In a body of work that spans over 16 Major League seasons, Derek Jeter's resume is nothing short of legendary. From Rookie of the Year to All-Star MVP, five World Series Championships to Gold-Glove winner, that is just a small sample.
In what was already considered a sure fire Hall of Fame career, Jeter's 3,000th hit just guaranteed it. Not to mention, that 3,000th hit came in the form of a home run (off Tampa Bay ace David Price), making it even more iconic. Believe it or not, Jeter became the first ever New York Yankee to achieve the feat.
The Yankees can claim Hall of Famers and world champions by the score, but nobody in Bronx pinstripes had ever seen his 3,000th until Derek Jeter homered this afternoon.
In a recent quote from former All-Star, Barry Larkin, I believe he summed up the legacy Jeter will leave behind. "Derek Jeter represents everything that is good in baseball. His 3,000 hits milestone is another example in his Hall of Fame career that is a direct result of his hard work, dedication, consistency and greatness in the game."
Another former All-Star and Yankee Hall of Famer, Dave Winfield, said “A lot of people will be happy for him, because he did it the right way. Just honest preparation, hard-nosed play. A good example to others."
But then again, nobody takes the wrong way to 3,000 hits. In an era that was riddled with steroid use, Jeter stayed true to his game. That may go down as one of his biggest compliments and accomplishments. A fitting crown for "The Captain."
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