Saturday, June 20, 2015

A-Rod Joins 3,000 Hit Club

Last night Alex Rodriguez (and this is following one year of steroid-related "vacation") joined the 3,000 hit club.

A-Rod becomes only the 29th player all-time to reach this milestone.

In chronological order, here is that exclusive list:
  1. Cap Anson - July 18. 1897 (Cubs)
  2. Honus Wagner - June 9, 1914 (Pirates)
  3. Nap Lajoie - September 27, 1914 (Indians)
  4. Ty Cobb - August 19, 1921 (Tigers)
  5. Tris Speaker - May 17, 1925 (Indians)
  6. Eddie Collins - June 3, 1925 (White Sox)
  7. Paul Waner - June 19, 1942 (Braves)
  8. Stan Musial - May 13, 1958 (Cardinals)
  9. Hank Aaron - May 17, 1970 (Braves)
  10. Willie Mays - July 18, 1970 (Giants)
  11. Roberto Clemente - September 30, 1972 (Pirates)
  12. Al Kaline - September 24, 1974 (Tigers)
  13. Pete Rose - May 5, 1978 (Reds)
  14. Lou Brock - August 13, 1979 (Cardinals)
  15. Carl Yastrzemski - September 12, 1979 (Red Sox)
  16. Rod Carew - August 4, 1985 (Angels)
  17. Robin Yount - September 9, 1992 (Brewers)
  18. George Brett - September 30, 1992 (Royals)
  19. Dave Winfield - September 16, 1993 (Twins)
  20. Eddie Murray - June 30, 1995 (Indians)
  21. Paul Molitor - September 16, 1996 (Twins)
  22. Tony Gwynn - August 6, 1999 (Padres)
  23. Wade Boggs - August 7, 1999 (Rays)
  24. Cal Ripken Jr. - April 15, 2000 (Orioles)
  25. Rickey Henderson - October 7, 2001 (Padres)
  26. Rafael Palmeiro - July 15, 2005 (Orioles)
  27. Craig Biggio - June 28, 2007 (Astros)
  28. Derek Jeter - July 9, 2011 (Yankees)
  29. Alex Rodriguez - June 19, 2015 (Yankees)
Breakdown by team:
1 - Cubs, White Sox, Giants, Reds, Red Sox, Angels, Brewers, Royals, Rays, Astros (10 teams)
2 - Braves, Pirates, Tigers, Cardinals, Twins, Padres, Orioles, Yankees (8 teams)
3 - Indians

All of these men are in Cooperstown with four exceptions: Rose (banned from baseball for life for gambling), Palmeiro (lied to Congress about taking steroids, and failed to receive enough votes to stay on the HOF ballot), Jeter (retired too recently for HOF consideration), and Rodriguez (active player).

Next closest active player to 3,000: Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, at 2,886 - just 114 shy.  Only MLB stats count here.  Otherwise, Ichiro would also be in this club: he has 1,278 hits from his days in Japan.  The next closest active players following Ichiro are Adrian Beltre (2,657), Albert Pujols (2,585), and Torii Hunter (2,386).
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