On this day back in Yankee Stadium’s final year, 34 year old Derek Jeter passed the legendary Babe Ruth on the team’s all-time hits list. The first inning single off Angel’s pitcher Ervin Santana brought his career total to 2,519, and helped the Yanks win 7-1. Lou Gehrig was now the only Bronx Bomber between the Captain and first place with 2,721. He added hit number 2,520 in the seventh inning just for good measure.
The Yankees were trying to punch their ticket to the playoffs at the time, so Jeter had other things to worry about.
“We’re trying to win games. Any time you mention guys like that, obviously it’s an honor.”
Joe Girardi said that Jeter would appreciate the accomplishment more once the season is over.
“I think when he goes home for the winter and he’s sitting around and sees the ball on his mantle, I think he’s going to enjoy it. A lot of players have a hard time enjoying things during the season.”
Jeter finished 2008 with 179 hits and a .300 batting average, but missed the playoffs for the first time in his career. At the end of the season, after 85 years of unforgettable memories, The House the Ruth Built saw its last game and the Captain gave the send off.
For all of us up here, it’s a huge honor to put this uniform on every day and come out here and play. And every member of this organization, past and present, has been calling this place home for 85 years. There’s a lot of tradition, a lot of history, and a lot of memories. Now the great thing about memories is you’re able to pass it along from generation to generation. And although things are going to change next year, we’re going to move across the street, there are a few things with the New York Yankees that never change: it’s pride, it’s tradition, and most of all, we have the greatest fans in the world. We’re relying on you to take the memories from this stadium and add them to the new memories that come to the new Yankee Stadium, and continue to pass them on from generation to generation. On behalf of this entire organization, we want to take this moment to salute you, the greatest fans in the world.
The Sultan of Swat collected his 2,518 hits over his 15 years in the Bronx, Jeter did it in his 14th.
