Another game, another legend left behind.
And this one meant a little more to Derek Jeter. With a sixth-inning infield single on Saturday against the Indians, the Yankees captain passed Honus Wagner, Pittsburgh’s Hall of Fame shortstop, to claim sixth place on the all-time hits list.
“It’s one of those ‘Wow’ moments,” said Jeter, who got hit No. 3,431 to break the sixth-place tie during the Yankees’ 3-0 loss to Cleveland at Yankee Stadium. “To say you have more hits than anyone that’s played the position at all, I mean, it’s something I’m extremely proud of. Obviously I would have liked to have won the game but, yeah, it’s something I’ll be able to tell my kids.”
So it was another milestone in Jeter’s farewell season. Previously this season, Jeter moved ahead of Paul Molitor (3,319) and Carl Yastrzemski (3,419). And now he has surpassed Wagner.
“It’s unbelievable. The people he has passed, it’s unbelievable,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “This guy has been consistent for us all year-long, and there were a lot of questions of where he would be at, but he’s played pretty well.”
Hit No. 3,431 wasn’t like the memorable, powerful drive into the seats that brought hit No. 3,000 three years ago. It was a bouncer against Indians starter and winner Corey Kluber that third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall tried to bare hand but could not. So Jeter passed the Pirates legend known to most in modern times primarily for his tobacco company baseball card.
It was the lone hit of the game for Jeter, who also bounced out twice and struck out in his final at bat. The ball went to wherever it is that Jeter saves momentous baseballs.
“Put it somewhere safe,” said Jeter, who joked he missed the whole ball retrieval process. “I wasn’t watching. I was breathing heavy because I just had to run.”
The count-them-on-one-hand names that remain ahead of Jeter are Pete Rose (4,256), Ty Cobb (4,191), Hank Aaron (3,771), Stan Musial (3,630) and Tris Speaker (3,514). Those are the only ones.
“I try not to think about it,” Jeter said. “Like I said, Honus Wagner, he’s the last one on the list that’s played short at all so that one hits home a little bit. But any time you pass some guys that had the career that they’ve had, it’s kind of overwhelming when you think about it.”
And Jeter is very mindful of the company he is keeping.
“I know a lot about the history of the game so yeah, I’m well aware,” he said.