With Ichiro‘s arrival in the Bronx, he joins Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriquez as Yankees with 2500 or more career hits.
How unusal is that? I’ll take a look after the jump.
In fact, yesterday’s Mariners/Yankees tilt was the first major league game in almost 84 years featuring 3 players on the same team already over the 2500 hit plateau. It was also the first game in over 85 years with a starting lineup with 3 such players.
Manager Connie Mack started 3 future HOFers on August 30, 1928, as his As hosted the Red Sox. Those three were not the 2500-hit players, but young up-and-comers Al Simmons in left, Jimmie Foxx at 3rd base, and Mickey Cochrane behind the plate. Three other future HOFers (Ty Cobb, Eddie Collins and Tris Speaker) appeared as pinch-hitters, all unsuccessfully. This would be Speaker’s final game. Cobb followed him with his finale two weeks later, again making an out as a pinch-hitter. Collins would hang on for 2 more seasons, but he had already played his final game in the field. Incidentally, a seventh future HOFer also appeared in this game – Boston pitcher Red Ruffing pinch-hit in the 9th inning and delivered a double to plate the tying and winning runs.
The last time a starting lineup featured 3 players over 2500 hits was a year earlier, on July 13, 1927, with the White Sox hosting the As. The Athletics started 6 future HOFers, three 2500-hit players (Cobb, Collins and Zack Wheat) plus Simmons, Cochrane and starting pitcher Lefty Grove. The opposition also provided a 7th HOFer, their starting pitcher Ted Lyons.
Since 1928, a number of teams have had two 2500-hit players on their rosters but, until now, never three. I’ve found these ones (let me know of any I’ve missed).
- 1935 Braves – Rabbit Maranville, Babe Ruth
- 1936 Tigers – Goose Goslin, Al Simmons
- 1938 Senators – Goose Goslin, Al Simmons
- 1938-39 Pirates – Paul Waner, Heinie Manush
- 1973 Angels – Frank Robinson, Vada Pinson
- 1982 Red Sox – Carl Yastrzemski, Tony Perez
- 1983 Phillies – Pete Rose, Tony Perez
- 1984-86 Reds – Pete Rose, Tony Perez
- 1989 Royals – George Brett, Bill Buckner
- 1990 Brewers – Robin Yount, Dave Parker
- 1991 Angels – Dave Winfield, Dave Parker
- 1995 Indians – Dave Winfield, Eddie Murray
- 1996 Orioles – Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray
- 1997 Padres – Rickey Henderson, Tony Gwynn
- 1997 Angels – Rickey Henderson, Eddie Murray (teammates for only one day)
- 1997-2000 Orioles – Cal Ripken, Harold Baines
- 2001 Orioles – Cal Ripken, Tim Raines
- 2001 Padres – Rickey Henderson, Tony Gwynn
- 2006 Giants – Barry Bonds, Steve Finley
- 2007 Giants – Barry Bonds, Omar Vizquel
- 2008 Tigers – Ivan Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield
- 2008 Yankees – Ivan Rodriguez, Derek Jeter
- 2009 Rangers – Ivan Rodriguez, Omar Vizquel
- 2009-11 Yankees – Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter
- 2010 Dodgers – Garret Anderson, Manny Ramirez
- 2010 White Sox – Omar Vizquel, Manny Ramirez
- 2011 Rays – Johnny Damon, Manny Ramirez
There were also no teams with three 2500-hit teammates prior to the 1927 As. These are the only teams from the early days with two such teammates.
- 1903 Senators – Ed Delahanty, Jimmy Ryan
- 1911, 1913-15 Pirates – Honus Wagner, Fred Clarke
