3,000 hit club

Pete Rose is the all-time MLB hits leader with 4,256 hits

In Major League Baseball (MLB), the 3,000 hit club is the group of batters who have collected 3,000 or more regular-season hits in their careers. Cap Anson was the first to join the club on July 18, 1897, although his precise career hit total is unclear.^{[lower-alpha 1]} Two players—Nap Lajoie and Honus Wagner—reached 3,000 hits during the 1914 season. Ty Cobb became the club's fourth member in 1921 and became the first player in MLB history to reach 4,000 hits in 1927, ultimately finishing his career with more than 4,100.^{[7][lower-alpha 2]} Cobb, also MLB's all-time career batting average leader, remained the MLB hit leader until September 11, 1985, when Pete Rose collected his 4,192nd hit.^[11] Rose, the current record holder, finished his career with 4,256 hits, an achievement that on its own would have qualified him for the Hall of Fame had Major League Baseball not banned him for life due to Rose's having gambled on games as a manager. Roberto Clemente's career ended with precisely 3,000 hits, reaching the mark in the last at bat of his career.^{[12][13][lower-alpha 3]} Alex Rodriguez is the most recent player to reach the milestone, achieving the feat on June 19, 2015.

In total, 29 players have reached the 3,000 hit mark in MLB history. Of these, 15 were right-handed batters, 12 were left-handed, and two were switch hitters, meaning they could bat from either side of the plate. Ten of these players have played for only one major league team. The Cleveland Indians are the only franchise to see three players reach the milestone while on their roster: Lajoie (while the franchise was known as the "Naps"), Tris Speaker, and Eddie Murray. Five players—Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Murray, Rafael Palmeiro, and Rodriguez—are also members of the 500 home run club. At .367, Cobb holds the highest career batting average among club members, while Cal Ripken, Jr. holds the lowest at .276. Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, and Wade Boggs are the only players to hit a home run for their 3,000th hit and Paul Molitor is the only player to hit a triple for his 3,000th; all others hit a single or double. Craig Biggio was thrown out at second base attempting to stretch his 3,000th hit, a single, into a double.^[16] Biggio and Jeter are the only players to join the club in a game where they had five hits; Jeter reached base safely in all of his at bats.^[17]

Baseball writer Josh Pahigian wrote that the club has been "long considered the greatest measure of superior bat handling."^[18] Reaching 3,000 hits is often described as a guarantee of eventual entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame.^[19][20][21] All eligible club members, with the exception of Palmeiro, have been elected to the Hall, and since 1962 all club members who have been inducted were elected on the first ballot, except for Biggio. Rose is ineligible for the Hall of Fame because he was permanently banned from baseball in 1989.^[22][23] Palmeiro failed to be named on 5% of ballots and his name will be off the ballot for future elections.^[24] The only active player on this list is Alex Rodriguez, who is the active leader in hits with 3,073.

Key

Ty Cobb reached 4,000 hits during the 1928 season and was the only player to reach this mark until Rose joined him in 1985.

Paul Molitor is the only player to hit a triple for his 3,000th hit.

Derek Jeter (left) and Dave Winfield (right) are both members of the club

Player	Name of the player
Hits	Career hits
Average	Career batting average
Date	Date of the player's 3,000th hit
Team	The batter's team for his 3,000th hit
Seasons	The seasons this player played in the major leagues
3,000th hit	The type of hit the batter recorded for his 3,000th hit
	Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame
	Player is active

