Jeter Passes Gehrig as Yankees Hits Leader

By TYLER KEPNER Published: September 11, 2009

Derek Jeter grew up on Yankees history, by birth and by providence. He was nurtured as a fan by his grandmother, who lived in New Jersey, and drafted into the tradition as a first-round pick in 1992. Only a few years ago, though, did Jeter notice that nobody in his team’s history had ever reached 3,000 hits. Teammates stumbled on it while paging through a record book.

“Then we were wondering who had the most,” Jeter said on Friday afternoon. “But it’s not like you sit there and target it.”

For more than 70 years, Lou Gehrig had the most hits for the franchise, a record that stood until Jeter passed him Friday with his 2,722nd hit, a single that skipped past Gehrig’s old position, first base. Jeter’s graceful grind through 15 seasons has vaulted him past his storied predecessor as team captain.

Jeter connected in the third inning, on a 2-0 fastball from Chris Tillman of the Baltimore Orioles that got past the diving first baseman, Luke Scott. Jeter, who has made a career of hard-hit balls to the opposite field, spread his arms wide and clapped after rounding first base.

The players on the Yankees’ bench poured from the dugout to greet him at first base, taking turns hugging him. Alex Rodriguez was the first to arrive, then Mark Teixeira, Joba Chamberlain, Johnny Damon and the rest.

The fans chanted Jeter’s first and last names, and Jeter waved his helmet to several areas of the new Yankee Stadium. As he did on Wednesday, when he tied the record, Jeter pointed to the box with his parents, sister and friends on the suite level above the Yankees’ on-deck circle. Jeter’s girlfriend, the actress Minka Kelly, stood beside his mother, Dorothy, and both smiled widely.

The crowd continued to chant for Jeter. Nick Swisher, the next batter, stepped out of the box to make the moment last. As the cheers cascaded over Jeter, he waved his helmet again and then clapped a few times in Swisher’s direction: back to work.

The hit arrived in Jeter’s second at-bat against Tillman, a heralded Orioles rookie who challenged him with a 94-mile-an-hour pitch. Tillman won their duel in the first inning, striking Jeter out with a curveball after getting ahead with fastballs.

It was raining then, a persistent, heavy mist swirling around the stadium, with standing pools of water on the warning tracks. (The rain picked up later, and the game was delayed in the seventh.) The grounds crew hustled to rake the mound after the top of the first and spread new dirt a half-inning later. A double splashed in a mud puddle down the right-field line in the second.

By the time Jeter set the record, though, the rain had tapered. In any case, the crowd of 46,771 did not seem to care. The fans stood for Jeter’s at-bat, snapping photos of each pitch, and an inning later, commemorative T-shirts and pennants were on sale at Stadium gift shops.

George Steinbrenner, the team’s principal owner, was not there — he has not been to a home game since opening day — but his publicist quickly issued a statement on his behalf.

“For those who say today’s game can’t produce legendary players, I have two words: Derek Jeter,” Steinbrenner’s statement said. “As historic and significant as becoming the Yankees’ all-time hit leader is, the accomplishment is all the more impressive because Derek is one of the finest young men playing the game today.”

The statement went on to praise the character and ability of Jeter, comparing him favorably to Gehrig, who died of A.L.S. in 1941, a little more than two years after his final hit. Gehrig was far more prolific as a run producer, but Jeter matched his hit total Wednesday in 64 fewer plate appearances.

“He continued to be consistent year in and year out; I think that’s something every player admires,” Jeter said Friday as he talked about Gehrig. “Every story you hear about him, you hear he was a classy person and a great teammate. People thought really highly of him.”

Dorine Gordon, the president and chief executive of the ALS Association Greater New York Chapter, also issued a statement congratulating Jeter. “Derek epitomizes so much of what we admired in Gehrig,” her statement said. “Each skillfully filled their roles as team captains with strength, determination and humility.”

Jeter reached the milestone 24 years to the day after Pete Rose passed Ty Cobb to become baseball’s career hits later. Jeter, 35, has more hits than Rose did at the same age. Rose played until age 45 and finished with 4,256 hits.

That record is within Jeter’s reach, if he wants to play that long. He is signed through next season and said this week that he would keep playing as long as he has fun.

The game is fun now for Jeter, with the Yankees holding baseball’s best record and possessing, perhaps, their best chance at a championship in years. He has helped carry them there with a storm of hits, part of an annual barrage that has set a new standard for his famous team.

INSIDE PITCH

Johnny Damon missed the game with a sore hamstring and lower back. Damon said he might have sustained the injuries on Wednesday, when he jumped at the wall for a home run and his spikes did not stick in the padding. “I’m just happy this is a one-day thing and by tomorrow, I’ll be fine,” Damon said. ... Reliever Dave Robertson said he would begin his throwing program in a week or so as he recovers from elbow stiffness. ... Derek Jeter is hoping for a quick workday Saturday; his beloved Michigan Wolverines play Notre Dame at 3:30 p.m. “Big game,” Jeter said. “I hope it doesn’t rain. No delays here.”

News source：http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/12/sports/baseball/12yankees.html?_r=1&hp