3,000-hit club

The 3,000-hit club is the group of 33 batters who have collected 3,000 or more regular-season hits in their careers in Major League Baseball (MLB), achieving a milestone "long considered the greatest measure of superior bat handling" and often described as a guarantee of eventual entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame.[1][2][3][4]

A middle-aged white male wearing a white cap.
Pete Rose is the all-time MLB hits leader with 4,256 hits.

Cap Anson was the first to do so, although his precise career hit total is unclear; he is the oldest player to have achieved the mark, having done so at the age of 45.[5][lower-alpha 1] Two players—Nap Lajoie and Honus Wagner—reached 3,000 hits during the 1914 season. Ty Cobb did so in 1921 and became the first player in MLB history to reach 4,000 hits in 1927, ultimately finishing his career with 4,189.[13][lower-alpha 2] Pete Rose, the current hit leader, became the second player to reach 4,000 hits on April 13, 1984, and surpassed Cobb in September 1985, finishing his career with 4,256.[18][19] Roberto Clemente's career ended with precisely 3,000 hits, which he reached in the last at bat of his career on September 30, 1972.[20][21][lower-alpha 3]

Of the 33 members, 18 were right-handed batters, 13 were left-handed, and two were switch hitters. The Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers are the only franchises to see three players reach 3,000 hits while on their roster: for Cleveland, Lajoie, while the team was the Naps, Tris Speaker, and most recently Eddie Murray, both when the franchise was known as the Indians, and, for the Tigers, Cobb, Al Kaline, and most recently Miguel Cabrera. Ten of these players have played for only one major league team. Seven players—Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Rafael Palmeiro, Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, and Miguel Cabrera—are also members of the 500 home run club. Cobb holds the highest career batting average at .366, while Cal Ripken Jr. holds the lowest at .276. Derek Jeter, Wade Boggs, and Alex Rodriguez are the only players to hit a home run for their 3,000th hit, and Paul Molitor and Ichiro Suzuki are the only players to hit a triple for their 3,000th; all others hit a single or double. Stan Musial was the first to collect an extra-base hit for his 3,000th hit, and is also the only one to have done so as pinch-hitter. Craig Biggio is the only player to be thrown out for his 3,000th hit, while attempting to stretch the hit into a double.[24] Biggio and Jeter are the only players whose 3,000th hit came in a game where they had five hits; Jeter reached base safely in all of his at bats.[25] The most recent player to reach 3,000 hits is Cabrera, who did so on April 23, 2022, while playing for the Detroit Tigers.[26]

All eligible players with 3,000 or more career hits have been elected to the Hall except Palmeiro and Rodriguez, whose careers have been tainted by steroid allegations, and since 1962 all except Biggio were elected on the first ballot. Rose is ineligible for the Hall of Fame because he was permanently banned from baseball in 1989.[27][28][29] After four years on the ballot, Palmeiro failed to be named on 5% of ballots in 2014, after which his name was removed from the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballots, although it is possible that the Veterans Committee could select him.[30] Rodriguez garnered 34.3% of the vote during his first year of eligibility in 2022.[29] Twenty-one different teams have had a player reach 3,000 hits.[12]

Key
Cap Anson reached 3,000 hits on July 18, 1897. He was the first, and, as of 2022, the oldest player to reach the mark.
Black and white portrait of a man wearing a high collar, held closed with a safety pin.
In 1927, Ty Cobb became the first player to collect 4,000 hits. As of 2022 he is the youngest player to reach 3,000 hits, doing so at the age of 34. He also achieved 3,000 hits in the least amount of games played (2,135).
A man in a navy blue baseball jersey with "Twins" written across the chest holding a navy blue cap and smiling.
Paul Molitor was the first to triple for his 3,000th hit.
A man in a navy blue and grey windbreaker with the word "New" visible stands on the left facing a man in a navy blue polo shirt who is looking up at the camera.
Derek Jeter (left) and Dave Winfield (right) are both members.
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
† Also hit 500 home runs

