3,000-hit club
![A middle-aged white male wearing a white cap.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Pete_Rose_2008.jpg/200px-Pete_Rose_2008.jpg)
In Major League Baseball (MLB), the 3,000 hit club is the group of batters who have collected 3,000 or more regular-season hits in their careers. Cap Anson was the first to join the club on July 18, 1897, although his precise career hit total is unclear.[a] Two players—Nap Lajoie and Honus Wagner—reached 3,000 hits during the 1914 season. Ty Cobb became the club's fourth member in 1921 and became the first player in MLB history to reach 4,000 hits in 1927, ultimately finishing his career with more than 4,100.[6][b] Cobb, also MLB's all-time career batting average leader, remained the MLB hit leader until September 11, 1985 when Pete Rose collected his 4,192nd hit.[10] Rose, the current record holder, finished his career with 4,256 hits, an achievement that on its own would have qualified him for the Hall of Fame had Major League Baseball not banned him for life due to Rose's having gambled on games. Roberto Clemente's career ended with precisely 3,000 hits, reaching the mark in the last at bat of his career.[11][12][c] Derek Jeter is the most recent player to reach the milestone, achieving the feat on July 9, 2011.[15]
In total, 28 players have reached the 3,000 hit mark in MLB history. Of these, 14 were right-handed batters, 12 were left-handed, and 2 were switch hitters, meaning they could bat from either side of the plate. Ten of these players (and the only active member of the 3,000 hit club) have played for only one major league team. The Cleveland Indians are the only franchise to see three players reach the milestone while on their roster: Lajoie (while the franchise was known as the "Naps"), Tris Speaker, and Eddie Murray. Four players—Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Murray, and Rafael Palmeiro—are also members of the 500 home run club. At .367, Cobb holds the highest career batting average among club members, while Cal Ripken, Jr. holds the lowest at .276. Jeter and Wade Boggs are the only players to hit a home run for their 3,000th hit and Paul Molitor is the only player to hit a triple for his 3,000th; all others hit a single or double. Craig Biggio was thrown out at second base attempting to stretch his 3,000th hit, a single, into a double.[16] Biggio and Jeter are the only players to join the club in a game where they had five hits; Jeter reached base safely in all of his at bats.[17]
Baseball writer Josh Pahigian wrote that the club has been "long considered the greatest measure of superior bat handling."[18] Reaching 3,000 hits is often described as a guarantee of eventual entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame.[19][20][21] All eligible club members, with the exception of Palmeiro, Rose, and Biggio, have been elected to the Hall, and since 1962 all club members who have been inducted were elected on the first ballot. Rose was declared permanently ineligible for the Hall of Fame when he was banned from baseball.[22][23]
Key
![Portrait of a man wearing a high collar, held closed with a safety pin.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Ty-Cobb-1913-NPC-detail-1.jpeg/170px-Ty-Cobb-1913-NPC-detail-1.jpeg)
![A man in a navy blue baseball jersey with "Twins" written across the chest holding a navy blue cap and smiling.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/Paul_Molitor_white_house.jpg/170px-Paul_Molitor_white_house.jpg)
![A man in a navy blue and grey windbreaker with the word "New" visible stands on the left facing a man in a navy blue polo shirt who is looking away.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Derek_Jeter_and_Dave_Winfield.jpg/170px-Derek_Jeter_and_Dave_Winfield.jpg)
Player | Name of the player |
---|---|
Hits | Career hits |
Average | Career batting average |
Date | Date of the player's 3,000th hit |
Team | The batter's team for his 3,000th hit |
Seasons | The seasons this player played in the major leagues |
3,000th hit | The type of hit the batter recorded for his 3,000th hit |
† | Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame |
‡ | Player is active |
Members
- The statistics are updated through September, 30, 2013.
