Derek Jeter Matches Babe Ruth With 2,873 Career Hits on MLB Leaderboard
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re aware that the Red Sox and Yankees are kicking off a three-game weekend series Friday night in the Bronx. The rivals haven’t met up since early May, and the stage could not be set more perfectly for the next milestone in Yankee captain Derek Jeter‘s incredible career.
Jeter is just one hit away from surpassing Babe Ruth‘s tally (2,873), set during his 22-year MLB career split between the Red Sox and the Yankees. In his first at-bat for the Yankees on Friday night, Jeter smacked a single into left field, matching Ruth in 39th place on the MLB career base hits list.
Obviously what makes this situation so sweet for Jeter is that he will be surpassing Ruth’s record against Boston. A team that — we all know the tale — traded the hard-hitting Ruth to the Yankees in 1919 and suffered a World Series-drought for 86 years thereafter. It’s even sweeter that Jeter will most likely do it at home in Yankee Stadium.
Jeter already tops the all-time hit list for the Yankees organization, as Ruth compiled just 2,518 of his career hits with New York. Jeter moved into the top spot last season when he surpassed Lou Gehrig‘s all-time record of 2,721 base hits during his 17-year career with the Bronx Bombers. Though this moment won’t be as momentous to Jeter and Yankee fans as passing Gehrig was, it’s still a remarkable highlight in the seemingly ageless career of the renowned shortstop.
It’s no longer a matter of if Jeter will surpass the Great Bambino, it’s just a matter of when, and it will likely occur during the weekend series with the Red Sox.
