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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have blessed us with many things, including a sudden interest in celebrity-athlete relationships. Like, have we been sleeping on them? Are there more of them we should be aware of / devoting our free time to obsessing over? These are profound questions that deserve answers!
Obviously, Tay and Trav aren't the first celeb + athlete duo. Jennifer Lopez dated Alex Rodriguez for years, Aaron Rodgers is never not dating someone famous, and Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio were completely iconic. And actually, Joe is in good company, 'cause it turns out Major League Baseball players have a thing for dating celebrities.
Check out a roundup of baseball stars that have had even more famous girlfriends (or have famous wives!)—and please be advised that Derek Jeter and A-Rod take up much of this list. Turns out actresses, models, and singers simply cannot get enough of those two!
And while we're you're at it, we also rounded up all the NFL players who have dated celebrities. Let's just say Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are in good company.
1
Halle Berry and David Justice
Halle Berry and former Atlanta Braves all-star David Justice got married in 1993 and had a pretttttty acrimonious divorce in 1997. The drama reignited years later in 2015, when David went on a Twitter rant denying rumors of abuse in the relationship—and then a source told People: "Halle and David haven't spoken for years, and when they did last, there was no animosity between them whatsoever. They were really friendly. This is coming out of nowhere." Anyway! 'Twas wild!
2
Cameron Diaz and A-Rod
These two dated for about a year and a half before breaking up in 2011, and A-Rod went on the record about their split to People. Ahem: "I have a lot of love for Cameron. We'll always be friends."
Will you, though?
3
Vanessa Minnillo and Derek Jeter
Vanessa Minnillo (now Lachey) and Derek Jeter dated from 2003 to 2006. As for why they broke up? Unclear, but here's a somewhat side-eye inducing quote from a Page Six source:
"Derek likes to keep his relationships quiet. In the past, when his girlfriends become famous and start doing sexy shoots, that's when they break up. Exactly the same thing happened with Minka and Vanessa Minnillo."
Um. Disappointing if true!
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4
Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio
The most iconic couple on this list by far, Marilyn and Joe fell hard in 1952, got married in 1954 (this is their wedding pic), and divorced nine months later. But on the plus side, they stayed good friends!
5
Kate Upton and Justin Verlander
Kate Upton and Astros ace Justin Verlander met on the set of a commercial in 2012 and have been pretty much obsessed with each other ever since. The supermodel and Houston Astros pitcher got married in 2017 (right after Justin won the World Series) and welcomed their daughter Genevieve in 2018.
6
Mariah Carey and Derek Jeter
Mariah and Derek had a fling in the late '90s while she was still married—which she chatted about in her memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey. Dying over this quote: "Each time we connected, it was as if I had worn down a bit more of the bars that held me captive."
Fun fact, Mimi's song "The Roof" is about the "warm, slow, intoxicating kiss" they shared on, yep, a roof.
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7
Vanessa Hudgens and Cole Tucker
Vanessa Hudgens and shortstop Cole Tucker met over a Zoom amid the pandemic, and now they're married and expecting their first child!
For everyone wondering, Vanessa was the one who slid into Cole's DMs. "I'm such a go-getter. If I want something or someone, I'm going after them," she told Drew Barrymore. "I fully just slid into his DMs and was like, 'Hey, it was nice to meet you.' So I think there is no shame in making the first move. If you want it, why wait for someone else to give you what you want?"
Cool, so what I'm getting from this is that I should continue DMing my celebrity crushes.
8
Jennifer Lopez and A-Rod
Proof that manifesting works? The fact that A-Rod named J.Lo as his dream date in 1998 and they ended up dating (and getting engaged!) years later.
Proof that manifesting doesn't work? They broke up and now she's married to Ben Affleck. 😐
9
Rihanna and Matt Kemp
Rihanna and Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp split in 2010 after about a year of dating, and a source told Us Weekly that Rihanna "basically was just over it." Lol.
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10
Kate Hudson and A-Rod
These two met in Miami circa 2008 and parted ways in 2009. Five years later, Kate sounded off on his (and her ex Lance Armstrong's) doping scandal, saying, "I personally think that you make the choices you make and you should reap the consequences. People have a right to [feel betrayed]. Lance and Alex are phenomenal athletes who have made some bad choices and let a lot of people down."
11
Minka Kelly and Derek Jeter
Minka and Derek dated for three years and split up in 2011. They kept their relationship and breakup super private, but Minka's rep did tell People: "They care about each other and it was amicable. They're still friends."
12
Alyssa Milano and Barry Zito
Alyssa Milano and pitcher Barry Zito dated for a minute un 2004, and while neither of them dished on the split, Alyssa did have this to say about baseball in general: "They are grown men playing a little boy's sport. That makes them childish." Do with that what you will!
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13
Jessica Alba and Derek Jeter
Okay, so these two were only ever RUMORED to have dated in 2004, which is why there are no photos of them together. They were stealthy!
14
Hilary Duff and Barry Zito
Another rumored relationship based off of some blurry pap pics, but apparently Hilary and Barry briefly had a ~thing~ in 2007.
15
Alyssa Milano and Brad Penny
Okay, honestly not a lot of info on these two, BUT Getty Images captioned this 2005 photo "Alyssa Milano, girlfriend of Dodgers pitcher Brad Penny, takes in the Dodgers vs Astros at Minute Maid Park." Sooooo take that for what it's worth.
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16
Hanna Jeter and Derek Jeter
Derek finally stopped dating celebrities and has settled down with model Hannah Davis (who, btw, had no idea who he was when they first met). They got married in 2016 and now have four cute kids!
17
Adriana Lima and Matt Harvey
The supermodel and New York Mets pitcher dated in 2017, and things got super dramatic when they broke up and Adriana was unfairly blamed for Matt's game being off. (He was straight-up suspended for missing a game as cheating rumors swirled.)
18
Madonna and A-Rod
Madonna and A-Rod had a rumored fling in 2008 and apparently his wife left him over it?! At least according to a People source, who said, "The embarrassment over Madonna was the last straw. She flew to Paris to get out of town before everything blew up between them. There is no affair with Lenny Kravitz. They are good friends.'”
Truly, this is brand. new. information.
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19
Mia Hamm and Nomar Garciaparra
Okay, Mia Hamm and Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra are technically both athletes, but still counting them because they're also both celebrities, fight me.
20
Bethenny Frankel and A-Rod
To quote Bethenny herself, "I was out with him twice. I went out with him on two dates.” She was also asked about his kissing skills and said, "I don't honestly remember. I actually don't, I really don't remember.”
I want to live in the alternate universe where these two got married and A-Rod joins the cast of Real Housewives.
