Inside 28 years of ups and downs between baseball legends Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, from best friends to enemies to teammates

Gabbi ShawApr 10, 2021, 00:56 IST

A-Rod and Jeter in August 2000, while the two were still close friends.Jamie Squire /Allsport/Getty Images

Retired baseball players Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez are two of the most talented people to both wear pinstripes.
The media frequently liked to pit the two against each other, casting Jeter as the hero and Rodriguez as the villain.
Here's a timeline of how they went from best friends to enemies to teammates over the last 28 years.

June 1992: Derek Jeter is drafted by the New York Yankees.

Derek Jeter in 1992. Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Spring 1993: They meet at a college baseball game at the University of Miami when Alex Rodriguez is a high school senior.

Jeter and Rodriguez in 1996. Diamond Images/Getty Images

June 1993: Rodriguez is drafted by the Seattle Mariners.

Rodriguez in 1994. Rich Pilling/MLB via Getty Images

November 1996: Jeter wins Rookie of the Year.

New York Yankees' Derek Jeter speaks at Yankee Stadium after he was named Rookie of the Year for 1996. John Roca/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images

February 1997: The two are the cover stars of Sports Illustrated, and are also in the famous shirtless photo of shortstops.

Rodriguez and Jeter on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Sports Illustrated

September 1997: The two compete at MTV's Rock 'n Jock softball game.

Rodriguez and Jeter during MTV's 8th Annual Rock 'n Jock Softball in 1997. Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc/Getty Images

1998 to 2000: Rodriguez and Jeter are best friends, and their teammates even joke about their close bond.

Rodriguez and Jeter in August 2000. Jamie Squire /Allsport/Getty Images

December 2000: Rodriguez joins the Texas Rangers with a 10-year, $252 million contract - the largest in history, at the time.

Newly signed Texas Ranger Alex Rodriguez in December 2000. Gary Barber/ALLSPORT/Getty Images

March 2001: Jeter responds, and says he doesn't care about breaking Rodriguez's record, while Rodriguez says there's no beef at all.

Derek Jeter in 2000. Jed Jacobsohn/ALLSPORT/Getty Images

April 2001: The real breakdown of their friendship comes after Rodriguez claims that Jeter never had to be a leader, and is only surrounded by talented people in an Esquire profile.

Alex Rodriguez in 2001. Scott Halleran/ALLSPORT/Getty Images

April 2001: The real breakdown of their friendship comes after Rodriguez claims that Jeter never had to be a leader, and is only surrounded by talented people in an Esquire profile.

April 2001: Jeter allegedly steals Rodriguez's girlfriend Joy Enriquez.

Joy Enriquez watches from a front-row seat in 2001. Howard Earl Simmons/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

February 2004: Rodriguez gets traded to the Yankees, and the two become teammates.

Rodriguez and Jeter joke at a press conference that announced Rodriguez as the newest New York Yankee on February 17, 2004. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

September 2004: Rodriguez makes a controversial play in the ALCS, and gets scrutinized by the media and fans.

Rodriguez and Jeter on September 25, 2004 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

2006: Jeter is told he has to "fake it" with Rodriguez.

Rodriguez and Jeter in May 2006. James Keivom/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

February 2007: Rodriguez admits things aren't what they used to be between the two old friends.

Jeter and Rodriguez on September 28, 2007. G Fiume/Getty Images

February 2009: A report is released that says Rodriguez tested positive for performance enhancing drugs earlier in his career. Jeter supports him - but makes it clear that he's never used steroids.

Rodriguez and Jeter on May 9, 2009. Greg Fiume/Getty Images

February 2009: A report is released that says Rodriguez tested positive for performance enhancing drugs earlier in his career. Jeter supports him - but makes it clear that he's never used steroids.

September 2009: Rodriguez and Jeter win their first (and only) World Series together, and celebrate together with their girlfriends.

Jeter douses A-Rod with champagne. Ron Antonelli/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

September 2014: Jeter announces his retirement, and gets annoyed when asked about Rodriguez.

Jeter celebrates after a game-winning RBI hit in the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles in his last game ever at Yankee Stadium on September 25, 2014. Elsa/Getty Images

August 2016: When Rodriguez retires two years later, he says that he hasn't had time to speak to Jeter about it.

Rodriguez acknowledges the crowd after being introduced for a ceremony honoring his retirement from baseball on August 12, 2016. Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images

May 2017: The two sat together for an uncomfortable interview that Jeter was reportedly furious about.

Rodriguez and Jeter on CNBC. CNBC

May 2017: Rodriguez is one of the few teammates of Jeter's that doesn't show up to his jersey retirement ceremony.

Derek Jeter poses with his former teammates Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, and Bernie Williams during the retirement ceremony of his jersey at Yankee Stadium on May 14, 2017. Al Bello/Getty Images

September 2018: Rodriguez says the two are friends, and have had their "ups and downs."

Rodriguez and Jeter in 2018. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images; Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Muscular Dystrophy Association

January 2020: Rodriguez posts a tribute when Jeter is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, in which he says he "needed you more than you needed me."

Jeter and Rodriguez of USA celebrate Rodriguez' game-winning single during the game against Japan on March 12, 2005. Debora Robinson/MLB via Getty Images

Prince Philip was an avid sportsman and was present for some of the biggest moments in sports history. Take a look at photos of his sporting life.

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Inside 28 years of ups and downs between baseball legends Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, from best friends to enemies to teammates

June 1992: Derek Jeter is drafted by the New York Yankees.

Spring 1993: They meet at a college baseball game at the University of Miami when Alex Rodriguez is a high school senior.

June 1993: Rodriguez is drafted by the Seattle Mariners.

November 1996: Jeter wins Rookie of the Year.

February 1997: The two are the cover stars of Sports Illustrated, and are also in the famous shirtless photo of shortstops.

September 1997: The two compete at MTV's Rock 'n Jock softball game.

1998 to 2000: Rodriguez and Jeter are best friends, and their teammates even joke about their close bond.

December 2000: Rodriguez joins the Texas Rangers with a 10-year, $252 million contract - the largest in history, at the time.

March 2001: Jeter responds, and says he doesn't care about breaking Rodriguez's record, while Rodriguez says there's no beef at all.

April 2001: The real breakdown of their friendship comes after Rodriguez claims that Jeter never had to be a leader, and is only surrounded by talented people in an Esquire profile.

April 2001: Jeter allegedly steals Rodriguez's girlfriend Joy Enriquez.

February 2004: Rodriguez gets traded to the Yankees, and the two become teammates.

September 2004: Rodriguez makes a controversial play in the ALCS, and gets scrutinized by the media and fans.

2006: Jeter is told he has to "fake it" with Rodriguez.

February 2007: Rodriguez admits things aren't what they used to be between the two old friends.

February 2009: A report is released that says Rodriguez tested positive for performance enhancing drugs earlier in his career. Jeter supports him - but makes it clear that he's never used steroids.

September 2009: Rodriguez and Jeter win their first (and only) World Series together, and celebrate together with their girlfriends.

September 2014: Jeter announces his retirement, and gets annoyed when asked about Rodriguez.

August 2016: When Rodriguez retires two years later, he says that he hasn't had time to speak to Jeter about it.

May 2017: The two sat together for an uncomfortable interview that Jeter was reportedly furious about.

May 2017: Rodriguez is one of the few teammates of Jeter's that doesn't show up to his jersey retirement ceremony.

September 2018: Rodriguez says the two are friends, and have had their "ups and downs."

January 2020: Rodriguez posts a tribute when Jeter is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, in which he says he "needed you more than you needed me."