From Babe Ruth’s legendary appetite to Shohei Ohtani’s burger obsession, baseball’s biggest stars have relatable tastes when it comes to their comfort food. While fans associate them with strict meal plans, they’re just like the rest of us when they’re craving. Today, we’re bringing you an all-access pass to 15 of MLB’s biggest star players to bring you their comfort food favorites.
15. Joe DiMaggio’s Favorite Pasta
For iconic New York Yankee Joe DiMaggio, there is a favorite pasta that’s a classic Italian-American dish. It’s none other than pasta and meatballs that he enjoys as a traditional, home-style dish. Yup, it’s just like everyone’s favorite dinner of spaghetti and meatballs that your mom used to cook.
14. Mariano Rivera’s Comfort Drink
Mariano Rivera wants something surprisingly simple. It’s none other than a big jar of chocolate milk. While other athletes reach for their electrolyte drink or maybe a protein shake, Rivera’s choice is something that kids would agree on.
13. Mickey Mantle’s Southern Soul Favorite
New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle never lost his taste for a good Southern comfort food. His go-to meal will always be a golden-brown chicken fried steak, smothered in gravy. His love for the dish is so notable that in 1988, he opened his own restaurant in Manhattan, where he’s often seen enjoying his favorite dish.
12. Lou Gehrig’s Pickled Eels
Lou Gehrig has a unique power food with pickled eels. That’s right, he first discovered this unusual favorite through a successful fishing trip where he caught around 86 eels. His mother decided to pickle the excess eels to preserve them. Since then, he developed his taste for marinated fish, and it’s even rumored to be the secret behind his power, thus the “Iron Horse” name.
11. Alex Rodriguez’s Unhealthy Comfort Snack
Do you think Alex Rodriguez follows a healthy diet as recommended by his nutritionist? Well, his daughter revealed that his favorite is Cheetos. You’ve read that right, the legendary A-Rod loves this cheesy snack, which may be his lucky charm for those three-time MVP wins.
10. Juan Soto’s Taste of Home
Juan Soto finds comfort in his roots. He enjoys a Pastelón de Plátano Maduro, which is a traditional Dominican dish. It features a layered casserole made of sweet mashed plantains, seasoned meat, and melted cheese. Soto made it clear that nothing compares to his mother’s cooking, despite his enjoyment of fine dining in New York.
9. Derek Jeter’s Familiar Favorite
The five-time World Series champion and New Jersey native, Derek Jeter, loves a good chicken parmesan. Jeter revealed in a Men’s Journal interview that he eats well, but chicken parmesan would be his absolute favorite. His diet is strict during playing days, but you’ll always have that favorite.
8. Babe Ruth’s Legendary Appetite
Babe Ruth is nothing but legendary, just like his diet. The baseball icon is known for his big appetite, where he reportedly consumes two porterhouse steaks for lunch and another two for dinner. He washes it all down with a pint of b*urbon and a dozen hot dogs in a day. Well, that appetite is likely credited to his 714 home runs!
7. Mike Trout’s Hometown Burger Tradition
Los Angeles Angels superstar Mark Trout has a go-to spot tradition in his hometown of Millville, New Jersey. He enjoys a steak and chicken comfort food from Jim’s Lunch, which is a local restaurant. His friends and family have known him to grab five or more of their famous hamburgers with a special house onion “sauce.”
6. Steven Kwan’s Fan-Favorite Order
A player’s comfort meal draws an instant connection with fans. Cleaveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan has a Taco Bell favorite as revealed in a 2023 Reddit thread where players share their guilty pleasure meals. It’s a Cheesy Gordita Crunch, which fans instantly recognized as they’re accessible in local Taco Bell stores.
5. Albert Pujols’ Homerun Chicken
Like many of us, Albert Pujols’ comfort meal is a home-cooked one. It’s none other than pollo guisado, a classic Dominican stewed chicken dish. It’s what his wife Deirdre would use to cook for him in every single home game. This pre-game ritual is so close to his success that the dish was nicknamed “Dee Dee’s Home Run Chicken.”
4. Gavin Stone’s Rookie Season Fuel
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Gavin Stone loves the West Coast icon In-N-Out Burger. In a 2024 LA Times interview, Stone named the fast food chain as his favorite restaurant in Los Angeles. His choice is a Double-Double as a young player navigating the pressures of a championship season.
3. Aaron Judge’s West Coast Favorite
Aaron Judge admitted in a 2024 interview that he likes hitting the In-N-Out drive-thru when he’s on the West Coast. Well, it’s a surprising rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers, which is the hometown of the iconic burger chain. It’s safe to say that everyone loves In-N-Out.
2. Justin Verlander’s Taco Bell Ritual
Some athletes have their superstitions, and one of them is Justin Verlander. His pre-game ritual involves Taco Bell, where he eats the exact same meal from the chain. This routine has fueled him in multiple Cy Young seasons and the World Series championships. Well, it may be unhealthy, but hey, it works as a lucky charm.
1. Shohei Ohtani’s All-American Favorite
For Shohei Ohtani, his favorite will always be the West Coast classic In-N-Out burger. In a 2022 interview, Ohtani was asked to name his favorite American food, and he didn’t hesitate with In-N-Out. He even chose their burgers over pizza. There must be a reason why MLB stars love In-N-Out’s burgers!