Derek Jeter: Historic 3,000th Hit Puts the Captain in Class of His Own

Derek Jeter hit his 3,000 hit today, an extra special feat considering he's not just another baseball player, but rather the captain of the New York Yankees, the most successful franchise in the history of sports.

And not only is Jeter the captain of the New York Yankees, but he's the first player in the history of the franchise to reach 3,000 hits. Not Joe DiMaggio, not Mickey Mantle, not Babe Ruth, not Lou Gehrig, but Derek Jeter.

The Yankees all-time hits leader is the fourth youngest to reach the 3,000 hit club at 37 years and 13 days old; Ty Cobb is the youngest.

But Jeter reaching this feat is magnified, obviously because he's a member of the Yankees, but also because he's also one of the most debated players in history of the game.

The eleventh player in franchise history to be named captain, Jeter is nicknamed "Mr. November" and "Captain Clutch" for his performances in postseason baseball. Many like to argue that Jeter is overrated, but this milestone proves again that he is a sure-fire first ballot Hall of Famer and a one of a kind player.

He's only the second player in the 3,000 hit club to achieve the milestone on a home run and naturally, in clutch fashion, he did it on a full count to tie the ball game.

That is where things separate for Jeter; he does everything in the name of winning. Of all 29 players in the club, Jeter has the most World Series rings with five; nobody else has more than three.

For 16 seasons he has captivated the audiences in New York with play after play, hit after hit, and he's one of the most beloved figures in New York sports history.

His career accolades other than World Series rings include: 12 All-Star team nods, five Gold Glove awards, four Silver Slugger awards, AL Rookie of the Year award (1996) and his seven career 200-hit seasons are tied for sixth-most all-time.

He also holds the postseason record for hits (185), extra-base hits (54), runs (101) and games played (147).

It's not just that Jeter reached 3,000 hits—28 other great players have been there before—it's that no player has achieved a level of success like that of the captain of the New York Yankees.

He always has, and always will, do everything for the good of the team, and it is even more fitting that he hit 3,000 on a game-tying home run.

Derek Jeter joined an exclusive club with his 3,000th hit today, but he also created a class all his own in doing so. 

Aaliyah Katherine Heigl Lorri Bagley Leslie Bega Maria Sharapova