NEW YORK -- Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees made history with style as he belted a home run to left field for career hit No. 3,000 at Yankee Stadium.Jeter's the first player to achieve 3,000 hits in Yankees pinstripes. Afterward, the Yankees played taped tributes to Jeter from current and former teammates as well as some of his most memorable hits and defensive plays.
Jeter's four hits today match his 2011 season high. That bodes well for Yankees fans worried about Jeter's slowing bat speed after a sub-par first half and disappointing 2010 season.
With 3,002 hits, Jeter has passed Roberto Clemente for 27th place on the all-time hit list. Almost immediately after Jeter's historic hit, the club started hawking commemorative Jeter merchandise on their high-definition digital scoreboard in center field.
That nothing much changed about Jeter all these years, in style and comportment, is an achievement worth celebrating as much as 3,000 hits.
Jeter played his first major league game in 1995, the year after the web browser was introduced. If anything, Jeter is underrated as an all-time great. No other shortstop has more hits while playing the position or has played more games there for one team than Jeter.
Among the five shortstops who have played the most games at the position overall -- Omar Vizquel, Luis Aparicio, Ozzie Smith, Jeter and Cal Ripken Jr. -- Jeter has the highest OPS and the most championship rings. That Jeter is known as a "clutch" player -- "Captain Clutch," in the Marvel Comics style of sports coverage -- is a vanity born from enough postseason narratives.