Members
Statistics updated as of October 2, 2023
Player Hits Average Date Team Seasons 3,000th hit Ref
Pete Rose[lower-alpha 4] 4,256.303May 5, 1978Cincinnati Reds1963–1986Single[31]
Ty Cobb* 4,189[lower-alpha 2].366August 19, 1921Detroit Tigers1905–1928[32]
Hank Aaron†* 3,771.305May 17, 1970Atlanta Braves1954–1976[33]
Stan Musial* 3,630.331May 13, 1958St. Louis Cardinals1941–1944, 1946–1963Double[34]
Tris Speaker* 3,514.345May 17, 1925Cleveland Indians1907–1928Single[35]
Derek Jeter* 3,465.310July 9, 2011New York Yankees1995–2014Home run[36]
Honus Wagner* 3,430.329June 9, 1914Pittsburgh Pirates1897–1917Double[37]
Carl Yastrzemski* 3,419.285September 12, 1979Boston Red Sox1961–1983Single[38]
Albert Pujols† 3,384.296May 4, 2018Los Angeles Angels2001–2022[39]
Paul Molitor* 3,319.306September 16, 1996Minnesota Twins1978–1998Triple[40]
Eddie Collins* 3,314.333June 3, 1925Chicago White Sox1906–1930Single[41]
Willie Mays†* 3,293.301July 3, 1970San Francisco Giants1948, 1951–1952, 1954–1973[42]
Eddie Murray†* 3,255.287June 30, 1995Cleveland Indians1977–1997[43]
Nap Lajoie* 3,252[lower-alpha 5].339September 27, 1914Cleveland Naps1896–1916Double[47]
Cal Ripken Jr.* 3,184.276April 15, 2000Baltimore Orioles1981–2001Single[48]
Miguel Cabrera† 3,174.307April 23, 2022Detroit Tigers2003–2023Single[49]
Adrián Beltré 3,166.286July 30, 2017Texas Rangers1998–2018Double[50]
George Brett* 3,154.305September 30, 1992Kansas City Royals1973–1993Single[51]
Paul Waner* 3,152.333June 19, 1942Boston Braves1926–1945[52]
Robin Yount* 3,142.285September 9, 1992Milwaukee Brewers1974–1993[53]
Tony Gwynn* 3,141.338August 6, 1999San Diego Padres1982–2001[54]
Alex Rodriguez† 3,115.295June 19, 2015New York Yankees1994–2013, 2015–2016Home run[55]
Dave Winfield* 3,110.283September 16, 1993Minnesota Twins1973–1995Single[56]
Ichiro Suzuki 3,089.311August 7, 2016Miami Marlins2001–2019Triple[57]
Craig Biggio* 3,060.281June 28, 2007Houston Astros1988–2007Single[lower-alpha 6] [58]
Rickey Henderson* 3,055.279October 7, 2001San Diego Padres1979–2003Double[59]
Rod Carew* 3,053.328August 4, 1985California Angels1967–1985Single[60]
Lou Brock* 3,023.293August 13, 1979St. Louis Cardinals1961–1979[61]
Rafael Palmeiro† 3,020.288July 15, 2005Baltimore Orioles1986–2005Double[62]
Cap Anson* 3,011[lower-alpha 1].331July 18, 1897[lower-alpha 1]Chicago Colts1871–1897Single[12]
Wade Boggs* 3,010.328August 7, 1999Tampa Bay Devil Rays1982–1999Home run[63]
Al Kaline* 3,007.297September 24, 1974Detroit Tigers1953–1974Double[64]
Roberto Clemente* 3,000.317September 30, 1972Pittsburgh Pirates1955–1972[65]

Comments
  • a There are two main reasons why the exact number of hits by Anson is unknown. Firstly, according to a rule that existed in the 1887 MLB season, walks were counted as hits.[7] In addition, Anson played five seasons in the National Association (NA), which is not always considered the official "major league".[7][66] According to MLB.com, Anson hit 3011 hits, excluding the hits he made in the NA and walks in the 1887 season.[67] Baseball-Reference attributes 3435 hits to Anson, including seasons in the NA but excluding walks in the 1887 season. In addition, there is a discrepancy with the MLB website regarding the number of hits Anson made in 1894.[68] The National Baseball Hall of Fame website states that Anson hit 3081 hits. This number includes the walks in 1887 but does not include hits in the NA.[69] This figure is also supported by the official MLB statistical bureau, Elias Sports Bureau.[70] Anson's MLB.com page lists the number of hits according to the website.
  • b According to MLB.com and the Baseball Hall of Fame, Cobb hit 4191 hits, but according to Baseball-Reference, it is 4189.[32]
  • c According to MLB.com, Speaker hit 3515 hits,[71] but according to Baseball-Reference, it is 3514.
  • d According to MLB.com, Lajoie hit 3252 hits.[72] However, Baseball-Reference and the MLB.com page listing members of the 3000-hit club indicate 3243 and 3242 hits, respectively.[71][47]

See also

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.[6] Additionally, Anson played five seasons in the National Association (NA), which is not always recognized as an official "major league".[7][8] MLB.com credits Anson with 3,011 career hits, not including his time in the NA or his walks in 1887.[9] Baseball-Reference credits him with 3,435 hits, including his time in the NA, not including his walks in 1887, and crediting him with one more hit than MLB.com for his hit total in 1894.[10] 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.[11] Elias Sports Bureau also credits him with 3,081 hits.[12] The date listed in this article comes from MLB.com, using their hit totals for Anson.
  2. MLB.com and the Hall of Fame credit Cobb with 4,191 hits,[14][15] while Baseball-Reference lists 4,189; the discrepancy is due to a possible double-counted game in 1910 in which Cobb was credited with 2 hits.[16][17]
  3. This was not Clemente's last appearance in a game, however, as he entered the following game as a defensive substitution and did not bat.[20][22] Clemente died during the offseason on December 31, 1972.[23]
  4. Due to betting on games while managing an MLB team, Pete Rose received a lifetime ban from baseball and is not eligible for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
  5. MLB.com credits Lajoie with 3,252 hits,[44] while Baseball-Reference lists 3,243.[45] The discrepancy is due to a transcription error for Lajoie's hit total in 1901, 229, which until 1954 was inaccurately recorded as 220.[46]
  6. Biggio was thrown out trying to stretch his single into a double.[24]

References
General
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  • "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. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
Specific
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  2. Bloom, Barry M. (April 27, 2005). "Hoffman definitely Hall of Fame caliber". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Archived from the original on March 8, 2011. There are milestones in other areas that always have been instant Hall of Fame qualifiers: 3,000 hits, 500 homers and 300 wins.
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