In the early stages of Thursday night's game between the Yankees and Rays, it looked as though history was going to be made.
Chasing hit No. 3,000, Derek Jeter stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the first inning and ripped a double to left-center field, starting off what looked like a multi-hit night for the Yankees' captain.
Unfortunately for Jeter and the rest of the pinstripe faithful hoping to see history, Rays pitcher Jeff Niemann settled in and handled the potent Bronx lineup — Jeter included — on the way to a 5-1 victory.
Inching closer to one of baseball's most storied milestones, other members of the exclusive 3,000 hits club have come out to offer Jeter words of encouragement.
Taking time out of instructing kids on how much pine tar to put on your bat, Hall of Famer George Brett told ESPN.com that Jeter's 3,000th hit will be harder to get than his first.
"That first at-bat will be a little tough," Brett said of Thursday night's Yankees game.
Apparently, Jeter had things backwards.
