Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter got hit number 3,000 against divisional rival Tampa Bay on Saturday at Yankee Stadium. He becomes only the 28th player in MLB history to reach 3,000 career hits.
What may as remarkable as Jeter’s tremendous feet is that given the Yankees rich history, he becomes the first Bronx Bomber to reach the 3,000 hit milestone.
Number 3,000 came off David Price in the third inning of New York’s 5-4 victory over the Rays.
“You want to hit the ball hard,” he said. “I didn’t want to hit a slow roller to third base and have it be replayed forever.”
“It’s a number that’s meant a lot in baseball,” he said. “To be the only Yankee to do anything is special.”
But what about that now famous ball that was hit into the stands?
Well, it was caught by a Yankees fan by the name of Christian Lopez of Highland Mills, N.Y., emerged with the ball. Sitting in Section 236, Lopez was able to snag the ball after it bounced off his fathers hand and into his possession.
Lopez didn’t keep the ball long though. He promptly gave it back to Jeter after the game saying that it never occurred to him to keep it. The Yankees rewarded him with four tickets to every game for the rest of the year, and memorabilia autographed by Jeter—three bats, three balls and two jerseys.
“Mr. Jeter deserved it,” Lopez said. “It’s all his.”
Source: Yahoo Sports
