When CJ Nitkowski took the mound against the New York Yankees in 1996, he wasn’t just pitching to another lineup — he was staring down a roster stacked with legends. A rookie shortstop named Derek Jeter was in the order, but as CJ recalls, “he wasn’t Jeter yet.” For Nitkowski, the bigger moment was seeing names like Darryl Strawberry and Wade Boggs, icons he grew up watching as a kid in New York.

This short clip from The JustIn Time Podcast captures the surreal feeling of going from a fan in the stands to a pitcher on the mound against one of the heaviest lineups in Yankees history. From Bernie Williams to Cecil Fielder, Tino Martinez to Gerald Williams, it was a snapshot of baseball in the mid-90s that defined a generation.

00:00 – Facing Jimmy Key & rookie Derek Jeter
00:11 – “Jeter wasn’t Jeter yet”
00:26 – Remembering Strawberry & Boggs
00:35 – Yankees’ full lineup revealed

✅ What it felt like to pitch against Yankee legends
✅ Why Jeter wasn’t yet the superstar we know today
✅ How moments like this define baseball nostalgia

A left-handed pitcher who spent 10 seasons in MLB, CJ faced some of the biggest names in baseball history. Today, he brings his stories and insight as a broadcaster and analyst.

The JustIn Time Podcast brings you exclusive, in-depth conversations with the biggest names in sports and beyond. As veteran broadcasters, Justin brings unfiltered discussions with legendary coaches, professional athletes, and influential figures who share their remarkable journeys and behind-the-scenes stories you won’t hear anywhere else.