Derek Jeter Passes Lou Gehrig for Most Hits as a NY Yankee

On a windy, wet, rain delayed night in the Bronx to I was able to witness NY Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter get his 2722nd career hit, putting him atop the list of career hits for the franchise. The immortal Lou Gehrig held the record for over 70 years. I was very far away- probably closer to the Iron Horse than Derek, way up in section 434, or the very highest part of the left field upper deck of Yankee Stadium. I don't have a camera for such a distance, and the quality is not the best, but I was there. This clip is unique.

After he makes contact the view is partially obscured by cheering fans. I nearly forgot to pan out but the fan reaction gave me chills. It was a magical event- the long ovation, the chants, the dugout clearing tribute, all those flashbulbs- just incredible. In retrospect it would have been better to not focus it so close up, but there are no do-overs in baseball.

Jeter and Gehrig both played their first full season at age 22. Jeter is 35 and Gehrig's career was effectively over at 35 in the 1938 World Championship season. Even when he retired after an aborted start in 1939, Lou had 493 career home runs and 1995 RBI to go with those 2721 hits. Had he been spared an awful demise due to ALS, Mr. Gehrig would probably have well over 600 home runs, 2500 RBI and more than 3500 hits. Perhaps Jeter's remarkable accomplishment will give more attention to this Quiet Hero, who always seemed to play in the shadow of Ruth or DiMaggio.

Barring a tragedy of, well, Gehrig-like proportions, Jeter will be the first Bronx Bomber to record 3000 career hits. I'd love to see that in person also. The bulk of the clip is the fan reaction. In person, there is nothing like a standing ovation or Derek Jeter/MVP chant in the New House that Ruth Built.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Derek Jeter
• Lou Gehrig
• NY Yankees
• Yankee Stadium
• Jeter breaks record
• Jeter Passes Gehrig

[lvrpatriot01]

3000

[MMustang72]

@thenewyorkyankeessux

same here

[thenewyorkyankeessux]

as big as a sox fan that i am i respect jeter

[nakedvolleyball]

Wow, that's some nice video. Did you pull it out of your ass before posting?

[yankees492]

great vid good quality dosent matter where u sat U WITNESSED IT

[bananerx3]

wow. i would have killed to be there.

you are so lucky you were there... thats something you'll be talking about for the rest of your life

[BxLeGeNd91]

i was at the game he went 3 for 4 when he tied the record

[elazteca84]

the house that JETER built!

[killermel23]

NYY ALL DAY