Considering his illustrious career, Derek Jeter is an inspiration to many aspiring baseballers. But who Jeter used to idolize during his younger days? Well For him, it was Dave Winfield. Of course, he has named many other iconic Yankees that have inspired him over the years. But Big Dave was among those that made him want to play baseball in pinstripes. And the former shortstop still delights in learning more about him.

Jeter even got to sit down with his hero as well as Reggie Jackson and Andre Dawson, all Hall of Famers discussing the Black gap in baseball. The interview was for Captain Clutch’s The Players’ Tribune and remains an important conversation today. But another fun exchange recently came from Jeter and the President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Bob Kendrick.

Dave Winfield Still Impresses Derek Jeter

Being biracial, Jeter has often discussed the impact of Black players in baseball, especially legends from the Negro League. Although that era is now gone, the concerns are as relevant as ever. The former Yankee is also familiar with Bob Kendrick, the man who leads the NLB Museum.

In a recent talk, the two reminisced over Jeter’s childhood in baseball as well as the players that inspired him to pick up a bat. Recollecting an incident from a few decades ago, the Hall of Famer says to Kendrick, “When I was younger, I remember asking a veteran umpire one time, ‘Who hit the hardest balls that you had seen?’ And he said, ‘Dave Winfield.'”

Kendrick answers him with an outstanding fact of his own, “He hit one at Kauffman Stadium – Willie Wilson told me this – he hit one at Kauffman Stadium. And it hit the back of the seat, and the seat exploded.”

An impressed Jeter said, “I love how these stories get better over the years.” And he left Winfield equally in awe of himself.

Winfield Couldn’t Help but Praise Captain Clutch as a Rookie

The former Yankee captain was on a surefire trajectory into the Hall of Fame in 2020. Welcoming him to the club, Winfield had high praise for him. Talking about Jeter as a rookie, Winfield said in 2014, “He was the most inquisitive, the most interested in the game, he knew the history, and he just wanted to be all he could be.”

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“I can look now 20 years later, he’s achieved everything and more that he ever envisioned. The Yankees were blessed to have drafted him, for him to play for this team and he was equally as blessed to play here.”

Jeter’s legacy will not be forgotten anytime soon, as his almost unanimous voting percentage into the Hall of Fame signifies. It’s truly one of the biggest achievements when one manages to awe their idol!

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