Derek Jeter: The Captain Records 3,000th Hit in Style
July 9, 2011 · Ryan Rudnansky · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Coming into Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees star Derek Jeter was batting .257 and had two home runs for the season.
But needing two hits to reach 3,000 hits for his career, Jeter got it over with early, rising to the occasion like he has so many times before, singling then hitting a home run for his 3,000th hit.
Jeter became the second player in MLB history to hit a home run for his 3,000th hit on Saturday, joining Hall of Famer Wade Boggs.
Jeter also became the 28th player in MLB history to collect 3,000 hits for his career, the last being former Houston Astros second baseman Craig Biggio in 2007.
And as historic and improbable a hit it was, it almost wasn’t surprising.
This is a 12-time All-Star, after all, and a five-time World Series champion. He hasn’t been nicknamed “The Captain” for nothing.
Jeter’s historic home run on Saturday came against Rays pitcher David Price, the Rays’ ace. Coming into the contest, Jeter had a 6-for-25 career mark against Price, good for an average of just .240.
But the greats have a way of defying the odds, and Jeter certainly fits in this category.
We’ve seen so many great moments from the future Hall of Famer, one of the greatest shortstops to ever play the game and one of the greatest players to ever play the game.
And it was unclear whether Jeter would hit the mark at Yankees Stadium before the All-Star Break. After Friday’s game was postponed due to weather, Jeter only had two games to make history before the break.
He only needed two at-bats to get it done.
Collecting 3,000 hits for his career would have been historic enough, but Jeter, once again, showed us true greats never settle for mere greatness. Their expectations are higher than that.
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