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

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). Reaching 3,000 hits has, "long considered the greatest measure of superior bat handling" and is often described as a guarantee of eventual entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame.[1][2][3][4]

Cap Anson was the first MLB player to reach 3,000 hits, although his precise career hit total is unclear.[5][a] 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][b] 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][c]

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 a 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] Cabrera, Pujols, and Suzuki are not yet eligible for the Hall because they haven’t been retired for 5 years.

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. He remains 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 the end of the 2023 season.
Player Hits Average Date Team Seasons 3,000th hit Ref
Pete Rose[d] 4,256 .303 May 5, 1978 Cincinnati Reds 1963–1986 Single [31]
Ty Cobb* 4,189[b] .366 August 19, 1921 Detroit Tigers 1905–1928 [32]
Hank Aaron†* 3,771 .305 May 17, 1970 Atlanta Braves 1954–1976 [33]
Stan Musial* 3,630 .331 May 13, 1958 St. Louis Cardinals 1941–1944, 1946–1963 Double [34]
Tris Speaker* 3,514 .345 May 17, 1925 Cleveland Indians 1907–1928 Single [35]
Derek Jeter* 3,465 .310 July 9, 2011 New York Yankees 1995–2014 Home run [36]
Honus Wagner* 3,430 .329 June 9, 1914 Pittsburgh Pirates 1897–1917 Double [37]
Carl Yastrzemski* 3,419 .285 September 12, 1979 Boston Red Sox 1961–1983 Single [38]
Albert Pujols† 3,384 .296 May 4, 2018 Los Angeles Angels 2001–2022 [39]
Paul Molitor* 3,319 .306 September 16, 1996 Minnesota Twins 1978–1998 Triple [40]
Eddie Collins* 3,314 .333 June 3, 1925 Chicago White Sox 1906–1930 Single [41]
Willie Mays†* 3,293 .301 July 18, 1970 San Francisco Giants 1948, 1951–1952, 1954–1973 [42]
Eddie Murray†* 3,255 .287 June 30, 1995 Cleveland Indians 1977–1997 [43]
Nap Lajoie* 3,252[e] .339 September 27, 1914 Cleveland Naps 1896–1916 Double [47]
Cal Ripken Jr.* 3,184 .276 April 15, 2000 Baltimore Orioles 1981–2001 Single [48]
Miguel Cabrera† 3,174 .307 April 23, 2022 Detroit Tigers 2003–2023 [49]
Adrián Beltré* 3,166 .286 July 30, 2017 Texas Rangers 1998–2018 Double [50]
George Brett* 3,154 .305 September 30, 1992 Kansas City Royals 1973–1993 Single [51]
Paul Waner* 3,152 .333 June 19, 1942 Boston Braves 1926–1945 [52]
Robin Yount* 3,142 .285 September 9, 1992 Milwaukee Brewers 1974–1993 [53]
Tony Gwynn* 3,141 .338 August 6, 1999 San Diego Padres 1982–2001 [54]
Alex Rodriguez† 3,115 .295 June 19, 2015 New York Yankees 1994–2013, 2015–2016 Home run [55]
Dave Winfield* 3,110 .283 September 16, 1993 Minnesota Twins 1973–1995 Single [56]
Ichiro Suzuki 3,089 .311 August 7, 2016 Miami Marlins 2001–2019 Triple [57]
Craig Biggio* 3,060 .281 June 28, 2007 Houston Astros 1988–2007 Single[f] [58]
Rickey Henderson* 3,055 .279 October 7, 2001 San Diego Padres 1979–2003 Double [59]
Rod Carew* 3,053 .328 August 4, 1985 California Angels 1967–1985 Single [60]
Lou Brock* 3,023 .293 August 13, 1979 St. Louis Cardinals 1961–1979 [61]
Rafael Palmeiro† 3,020 .288 July 15, 2005 Baltimore Orioles 1986–2005 Double [62]
Cap Anson* 3,011[a] .331 July 18, 1897[a] Chicago Colts 1871–1897 Single [12]
Wade Boggs* 3,010 .328 August 7, 1999 Tampa Bay Devil Rays 1982–1999 Home run [63]
Al Kaline* 3,007 .297 September 24, 1974 Detroit Tigers 1953–1974 Double [64]
Roberto Clemente* 3,000 .317 September 30, 1972 Pittsburgh Pirates 1955–1972 [65]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b 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
  • "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. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
Specific
  1. ^ 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. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
  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.
  3. ^ Haudricourt, Tom (November 1999). "Hall of Fame File". Baseball Digest: 75.
  4. ^ Chass, Murray (April 16, 2000). "Baseball; Ripken Gets One More Big Number: 3,000 hits". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 10, 2014. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  5. ^ "Every member of the 3,000-hit club". MLB.com.
  6. ^ Fleitz, David L. (2005). Cap Anson: The Grand Old Man of Baseball. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 346. ISBN 0-7864-2238-6.
  7. ^ Fleitz, David L. (2005). Cap Anson: The Grand Old Man of Baseball (in undetermined language). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 346. ISBN 0-7864-2238-6.
  8. ^ "Complete Baseball Team and Baseball Team Encyclopedias". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on August 8, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
