Derek Jeter: 5 best moments of career
1. Yankees all-time hit king
September 11, 2009
Simply put, it’s a big deal whenever a player takes the all-time lead in any career statistical category for the New York Yankees. After all, this is the franchise of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and 40 other Hall of Fame players.
Jeter, who will surely be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, passed one of the greatest Yankees in club history with his 2,722nd career base hit September 11, 2009, when he laced a double down the right field line against the Baltimore Orioles – more than 72 years after Gehrig set the mark.
Two years later, Jeter became the first Yankee to surpass 3,000 hits in pinstripes. He recorded the magic number with a fun run against Tampa Bay Rays lefty David Price as part of a 5-for-5 performance at the plate.
Jeter finished his career with 3,465 career hits, and also holds the Yankees franchise record with 544 doubles and 358 stolen bases. No player in club history played more games (2,747) for the Yankees, which in addition to his accomplishments in October and November, make him one of the most beloved players in franchise history.
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In 2014, Jeter retired after spending the entirety of his 20-year major league career with the Yankees. In two decades with the club, Jeter was a 14-time All-Star, five-time Gold Glove Award winner, five-time Silver Slugger, and word five World Series titles, all while wearing the No. 2. Sunday, it becomes official: Derek Jeter will be the last player in Yankees history to wear that number.