Twenty-seven major league players have at least 3,000 hits in their career. Over 100 years of Major League Baseball, only 27 players have reached this plateau. It is a major milestone.
Derek Jeter is two hits away from joining this group. So, for this post, I am going to assume he also has 3,000.
- 12 have batted left-handed.
- 14 have batted right-handed.
- 2 have been switch hitters.
To achieve 3,000 hits, a player must average 200 hits a season for 15 years. That is an amazing level of consistency over a long period of time.
Nine players have achieved all their hits with one team:
- Stan Musial – Cardinals.
- Carl Yastrzemski – Red Sox.
- Cal Ripken – Orioles.
- George Brett – Royals.
- Robin Yount – Brewers.
- Tony Gwynn – Padres.
- Craig Biggio – Astros.
- Roberto Clemente – Pirates.
- Derek Jeter – Yankees.
Two players have over 4,000 hits. Ty Cobb, who played in the early decades of the 20th century and Pete Rose.
Roberto Clemente ended his career with exactly 3,000 hits. He died in a plane crash during the off-season. He was part of an effort to bring supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. What a class act.
Here’s the the 28 men who have achieved 3,000 hits in a career. Quite an accomplishment.
