During his 20-year career, New York Yankees icon Derek Jeter was known for many things. But the one thing that topped many others was his ability to keep his reputation squeaky clean. The mantra that the former shortstop used in his career was simple, yet tough for everybody to follow. But people’s curiosity to know how he used to do that is always at an all-time high. Over the years, Jeter was asked this very question multiple times. 

After being in the game for over a decade, the former Yankee sat down with the late broadcaster Barbara Walters. The question of their interview remained the same. What was the secret behind Derek Jeter keeping his reputation clean enough to get the title of Mr. Clean?

 What did Derek Jeter say about having a lengthy career while avoiding scandals?

The moment the Hall of Famer sat down with Walters, it was three years before he retired from Major League Baseball in 2011. When the host asked about his secret of keeping his career scandal-free, he replied, “I hope you didn’t just jinx me.”

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Then he continued to say that even though keeping life private wasn’t easy, especially while playing in New York, he attempted and eventually did it. “I try to watch what I do,” Jeter said. “I’m not perfect; no one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. I think you try to learn from those mistakes. I try to stay as private as possible,” said the New York Yankees legend. 

Certainly, there were multiple rumors about his personal life going around. But the former shortstop never let anyone of them affect him. He didn’t pay attention to them. The former Yankee always kept his focus on his first priority; the ballpark. 

What were some of the rumors that surrounded Jeter throughout his career?

The number of women Jeter has dated in his days prior to meeting Hannah is still not clear. The reason behind this is that the Hall of Famer has never spoken publicly about any of his relationships. Therefore, to date, most of the women he supposedly has dated are still a part of those rumors. 

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But one of the rumors that caught a lot of attention was his tradition of giving gift baskets to women he spent the previous night with. Do you think the gift baskets story was real or not? Let us know your views in the comments below.