New York Yankees Shortstop Derek Jeter Continues to Chase 3,000
New York Yankees All-Star shortstop Derek Jeter may have believed after picking up a
first-inning double Thursday night against Tampa Bay that “tonight’s the night”, but it wasn’t to be.
“I’d be lying to you if I didn’t think it was attainable today,” Jeter said after the Yankees fell 5-1 to the Rays.
Instead of becoming just the 28th member of the 3,000 hits-club, Jeter went hitless in his final four at-bats and remains two shy of the milestone.
Since coming off the disabled list on Monday, Jeter is 4-for-18 in four games with the Yankees going 1-3 overall. With Jeter on the DL New York went 14-4. On the season, he is hitting .257 with just two homers and 22 RBIs.
If Jeter is able to get the two hits Friday night when New York faces Tampa Bay in the second of a four game series, he will be the fourth-youngest player in history to reach 3,000. Ty Cobb was the youngest to accomplish the feat at 34 years, 244 days, Hank Aaron was second at 36 years, 101 days and Robin Yount checks in third at 36 years, 359 days.
Jeter would achieve the feat at 37 years and 12 days old, while all-time hit leader (4,256) Pete Rose was 37 years and 21 days old when he got his 3,000th hit.
It’s really amazing when you stop and consider that he will be the first New York Yankee to reach 3,000 hits when you see some of the storied names that played for the historic franchise.
Rank | Player | Hits | PA |
1. | Derek Jeter | 2998 | 10860 |
2. | Lou Gehrig | 2721 | 9660 |
3. | Babe Ruth | 2518 | 9198 |
4. | Mickey Mantle | 2415 | 9909 |
5. | Bernie Williams | 2336 | 9053 |
6. | Joe DiMaggio | 2214 | 7671 |
7. | Don Mattingly | 2153 | 7721 |
8. | Yogi Berra | 2148 | 8355 |
9. | Bill Dickey | 1969 | 7060 |
10. | Earle Combs | 1866 | 6507 |