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The Hit Men: Jeter Joins A Select Club

September 10, 2009 · SportsLifer · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees

Derek Jeter lines single to equal Lou Gehrig’s all-time Yankee hit record.

After 72 years, Lou Gehrig has company. Gehrig played his last game in 1939, and finished his career with a Yankee record 2721 hits. Now he shares that mark with Derek Jeter, ahead of two pretty fair ballplayers, Babe Ruth (2518) and Mickey Mantle (2415).

Jeter and Gehrig (below, right) Yankees captains both, are now tied for 53rd on the all-time hit list, just behind Roberto Alomar and ahead of Rusty Staub.

Pinstripes aside, who are the other team hit leaders in major league baseball?

It’s not surprising to see Ty Cobb atop the team leader list. Cobb wound down his career with the Philadelphia A’s in 1928, but 3900 of his American League record 4189 hits were achieved while he was a member of the Detroit Tigers.

Pete Rose, the all-time hit leader with 4256, is first on the Cincinnati Reds list with 3358. Rose, of course, also played for the Phillies and Expos.

In all, a dozen of the 30 team leaders reached the 3000 hit plateau, led by Hall of Famers like Stan Musial (Cardinals), Hank Aaron (Braves), Carl Yastrzemski (Red Sox), Willie May (Giants) and Cal Ripken (Orioles).

Another HOFer, Roberto Clemente, who played his entire career with the Pirates, had exactly 3000 hits when he died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve, 1972.

The first seven names on the list represent the original 16 teams which have been in existence since 1903. The next four—George Brett (Royals), Robin Yount (Brewers), Tony Gwynn (Padres) and Craig Biggio (Astros)—played for 1960s expansion teams.

Cap Anson is still the Cubs’ all-time leader with 2995 hits. He played with Chicago National League teams known as the Colts and White Stockings, among others, before retiring in 1897 with 3418 career hits. Ernie Banks, Mr. Cub himself, is second on the team’s all-time hit list with 2583, 73 more than Billy Williams.

More Hits

Sam Rice, the all-time Twins/Senators hit leader with 2889, played nearly his entire year with Washington Senators before finishing up with the Indians in 1934. He had 98 hits that season and finished with 2987, just 13 ahead of 3000.

The current overall active hit leader is Ken Griffey, Jr., who stands 47th with 2751 hits. Griffey, of course, split his career between the Reds and the Mariners.

No Philadelphia/Kansas City/Oakland Athletic has ever had 2000 hits with the A’s. The all-time leader is Bert Campaneris with 1882 hits, 55 more than Al Simmons and 114 more than Rickey Henderson.

Clemente’s (right) 3000 hits with Pittsburgh barely edged out two other Hall of Famers, Honus Wagner at 2967 and Paul Waner at 2868. Wagner played his first three seasons with the Louisville Colonels before the turn of the 20th Century and wound up with 3415 hits, eighth all-time. Waner also played with the Braves, Dodgers and Giants and finished with 3152 hits.

In addition to Jeter, active club hit leaders are Garret Anderson (Angels, now with Braves), Todd Helton (Rockies), Pudge Rodriguez (Rangers), Luis Castillo (Marlins, now with Mets) and Carl Crawford (Rays).

Ichiro Suzuki, with more than 2,000 hits in less than 10 years, is on pace to break Edgar Martinez’s record (2247) with the Mariners.

Mike Schmidt leads the Phillies with 2234 hits, 17 more than Richie Ashburn.

Amazingly, Ed Kranepool remains the Met’s all-time hit leader with 1418. Cleon Jones (1188) is second and Edgardo Alfonzo (1136) is third. The highest-ranking current Met is 10th, with 963 hits.

All Time Hit Leaders By Team:

1. Tigers — Ty Cobb 3900

2. Cardinals — Stan Musial 3630

3. Braves — Hank Aaron 3600

4. Red Sox — Carl Yastrzemski 3419

5. Reds — Pete Rose 3358

6 Giants — Willie Mays 3187

7. Orioles — Cal Ripken, 3184

8. Royals — George Brett 3154

9. Brewers — Robin Yount 3142

10. Padres — Tony Gwynn 3141

11. Astros — Craig Biggio 3060