Ichiro surpasses the king of swing
HIT RECORD: Marlins outfielder breaks Rose’s mark of 4,256 pro-level hits with MLB’s 3,000 club looming
Ichiro Suzuki has reached one milestone and is approaching another. The Miami Marlins outfielder is closing in on the 3,000-hit plateau in his Major League Baseball career, but he also has just passed Pete Rose’s hits total.
Suzuki increased his combined Japanese and North American hit total to 4,257 on Wednesday by getting two in Miami’s 6-3 loss at San Diego. Rose had 4,256 hits in his MLB career. How Suzuki’s accomplishment compares to Rose’s MLB record is debatable; 1,278 of his hits came during his nine years in Japan’s Pacific League. Suzuki entered Wednesday batting .347 in a part-time role and has 2,979 MLB hits, putting him on pace to become the 30th person to reach 3,000.
Here’s a breakdown of each member of the 3,000-hit club.
Pete Rose
Hits: 4,256 Birthdate: April 14, 1941 Age when he got 3,000th hit: 37
Ty Cobb
Hits: 4,191 Birthdate: Dec. 18, 1886 Age when he got 3,000th hit: 34
Hank Aaron
Hits: 3,771 Birthdate: Feb. 5, 1934 Age when he got 3,000th hit: 36
Stan Musial
Hits: 3,630 Birthdate: Nov. 21, 1920 Age when he got 3,000th hit: 37
Tris Speaker
Hits: 3,515 Birthdate: April 4, 1888. Age when he got 3,000th hit: 37
Derek Jeter
Hits: 3,465 Birthdate: June 26, 1974 Age when he got 3,000th hit: 37
Honus Wagner
Hits: 3,430 Birthdate: Feb. 24, 1874 Age when he got 3,000th hit: 40
Carl Yastrzemski
Hits: 3,419 Birthdate: Aug. 22, 1939 Age when he got 3,000th hit: 40
Paul Molitor
Hits: 3,319 Birthdate: Aug. 22, 1956 Age when he got 3,000th hit: 40
Eddie Collins
Hits: 3,314 Birthdate: May 2, 1887 Age when he got 3,000th hit: 38
Willie Mays
Hits: 3,283
Birthdate: May 6, 1931 Age when he got 3,000th hit: 39
Eddie Murray
Hits: 3,255 Birthdate: Feb. 24, 1956 Age when he got 3,000th hit: 39
Nap Lajoie
Hits: 3,252 Birthdate: Sept. 5, 1874 Age when he got 3,000th hit: 40
Cal Ripken Jr.
Hits: 3,184 Birthdate: Aug. 24, 1960 Age when he got 3,000th hit: 39
George Brett
Hits: 3,154 Birthdate: May 15, 1953 Age when he got 3,000th hit: 38
Paul Waner
Hits: 3,152 Birthdate: April 16, 1903 Age when he got 3,000th hit: 38
Robin Yount
Hits: 3,142 Birthdate: Sept. 16, 1955 Age when he got 3,000th hit: 36
Tony Gwynn
Hits: 3,141 Birthdate: May 9, 1960 Age when he got 3,000th hit: 39
Dave Winfield
Hits: 3,110 Birthdate: Oct. 3, 1951 Age when he got 3,000th hit: 41
Alex Rodriguez
Hits: 3,098 (as of Tuesday) Birthdate: July 27, 1975 Age when he got 3,000th hit : 39
Craig Biggio
Hits: 3,060 Birthdate: Dec. 14, 1965 Age when he got 3,000th hit: 41
Rickey Henderson
Hits: 3,055 Birthdate: Dec. 25, 1958 Age when he got 3,000th hit: 42
Rod Carew
Hits: 3,053 Birthdate: Oct. 1, 1945 Age when he got 3,000th hit : 39
Lou Brock
Hits: 3,023 Birthdate: June 18, 1939 Age when he got 3,000th hit : 40
Rafael Palmeiro
Hits: 3,020 Birthdate: Sept. 24, 1964 Age when he got 3,000th hit : 40
Cap Anson
Hits: 3,011-x Birthdate: April 17, 1852 Age when he got 3,000th hit : 45
Wade Boggs
Hits: 3,010 Birthdate: June 15, 1958 Age when he got 3,000th hit : 41
Al Kaline
Hits: 3,007 Birthdate: Dec. 19, 1934 Age when he got 3,000th hit: 39
Roberto Clemente
Hits: 3,000 Birthdate: Aug. 18, 1934 Age when he got 3,000th hit : 38 x-Anson had 423 hits in the National Association. MLB only credits Anson with the hits he got after he entered the National League in 1876