Making History: Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez

Last season both Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez would have to admit that they were pressing to reach personal milestones. More or less guaranteeing Hall of Fame induction reaching 3000 hits for the Captain and 600 homeruns for A-Rod, were marks that put player over team and in both instances, we wanted them to get it and then move on. There was a palpable sense of relief when the numbers were notched.

But in 2012, this tandem of teammates, Jeter and A-Rod, are making history nearly nightly. As Yankee fans we are being treated to a season where one, or both of them, are surpassing some of the greatest names and greatest players in the long and storied history of both Major League baseball and the New York Yankees franchise and we should expect more of the same in 2013.

Since surpassing the vaunted 3K last season in an impressive way – we won’t forget the homer off David Price that was part of Jeter’s five-for-five day – the number of Hall of Famers he has put in his rearview mirror is quite impressive; it reads like a roll call of some of the game’s great hitters. Passing legendary Yankee Dave Winfield got the ball rolling for Derek this season. Since then Jeter has left Tony Gwynn, Robin Yount, Paul Waner and, finally, George Brett behind him.

Before this season is done, the Yankee Captain can be expected to move past Cal Ripken, Nap LaJoie, Eddie Murray and Willie Mays which would place him eleventh all-time. Staying healthy and productive through the 2013 season should potentially vault Jeter to sixth all-time, passing by the likes of Eddie Collins, Paul Molitor, Carl Yastrzemski, Honus Wagner and Cap Anson. The aforementioned Cal Ripken is of the belief that Derek Jeter will reach the rare air of 4000 hits – and potentially challenge the all-time mark set by Pete Rose.

This past week, Alex Rodriguez hit his twenty-third grand slam. What’s significant about that number? Oh, it just tied the Iron Horse, Lou Gehrig, for the all-time record for long balls with the sacks juiced. One has to suspect that that particular record, long held by a Yankee, will continue that way when A-Rod finally hangs ‘em up.

That homerun, A-Rod’s 639^th of his career total, inches him closer to catching Willie Mays at 660 which is good for fourth all-time. Having passed Ken Griffey, Jr. earlier this season for fifth place, Rodriguez may not catch the Say Hey Kid this season, but he really should in 2013. Just for good measure, Alex will get his 3000^th hit next season as well. I was totally remiss in doing the research on how A-Rod is moving up the all-time RBI leaders, but you should check that out as well.

Both Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez are students and fans of the game. It’s probably hard to ignore the milestones when they go up on the big scoreboard; you know both players would tell you none of the personal marks mean that much unless the team is winning. But right now, the team is doing that very thing so it gives us a little extra opportunity to enjoy watching history being made in the Bronx. As a fan, I sort of wish that Jeter and A-Rod were as close of friends as they were earlier in their careers and could keep pushing and encouraging each other, but it’s still an amazing part of the 2012 season watching the teammates make and break baseball history.