"Slow down, I was way after Nolan” – Yankees legend Derek Jeter shuts down TV host Colin Cowherd for saying he was part of the Nolan Ryan Era

It's hard to deny that former New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter was one of the most popular baseball players of his generation. The superstar shortstop was not only one of the most bankable stars during his playing days, even 10 years after his last MLB game, Jeter remains one of the most recognizable figures in baseball.

That being said, not everyone is aware of the storied career of the New York Yankees icon. Derek Jeter, who has been a prominent commentator and analyst in recent years, found himself at the forefront of a laughable mistake on a recent episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd.

During an interview, host Colin Cowherd was about to dive into Pittsburgh Pirates sensation Paul Skenes, however, the analogy did not make it far. Cowherd was about to compare Skenes to the likes of Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, however, after saying that Jeter played against the Texas Rangers icon, the interview took a major turn.

"Derek Jeter fact-checking Colin Cowherd in real time" - @awfulannouncing

"No, no, no, no, never faced Nolan," Jeter quickly interrupted. "Slow down, no, I was way after Nolan," the former New York Yankees star clarified. It was a brief but hilarious misunderstanding between Cowherd and Jeter that needed to be corrected on the spot.

Even though it was a misstep from Colin Cowherd regarding the timelines of Jeter and Ryan, there have been comparisons between Paul Skenes and Nolan Ryan made throughout the year. The Pirates rookie joined Ryan as the only two pitchers to rack up 11 or more strikeouts over at least six or more no-hit innings twice in the same season.

"Paul Skenes joins Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers ever with *multiple* starts of 6+ IP, 0 H and 11+ K in the same season. Skenes in 2024. Ryan in 1973" - @jayhaykid

Derek Jeter was closer to facing Nolan Ryan than his reaction suggested

Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan enjoyed one of the most storied careers in the MLB, pitching from 1966 to 1993, winning the World Series, and earning a whopping eight All-Star selections. Over his 27 seasons in the MLB, Ryan set a number of records, including the most all-time strikeouts.

Jeter, on the other hand, did not make his major league debut until May of 1995. Ryan was in his eighth MLB season by the time that Derek Jeter was born (1974). While Colin Cowherd was wrong that Jeter had faced Ryan, the two Hall of Famers were only two seasons apart from potentially squaring off.