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Derek Jeter’s method of breaking a slump during his playing days was golden.
During the Fox’s coverage ahead of Game 6 of the World Series on Friday night, the Yankees icon reluctantly recalled his infamous gold thong story for the broadcast.
Fellow commentator Kevin Burkhardt slyly asked Jeter what he did to get out of his slumps, prompting the Hall of Famer to retell the story.
“You had a couple of slumps in your career, what’d you do?” Burkhardt asked in which Jeter initially responded with laughter.
Jeter then shared the story of how wearing former teammate Jason Giambi’s gold thong instantly got him out of a rough stretch at the plate during the 2004 MLB season.
“I didn’t know Jason very well, but every day I walked in the locker room I saw this gold thong hanging from his locker,” Jeter said. “I don’t want to ask him what the gold thong is there for … He said that anytime you slump you wear the gold thong and you’re guaranteed to get a hit.”
Jeter then shared how, after looking at the thong after every game during an 0-for-32 stretch in April of that season, he finally caved in and wore it. He made sure to clarify that he wore it over a pair of shorts.
“Now, listen, I had shorts on,” Jeter added. “I put the thong on top.”
The first pitch Jeter saw after putting on Giambi’s golden underwear was a home run off of 2002 American League Cy Young award winner Barry Zito.
“I have never in my career run around the bases that fast,” Jeter said about hitting the home run. “I thought everyone in Yankee Stadium could see that gold thong.”
Jeter’s story was met with laughter from the rest of the crew before Red Sox legend David Ortiz proceeded to pull a gold thong of his own from his jacket.
“You are in a slump right now,” Ortiz said while tossing the underwear in Jeter’s direction.