Members

The statistics are updated through April 30, 2016

Player	Hits	Average	Date	Team	Seasons	3,000th hit	Ref
Rose, PetePete Rose	4,256	.303	May 5, 1978	Cincinnati Reds	1963–1986	Single	[25]
Cobb, TyTy Cobb	4,191[lower-alpha 2]	.367	August 19, 1921	Detroit Tigers	1905–1928	Single	[10]
Aaron, HankHank Aaron	3,771	.305	May 17, 1970	Atlanta Braves	1954–1976	Single	[26]
Musial, StanStan Musial	3,630	.331	May 13, 1958	St. Louis Cardinals	1941–1944, 1946–1963	Double	[27]
Speaker, TrisTris Speaker	3,514	.345	May 17, 1925	Cleveland Indians	1907–1928	Single	[28]
Jeter, DerekDerek Jeter	3,465	.310	July 9, 2011	New York Yankees	1995–2014	Home run	[29]
Wagner, HonusHonus Wagner	3,430	.329	June 9, 1914	Pittsburgh Pirates	1897–1917	Double	[30]
Yastrzemski, CarlCarl Yastrzemski	3,419	.285	September 12, 1979	Boston Red Sox	1961–1983	Single	[31]
Molitor, PaulPaul Molitor	3,319	.306	September 16, 1996	Minnesota Twins	1978–1998	Triple	[32]
Collins, EddieEddie Collins	3,314	.333	June 3, 1925	Chicago White Sox	1906–1930	Single	[33]
Mays, WillieWillie Mays	3,283	.302	July 18, 1970	San Francisco Giants	1951–1952, 1954–1973	Single	[34]
Murray, EddieEddie Murray	3,255	.287	June 30, 1995	Cleveland Indians	1977–1997	Single	[35]
Lajoie, NapNap Lajoie	3,252[lower-alpha 4]	.339	September 27, 1914	Cleveland Naps	1896–1916	Double	[37]
Ripken, Jr., CalCal Ripken, Jr.	3,184	.276	April 15, 2000	Baltimore Orioles	1981–2001	Single	[39]
Brett, GeorgeGeorge Brett	3,154	.305	September 30, 1992	Kansas City Royals	1973–1993	Single	[40]
Waner, PaulPaul Waner	3,152	.333	June 19, 1942	Pittsburgh Pirates	1926–1945	Single	[41]
Yount, RobinRobin Yount	3,142	.285	September 9, 1992	Milwaukee Brewers	1974–1993	Single	[42]
Gwynn, TonyTony Gwynn	3,141	.338	August 6, 1999	San Diego Padres	1982–2001	Single	[43]
Winfield, DaveDave Winfield	3,110	.283	September 16, 1993	Minnesota Twins	1973–1995	Single	[44]
Rodriguez, AlexAlex Rodriguez	3,082	.296	June 19, 2015	New York Yankees	1994–2013, 2015–present	Home run	[45]
Biggio, CraigCraig Biggio	3,060	.281	June 28, 2007	Houston Astros	1988–2007	Single	[46]
Henderson, RickeyRickey Henderson	3,055	.279	October 7, 2001	San Diego Padres	1979–2003	Double	[47]
Carew, RodRod Carew	3,053	.328	August 4, 1985	California Angels	1967–1985	Single	[48]
Brock, LouLou Brock	3,023	.293	August 13, 1979	St. Louis Cardinals	1961–1979	Single	[49]
Palmeiro, RafaelRafael Palmeiro	3,020	.288	July 15, 2005	Baltimore Orioles	1986–2005	Double	[50]
Anson, CapCap Anson	3,011[lower-alpha 1]	.331	July 18, 1897[lower-alpha 1]	Chicago Colts	1871–1897	Single	[51]
Boggs, WadeWade Boggs	3,010	.328	August 7, 1999	Tampa Bay Devil Rays	1982–1999	Home run	[52]
Kaline, AlAl Kaline	3,007	.297	September 24, 1974	Detroit Tigers	1953–1974	Double	[53]
Clemente, RobertoRoberto Clemente	3,000	.317	September 30, 1972	Pittsburgh Pirates	1955–1972	Double	[54]

See also

• List of lifetime Major League Baseball hit leaders through history
• List of Major League Baseball hit records
• List of Major League Baseball players with 2,000 hits
• Mr. 3000