Player | Hits | Average | Date | Team | Seasons | 3,000th hit | Ref | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pete Rose | 4,256 | .303 | May 5, 1978 | Cincinnati Reds | 1963–1986 | Single | [24] | ||||||||
Ty Cobb† | 4,191[b] | .367 | August 19, 1921 | Detroit Tigers | 1905–1928 | Single | [9] | ||||||||
Ichiro Suzuki† | 4,020 | .320 | August 21, 2013 | New York Yankees | 2012–present | Single | [25]
|
Hank Aaron† | 3,771 | .305 | May 17, 1970 | Atlanta Braves | 1954–1976 | Single | [26] |
Stan Musial† | 3,630 | .331 | May 13, 1958 | St. Louis Cardinals | 1941–1944 1946–1963 |
Double | [27] | ||||||||
Tris Speaker† | 3,515 | .345 | May 17, 1925 | Cleveland Indians | 1907–1928 | Single | [28] | ||||||||
Honus Wagner† | 3,430 | .328 | June 9, 1914 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1897–1917 | Double | [29] | ||||||||
Carl Yastrzemski† | 3,419 | .285 | September 12, 1979 | Boston Red Sox | 1961–1983 | Single | [30] | ||||||||
Paul Molitor† | 3,319 | .306 | September 16, 1996 | Minnesota Twins | 1978–1998 | Triple | [31] | ||||||||
Derek Jeter‡ | 3,316 | .313 | July 9, 2011 | New York Yankees | 1995–present | Home run | [32] | ||||||||
Eddie Collins† | 3,314 | .333 | June 3, 1925 | Chicago White Sox | 1906–1930 | Single | [33] | ||||||||
Willie Mays† | 3,283 | .302 | July 18, 1970 | San Francisco Giants | 1951–1952 1954–1973 |
Single | [34] | ||||||||
Eddie Murray† | 3,255 | .287 | June 30, 1995 | Cleveland Indians | 1977–1997 | Single | [35] | ||||||||
Nap Lajoie† | 3,242[d] | .338 | September 27, 1914 | Cleveland Naps | 1896–1916 | Double | [37] | ||||||||
Cal Ripken, Jr.† | 3,184 | .276 | April 15, 2000 | Baltimore Orioles | 1981–2001 | Single | [39] | ||||||||
George Brett† | 3,154 | .305 | September 30, 1992 | Kansas City Royals | 1973–1993 | Single | [40] | ||||||||
Paul Waner† | 3,152 | .333 | June 19, 1942 | Boston Braves | 1926–1945 | Single | [41] | ||||||||
Robin Yount† | 3,142 | .285 | September 9, 1992 | Milwaukee Brewers | 1974–1993 | Single | [42] | ||||||||
Tony Gwynn† | 3,141 | .338 | August 6, 1999 | San Diego Padres | 1982–2001 | Single | [43] | ||||||||
Dave Winfield† | 3,110 | .283 | September 16, 1993 | Minnesota Twins | 1973–1995 | Single | [44] | ||||||||
Cap Anson† | 3,081[a] | .334 | July 18, 1897[a] | Chicago Colts | 1871–1897 | Single | [45] | ||||||||
Craig Biggio | 3,060 | .281 | June 28, 2007 | Houston Astros | 1988–2007 | Single | [46] | ||||||||
Rickey Henderson† | 3,055 | .279 | October 7, 2001 | San Diego Padres | 1979–2003 | Double | [47] | ||||||||
Rod Carew† | 3,053 | .328 | August 4, 1985 | California Angels | 1967–1985 | Single | [48] | ||||||||
Lou Brock† | 3,023 | .293 | August 13, 1979 | St. Louis Cardinals | 1961–1979 | Single | [49] | ||||||||
Rafael Palmeiro | 3,020 | .288 | July 15, 2005 | Baltimore Orioles | 1986–2005 | Double | [50] | ||||||||
Wade Boggs† | 3,010 | .328 | August 7, 1999 | Tampa Bay Devil Rays | 1982–1999 | Home run | [51] | ||||||||
Al Kaline† | 3,007 | .297 | September 24, 1974 | Detroit Tigers | 1953–1974 | Double | [52] | ||||||||
Roberto Clemente† | 3,000 | .317 | September 30, 1972 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1955–1972 | Double | [53] |
See also
- List of lifetime Major League Baseball hit leaders through history
- List of Major League Baseball hit records
- List of Major League Baseball players with 2,000 hits
Notes
- ^ a b c Two major factors have confused Anson's precise hit total. First, a rule which existed for only the 1887 MLB season counted walks as hits.[1] Additionally, Anson played five seasons in the National Association (NA), which is not always recognized as an official "major league".[1][2] MLB.com credits Anson with 3,011 career hits, not including his time in the NA or his walks in 1887.[3] Baseball-Reference credits him with 3,435 hits, including his time in the NA, not including his walks in 1887, and differing with MLB.com over his hit total in 1894.[4] The Hall of Fame shows 3,081 hits for Anson, including his walks in 1887 (for a total of 224 hits that season) but not including NA playing time.[5] The date listed comes from MLB.com, using their hit totals for Anson.
