Viewpoint—

Putting Jeter’s Record-Setting Hit Into Perspective

By Andy Hutchison

BRONX, N.Y. — On September 11, Derek Jeter slapped an opposite-field single for his franchise record-breaking 2,722nd hit, surpassing Lou Gehrig on the New York Yankees’ all-time list. When the ball got between Baltimore Orioles’ first baseman Luke Scott and the foul line, the fans at Yankee Stadium roared — then stood and applauded the Yankee captain for several minutes.

It was easy to cheer for a player who never showboats, does not appear to take his ability or opportunities for granted, and keeps out of trouble (at least as far as we know). How many professional athletes are either in the news for steroid use or some sort of criminal issue? Jeter just does his job with a quiet, yet evident, passion.

Jeter seems to be just as modest today as he was ten years ago when I interviewed the Yankee shortstop for an article about former Fairfield High School pitcher and Cleveland Indian Charles Nagy. He has had an unpretentious demeanor on the field as well as in the clubhouse when meeting with media members since his rookie (and World Championship) season of 1996.

The hit happened to come on the anniversary of the day that will always be remembered for the lives that were tragically lost when the terrorists attacked us — September 11, 2001. There were, no doubt, plenty of fans in attendance who lost loved ones and carried a heavy heart on the anniversary of the attack. The events on September 11, 2001, make sports seem so trivial but it is record-breaking moments such as this one, on September 11, 2009, that remind us how great a sport can be. I have been at Yankee playoff games in the old Yankee Stadium and felt the stands literally shaking. I have been at plenty of games in which the fans cheer hard for the Yankees but being in the stands for this game was unusual in that the cheers were all for one player.

Jeter broke a record that WFAN’s Mike Francesa downplayed, saying that fans and the Yankees have turned the milestone into something bigger than it really is but that Jeter himself certainly deserves the gratitude. I can understand thinking that it might have been overkill for Jeter to get handshakes from every single one of his teammates as they poured out of the dugout. That could have waited until he got back to the bench — but it didn’t bother me.

Gehrig’s record, after all, had stood since 1939. Jeter, as talented as he may be, is fortunate to have remained healthy and have the opportunity to break the record. Gehrig would have added to his hits total had he not been forced to retire at the age of 36 when he was stricken with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease). If you look at the all-time hits leaders among franchises, the Jeter/Yankees mark is actually only 17th among 30 Major League Baseball franchises. The all-time leader is Detroit’s Ty Cobb with 3,900 hits (accomplished during 22 seasons from 1905 to 1926). Jeter, though, at 35, has played 15 seasons (14 full campaigns after breaking in with the Yanks for a few games in 1995), averaging close to 200 hits per season. If the Yankee captain can keep up that pace and stick around for six or seven seasons he will have a shot at that mark.

I think it’s a pretty big deal for someone to set any single-franchise record in today’s era of sports in which free agency and dollars result in players being traded or jumping ship for a new team as fast as an umpire can say, “You’re outta here!”