It’s A First!

When the New York Yankees played the Minnesota Twins today it was the first time in baseball history that two players with 600 home runs and one player with 3,000 hits appeared in the same game. That’s notable and the team here at Grubby Glove wanted to bring it to your attention.

Derek Jeter

When Derek Jeter got hit number 3,000 earlier this summer, he became one of only twenty-eight players who have achieved this milestone. Perhaps even more significant to Yankees fans, Jeter is the only Yankee to have done it. An immensely popular player, Jeter is a sure fire, first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Jim Thome

Jim Thome hit home run # 600 last Monday night, August 15, 2011. He is only the eighth player to do it. As he approaches the twilight of his career, Thome can look back with satisfaction knowing that he achieved this robust number the old fashioned way, with grit, determination, natural strength, a keen eye and a dedication to craft. Only in the past few seasons has this well-liked player seen his number of home runs diminish, but this is the case with all champions who seem to have the ability to defeat any foe, except Father Time.

Alex Rodriguez

In his first full season in the major leagues, Alex Rodriguez became a feared slugger by clubbing 36 home runs. His accomplishments include three Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards, fourteen designations as an All-Star, and thirteen straight seasons with at least 30 home runs and 100 runs batted in. In recent years,  injuries have reduced his production, but Rodriguez continues to be a feared hitter with the ability to hit the ball out of any park, including Yellowstone.

Derek Jeter, Jim Thome and Alex Rodriguez will continue to add to their career totals as long as they play ball. However, a cosmic roll of the dice brought the three of them together not only for today’s game, but also as the answers to a baseball trivia question that will last for the ages.