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  10. ^ "Cap Anson Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on November 27, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  11. ^ "Anson, Cap". baseballhall.org. Baseball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 22, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  12. ^ a b c "The 3,000 Hit Club: Cap Anson". Baseball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on October 29, 2016. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
  13. ^ "Progressive Leaders & Records for Hits". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 29, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  14. ^ "Ty Cobb Stats, Bio, Photos, Highlights". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  15. ^ "Cobb, Ty". baseballhall.org. Baseball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on December 14, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  16. ^ "Ty Cobb Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  17. ^ Schwarz, Alan (2005-07-31). "Numbers Are Cast in Bronze, but Are Not Set in Stone". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-10-07.Schwarz, Alan (2005-07-31). "Numbers Are Cast in Bronze, but Are Not Set in Stone". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  18. ^ Constantino, Rocco (2016). 50 Moments That Defined Major League Baseball. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 27–28. ISBN 978-1-4422-6055-9.
  19. ^ Boswell, Thomas (September 12, 1985). "'Charlie Hustle' gets hit 4,192 to surpass Cobb, then another". The Washington Post.
  20. ^ a b "Roberto Clemente 1972 Batting Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  21. ^ "September 30, 1972 New York Mets at Pittsburgh Pirates Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  22. ^ "October 3, 1972 St. Louis Cardinals at Pittsburgh Pirates Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 12, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  23. ^ Schwartz, Larry. "Clemente quietly grew in stature". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  24. ^ a b "Houston's Biggio lashes 3,000th: 'Tonight is the best'". USA Today. Associated Press. June 29, 2007. Archived from the original on December 28, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  25. ^ Marchand, Andrew (July 9, 2011). "Derek Jeter gets 3,000th hit". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
  26. ^ "Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera becomes 33rd player in MLB history with 3,000 hits".
  27. ^ "Rules for Election". National Baseball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  28. ^ Erardi, John (August 23, 2009). "What is Pete Rose's true legacy?". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  29. ^ a b "Alex Rodriguez's Hall of Fame results 2022". www.mlb.com. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  30. ^ "2014 Hall of Fame Voting". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on December 19, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  31. ^ "Pete Rose Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 12, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  32. ^ "Ty Cobb Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 2010-01-04. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
  33. ^ "Hank Aaron Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on June 23, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  34. ^ "Stan Musial Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on December 3, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  35. ^ "Tris Speaker Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on November 27, 2009. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
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  37. ^ "Honus Wagner Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on December 3, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  38. ^ "Carl Yastrzemski Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on December 4, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  39. ^ "Albert Pujols Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on July 7, 2009. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  40. ^ "Paul Molitor Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 30, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  41. ^ "Eddie Collins Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 30, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  42. ^ "Willie Mays Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 13, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  43. ^ "Eddie Murray Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on May 19, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  44. ^ "Nap Lajoie Stats, Bio, Photos, Highlights". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
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  48. ^ "Cal Ripken Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on January 4, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
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