CC Sabathia tells favorite Derek Jeter story on 6-1-1 Podcast

CC Sabathia spent enough time around Derek Jeter to learn the Hall of Fame shortstop is quite superstitious. Or as Sabathia puts it, “super, super, superstitious.”

Asked to tell his favorite story about Jeter on MLB.com’s brand-new “6-1-1” Podcast hosted by former Phillies stars Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins, Sabathia certainly delivered.

Sabathia, who played for the Yankees from 2009 until the end of his illustrious career in ’19, recalled a time when the team was in Kansas City to play the Royals. The lefty pitcher invited Jeter along to lunch at PeachTree Cafeteria, a family-owned local restaurant offering classics like fried chicken, catfish, greens and macaroni and cheese.

“It’s heaven on Earth,” Sabathia said. “It’s the best soul food I’ve ever had in my life.”

It’s also, as you might imagine, not the light, healthy pregame meal that might make it easier to play baseball. After Jeter’s routine Starbucks stop and plenty of heavy grub at PeachTree, Sabathia and Jeter both fell asleep on the couch in the visitors’ clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium.

To the amazement of Sabathia, Jeter went off for five hits.

“His stomach is hurting,” Sabathia remembered. “He can barely run the bases.”

And the next day, well, Jeter wanted to go back again, hoping the same grub would bring him another five hits. Listen to the podcast to hear Sabathia explain how that worked out.

The 6-1-1 Podcast is available on MLB.com, MLB.TV, all podcast platforms and YouTube.