Notes

1. Two major factors have confused Anson's precise hit total. First, a rule which existed for only the 1887 MLB season counted walks as hits.^[1] Additionally, Anson played five seasons in the National Association (NA), which is not always recognized as an official "major league".^[1][2] MLB.com credits Anson with 3,011 career hits, not including his time in the NA or his walks in 1887.^[3] Baseball-Reference credits him with 3,435 hits, including his time in the NA, not including his walks in 1887, and differing with MLB.com over his hit total in 1894.^[4] The Hall of Fame shows 3,081 hits for Anson, including his walks in 1887 (for a total of 224 hits that season) but not including NA playing time.^[5]Major League Baseball credits him with 3,081 hits which is verified by Elias Sports Bureau.^[6]The date listed comes from MLB.com, using their hit totals for Anson.
2. MLB.com and the Hall of Fame credit Cobb with 4,191 hits,^[8][9] while Baseball-Reference lists 4,189.^[10]
3. This was not Clemente's last game, however, as he entered his next and final game as a defensive substitution and did not bat.^[12][14] Clemente died in a plane crash on December 31, 1972.^[15]
4. MLB.com credits Lajoie with 3,252 hits,^[36] while Baseball-Reference and the 3,000 hit club page on MLB.com list 3,243 and 3,242, respectively.^[37][38]

References

General

• "Career Leaders & Records for Hits". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
• "3,000 Hits Club – Milestones". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on June 24, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
• "The 3,000 Hit Club". National Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 4, 2010.

Specific

1. Fleitz, David L. (2005). Cap Anson: The Grand Old Man of Baseball. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 346. ISBN 0-7864-2238-6.
2. "Complete Baseball Team and Baseball Team Encyclopedias". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on August 8, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
3. "Cap Anson – Historical Player Stats". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
4. "Cap Anson Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
5. "Anson, Cap". baseballhall.org. Baseball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 22, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
6. "Anson, Cap Hall of fame". Baseball Hall of Fame.
7. "Progressive Leaders & Records for Hits". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
8. "Ty Cobb Stats, Bio, Photos, Highlights". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
9. "Cobb, Ty". baseballhall.org. Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
10. "Ty Cobb Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
11. Boswell, Thomas (September 12, 1985). "'Charlie Hustle' gets hit 4,192 to surpass Cobb, then another". The Washington Post.
12. "Roberto Clemente 1972 Batting Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
13. "September 30, 1972 New York Mets at Pittsburgh Pirates Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
14. "October 3, 1972 St. Louis Cardinals at Pittsburgh Pirates Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
15. Schwartz, Larry. "Clemente quietly grew in stature". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
16. "Houston's Biggio lashes 3,000th: 'Tonight is the best'". USA Today. Associated Press. June 29, 2007. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
17. Marchand, Andrew (July 9, 2011). "Derek Jeter gets 3,000th hit". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
18. Pahigian, Josh (2010). The Seventh Inning Stretch: Baseball's Most Essential and Inane Debates. Guilford, Connecticut: Globe Pequot Press. p. 80. ISBN 978-1-59921-805-2.
19. Bloom, Barry M. (April 27, 2005). "Hoffman definitely Hall of Fame caliber". MLB.com (MLB Advanced Media, L.P.). Archived from the original on April 21, 2011. There are milestones in other areas that always have been instant Hall of Fame qualifiers: 3,000 hits, 500 homers and 300 wins.
20. Haudricourt, Tom (November 1999). "Hall of Fame File". Baseball Digest: 75. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
21. Chass, Murray (April 16, 2000). "Baseball; Ripken Gets One More Big Number: 3,000 hits". The New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
22. "Rules for Election". National Baseball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
23. Erardi, John (August 23, 2009). "What is Pete Rose's true legacy?". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
24. "2014 Hall of Fame voting". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
25. "Pete Rose Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
26. "Hank Aaron Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
27. "Stan Musial Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
28. "Tris Speaker Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
29. "Derek Jeter Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
30. "Honus Wagner Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
31. "Carl Yastrzemski Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
32. "Paul Molitor Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
33. "Eddie Collins Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
34. "Willie Mays Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
35. "Eddie Murray Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
36. "Nap Lajoie Stats, Bio, Photos, Highlights". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
37. "Nap Lajoie Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
38. "3,000 Hits Club – Milestones". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on June 24, 2010. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
39. "Cal Ripken Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
40. "George Brett Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
41. "Paul Waner Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
42. "Robin Yount Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
43. "Tony Gwynn Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
44. "Dave Winfield Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
45. "Alex Rodriguez Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
46. "Craig Biggio Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
47. "Rickey Henderson Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
48. "Rod Carew Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
49. "Lou Brock Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
50. "Rafael Palmeiro Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
51. "The 3,000 Hit Club — Cap Anson". National Baseball Hall of Fame.
52. "Wade Boggs Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
53. "Al Kaline Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
54. "Roberto Clemente Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 4, 2010.