- ^ a b MLB.com and the Hall of Fame credit Cobb with 4,191 hits,[7][8] while Baseball-Reference lists 4,189.[9]
- ^ This was not Clemente's last game, however, as he entered his next and final game as a defensive substitution and did not bat.[11][13] Clemente died in a plane crash on December 31, 1972.[14]
- ^ MLB.com credits Lajoie with 3,252 hits,[36] while Baseball-Reference and the 3,000 hit club page on MLB.com both list 3,242.[37][38]
References
- General
- "Career Leaders & Records for Hits". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- "3,000 Hits Club – Milestones". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on June 24, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - "The 3,000 Hit Club". National Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- Specific
- ^ a b Fleitz, David L. (2005). Cap Anson: The Grand Old Man of Baseball. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 346. ISBN 0-7864-2238-6.
- ^ "Complete Baseball Team and Baseball Team Encyclopedias". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on August 8, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Cap Anson – Historical Player Stats". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Cap Anson Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Anson, Cap". baseballhall.org. Baseball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 22 June 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Progressive Leaders & Records for Hits". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Ty Cobb Stats, Bio, Photos, Highlights". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Cobb, Ty". baseballhall.org. Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ a b "Ty Cobb Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ Boswell, Thomas (September 12, 1985). "'Charlie Hustle' gets hit 4,192 to surpass Cobb, then another". The Washington Post.
- ^ a b "Roberto Clemente 1972 Batting Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "September 30, 1972 New York Mets at Pittsburgh Pirates Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "October 3, 1972 St. Louis Cardinals at Pittsburgh Pirates Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ Schwartz, Larry. "Clemente quietly grew in stature". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ Hoch, Bryan (July 9, 2011). "With homer, Jeter joins 3,000-hit club". MLB.com. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
- ^ "Houston's Biggio lashes 3,000th: 'Tonight is the best'". USA Today. Associated Press. June 29, 2007. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ Marchand, Andrew (July 9, 2011). "Derek Jeter gets 3,000th hit". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
- ^ Pahigian, Josh (2010). The Seventh Inning Stretch: Baseball's Most Essential and Inane Debates. Guilford, Connecticut: Globe Pequot Press. p. 80. ISBN 978-1-59921-805-2.
- ^ Bloom, Barry M. (April 27, 2005). "Hoffman definitely Hall of Fame caliber". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Archived from the original on April 21, 2011.
There are milestones in other areas that always have been instant Hall of Fame qualifiers: 3,000 hits, 500 homers and 300 wins.
- ^ Haudricourt, Tom (November 1999). "Hall of Fame File". Baseball Digest: 75. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ Chass, Murray (April 16, 2000). "Baseball; Ripken Gets One More Big Number: 3,000 hits". The New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Rules for Election". National Baseball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Erardi, John (August 23, 2009). "What is Pete Rose's true legacy?". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Pete Rose Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Ichiro Suzuki Statistics and History". http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/suzukic01.shtml Reference. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
{{cite web}}
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at position 60 (help) - ^ "Hank Aaron Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Stan Musial Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Tris Speaker Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
- ^ "Honus Wagner Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Carl Yastrzemski Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Paul Molitor Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Derek Jeter Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Eddie Collins Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Willie Mays Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Eddie Murray Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Nap Lajoie Stats, Bio, Photos, Highlights". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
- ^ a b "Nap Lajoie Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "3,000 Hits Club – Milestones". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on June 24, 2010. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Cal Ripken Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "George Brett Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Paul Waner Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Robin Yount Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Tony Gwynn Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Dave Winfield Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "The 3,000 Hit Club - Cap Anson". National Baseball Hall of Fame.
- ^ "Craig Biggio Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Rickey Henderson Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Rod Carew Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Lou Brock Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Rafael Palmeiro Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Wade Boggs Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Al Kaline Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "Roberto Clemente Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.