“Thought I Was Going to Get Pulled Apart”: Derek Jeter Vulnerably Stayed Away From a New York Tradition Despite His Stature

For New York and New Yorkers, the subway is more than just a simple mode of transportation. It is a symbol of the hustle and bustle of the city, the constant movement, and energy that defines and runs through the fabric of New York City. Making his Pinstripes debut in 1995, Derek Jeter soon become a symbol of the Big Apple. But despite his cosmic ardor and love in New York, the Yankees legend struggled to find his way into the city’s crucial and beloved Subway, even after two decades of being in New York.

In a New York Magazine piece titled “Derek Jeter Opens the Door,” the shortstop’s photographer, Christopher Anderson, speaks about the five-time World Champion’s struggle in doing things that stood beyond his level of comfort and his nurtured idea of privacy.

The surprising explanation for why Derek Jeter avoided the Subway

Back in 2014, Anderson spoke about Captain Clutch’s reluctance to step outside his comfort zone. And parallel to that existed Jeter’s potential travel in the city’s crowded subway, which could be a medium for the slugger to interact with his fans.

Anderson said, “He’s uncomfortable doing anything that isn’t natural to him. I kept looking for opportunities to get him physically interacting with the city—‘Let’s ride the subway.’

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Naturally, given Jeter’s adoration in New York, if he entered the Subway, he was bound to be surrounded by extremely large crowds. And that’s exactly what the 14-time All-Star feared. As a response to Anderson, Jeter said, “That would never happen. It’s not because I’m too good for the subway. But the two times I rode it I thought I was going to get pulled apart.”

Captain Clutch fought his discomfort and traveled the city with Gatorade

Despite his initial statements, shortly before his retirement from the ballpark, Derek Jeter shot an ad with Gatorade, where he traveled to the city of New York. The ad film very accurately summed up Jeter’s entire career in the park, and his love across New York.

What do you think about Jeter’s distance from the city subway? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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