Stats Corner: A Most Amazing Accomplishment
Some statistics are just that impressive.
Consider Derek Jeter who sits just three hits behind Lou Gehrig on the New York Yankees all-time list. Jeter has 2718 hits in 2115 at-bats while Gehrig needed 2164 to knock in his 2721. So Jeter will likely have done it in less at-bats - I doubt he’ll go into a severe slump.
Note: Figures above originally published in error: not at-bats but games played. We regret the error and the person responsible has been killed.
Jeter has had to surpass the likes of Babe Ruth (3rd), Mickey Mantle (4th), Joe DiMaggio (6th), Yogi Berra (8th); names revered in Yankees folklore.
His contemporary and team mate during the Yankees dynasty of the 1990s,, Bernie Williams, sits in a 5th spot with 2336. Imagine that.
If he stays healthy, Jeter will become the first Yankee to reach 3000 hits.
***
I was looking over the list of hit leaders by team and a couple hit me:
An American of French-Canadian heritage, Napoleon Lajoie remains the Cleveland Indians all-time leader with 2046. Lajoie played early in the 20th century, when it was still fashionable (I’m guessing) to name your kid Napoleon. Prior to this it was Charlemagne. I kid.
In any event, it’s been a long-time sits the Indians have had a new chief, cough, in town.
Another one that hit me - deliberate pun notwithstanding - was Ty Cobb’s 3900 hits for the Detroit Tigers. I know we should never say never but man, that’s going to be one tough record to crack.
It’s like the Edmonton Oilers and the records Wayne Gretzky owns.
I wonder how many more Roberto Clemente would have clocked. He’s the all-time Pittsburgh Pirates leader with 3000. These are rough times for the Pirates, what, with them having the most consecutive losing seasons with 17 of all the four major pro sports in North America. They passed the Philadelphia Phillies who held that record for 16 straight seasons from 1933-1948. Good times for Philadelphia, eh?
The all-time hits leader and eternally wallowing in baseball purgatory, Pete Rose leads the Cincinnati Reds with 3358.
As for the Canadian (teams) Tony Fernandez leads with 1583 for the Toronto Blue Jays. That record should fall at some point. Too bad Roy Halladay can’t hit.
And my beloved Expos - now Nationals - were led by one of my favorite Expos ever Tim Wallach with 1694 hits.
3 Responses to “Stats Corner: A Most Amazing Accomplishment”
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I don’t know where you’re getting your Gehrig/Jeter stats, but Jeter has over 500 more at bats than Gehrig. Jeter will have reached Gerhigs record in far more at bats.
Your stats don’t even make sense because you have them getting more hits than they have at bats.
Derek Jeter has more at bats than any other player in Yankee history, so it’s not that impressive that he’s passing Yankee legends like Gehrig, Mantle, Dimaggio, Berra because he’s had more at bats to do it in.
And the 3000 hits that you’re predicting is also only impressive because Jeter has played on the same team for his whole career. Several former Yankees, like Winfield, Henderson and Boggs, all have over 3000 hits. They just didn’t play their whole career as Yankees.
Thanks Jay.
As ‘editor” of this rag, yes, you guys are right. I let it slip. It was sent in and I tried to pass this one off at 2am. Not good. Never will do that again. But I was digesting a banana, strawberry Special K combo.
Yes, Jeter has done it all with one team (but I don’t see the Boggs et all connection. Many players have more hits) but a good point and one I thought about. And he DID do it with far more at-bats.
The numbers there are GAMES played. Nonetheless, I still think it’s a great feat because of the franchise considered.
Here’s the list:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/leaders_bat.shtml
Also, no one said he was the “best” of that lot. Or shortstop for that matter.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2009/09/04/2009-09-04_is_derek_jeter_baseballs_best_hitting.html
At least, in terms of position, he beat out Aparicio in at-bats and BA.
Sorry for the over sight.