New York Yankees: Derek Jeter's 3,000 Hits and Top 7 Milestones in Team History
At the end of the this season, Derek Jeter will be the first Yankee with 3,000 hits. And it's possible Mariano Rivera will be the all-time saves leader.
This is the time to look back at the other great accomplishments by Yankees of the past, and debate where exactly these two milestones fit in the Hall of Yankees Fame.
Note: This article does not take into account PED use, so Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte are both mentioned. Their accomplishments are still great, and they will receive appropriate recognition.
No. 7: Lou Gehrig's 2,130 Consecutive Games
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The world will never know what Lou could have been had it not been for the tragic disease that took his life.
And his "Luckiest Man in the World" speech could have its own spot on this list, but Gehrig's longevity is something that might never be seen again.
As for the numbers, Gehrig was a career .340 hitter, who hit 492 home runs, 1,995 RBI and a career 1.080 OPS.
No. 6: Andy Pettitte 19 Playoff Wins
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For an organization with 27 world championships and an ownership that demands winning, few things are more valued than a pitcher who can do it on the big stage.
Alex Rodriguez was a beast for years, and yet scorned by Yankees fans because he struggled in the playoffs. The Yankees have gotten used to playing in October, so what you do there will forever solidify your reputation in the Bronx.
Pettitte pitched in the playoffs in 13 seasons, once with the Astros and 12 times with the Yankees. He pitched in eight World Series. He was also in the top six of Cy Young voting five times.
No. 5: Roger Maris 61 Home Runs in 1961
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Roger Maris broke a record held by the venerable Mr. Ruth, once thought to be unbreakable.
In that season, Mickey Mantle hit 54, and no one else was over 50. Maris never hit 40 before or after in his 12 seasons in the league. He scored 132 runs in the season, never scoring more than 100 in any other season.
His 275 career home runs are unspectacular, but this season stands out as one of the great power seasons in major league history before the steroid era.
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No. 4: Roger Clemens 354 Wins
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Major League Baseball may have seen its last 300 game winner. The idea of someone winning 350 again is difficult to imagine.
Clemens finished with a record of 354-184 with a career 3.12 ERA. He was one of the more dominant pitchers over 24 seasons in the big leagues.
In a time where every great accomplishment's legitimacy is questioned, it is important to stand back and appreciate numbers like "350" which may never be seen again.
No. 3: Derek Jeter 3,000 Hits
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It is remarkable when a player does something no Yankee has done.
The Captain stands 74 hits shy of the magic 3,000. No one in Yankees' history has ever reached the number, and no one else is close. In the days of players changing teams at will, it seems unlikely anyone will ever again compile this many hits, all with one team.
Jeter has often said he fully intends to spend the rest of his career in New York, and when the time comes, he will surely sail off into the Bronx sunset.
No. 2: Roger Clemens Strikes Out 4,672
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Clemens struck out 8.6 batters per nine innings over his 24 seasons. He led the league five separate times and had a career high of 292 Ks in 1997.
He had 12 seasons of 200 or more strikeouts, and four times he struck out 200 with an ERA under 2.50.
The punchline is that Clemens, a Yankees hero for his playoff success, spent much of his prime with the hated Boston Red Sox.
Clemens also won seven Cy Young Awards.
No. 1: Babe Ruth 700 Home Runs
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It makes sense the greatest baseball player ever would have spent his time with the Yankees.
Ruth finished his career with 714 home runs and 11 seasons over 40. He also had a career batting average of .342 and a career OPS of 1.164.
The Babe is famous for many feats, but he also owns a special place in history for being one of very few stars to change teams in that time.
When the Red Sox sold Ruth to the Yankees, The Great Bambino exploded and never looked back on his way to being the greatest hitter the game had ever seen.
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