brings out the best in people.”

These words were enough to tell how much the fanbase mattered to Captain Clutch. However, it was not only the Yankees fans that thought highly of Jeter. 

5x World Champ Jeter had fans in opposition as well!

The New York Yankees and their opposition, the Boston Red Sox, have the fiercest rivalry in MLB history. It’s been going on since the early 1900s. Therefore, the Red Sox and the Yankees fans never let a moment go by without heckling the players of the opposite team. And since Jeter was one of the best, he used to be mocked most of the time by the Red Sox nation. 

But the moment Jeter announced retirement and played the final game of his career at Fenway Park, the entire Red Sox fanbase stood up and gave a standing ovation to him for his legendary career in the game.

That’s how great Derek Jeter’s career was that even the rivals saluted him when he bid farewell. 

Watch this Story: Before investing in the Marlins, Derek Jeter once shunned a Yankees ownership proposal 

By the way, did you get the chance to see Derek Jeter play? If so, let us know in the comments below!