Jeter tops Gehrig, sets Yankees hit record

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Saturday September 12, 2009
Jeter tops Gehrig, sets Yankees hit record

NEW YORK (AP) - Puddles soaked the warning track and ponchos dotted the stands when Derek Jeter stepped to the plate in the third inning, hoping to give the soggy Yankee Stadium crowd a reason for showing up in all this rain.

With one of his classic, inside-out swings, Jeter sent a sharp grounder skimming through the infield. And there it was, the record-setting hit that pushed him past Lou Gehrig.

Jeter broke the New York Yankees' hit record held by Gehrig for more than seven decades on Friday night with an opposite-field single against Baltimore. It gave Jeter 2,722 hits, one more than Gehrig, whose Hall of Fame career was cut short by illness in 1939.

"The whole experience has been overwhelming,'' Jeter said. "This is more than I could've imagined.''

The captain kept right on going, too, with an RBI single in the fourth that put New York up 4-1. He came out of the game after a 67-minute rain delay in the seventh when manager Joe Girardi pulled most of his starters with the Yankees trailing 10-4.

Once play resumed, the Yankees held an unusual in-game news conference with Jeter and then teammates Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Alex Rodriguez.

"I didn't expect that many people to be out there after the rain delay considering how hard it was raining when we started the game,'' Jeter said. "But the fans were incredible. It says a lot about how they feel about their team and more importantly how they feel about the history of their team. I appreciate each and every one that was there.''

Jeter's record-breaking hit was remarkably similar to the one that tied Gehrig on Wednesday night, a well-struck grounder inside the first-base line. After this one, Yankees players poured out of the dugout and engulfed Jeter at first base with hugs and pats on the back.

"I didn't know that they were going to do that, so that sort of caught me off-guard,'' Jeter said. "It's a special moment for me, it's a special moment for the organization. To be able to enjoy it with my teammates was a lot of fun.''

Jeter spread his arms wide after rounding first base on his record-breaking hit and gave an emphatic clap as he headed back to the bag.

Rain-drenched fans, many wearing bright ponchos, roared during an ovation that lasted about 3 minutes. Jeter twice waved his helmet to the crowd of 46,771 - just as he did after tying the record. Fans chanted his name and the ball was taken out of play as a souvenir.

"For those who say today's game can't produce legendary players, I have two words: Derek Jeter. Game in and game out he just produces,'' Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said in a statement. "As historic and significant as becoming the Yankees' all-time hit leader is, the accomplishment is all the more impressive because Derek is one of the finest young men playing the game today.

"That combination of character and athletic ability is something he shares with the previous record holder, Lou Gehrig,'' the statement said.

When his grounder got past diving first baseman Luke Scott, Jeter's parents raised their arms in excitement. Joining them in an upstairs box filled with family and friends were his sister and steady girlfriend, actress Minka Kelly.

Jeter tied Gehrig's mark Wednesday night, snapping an 0-for-12 slump with three hits against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Yankees were off Thursday, and Jeter resumed his pursuit Friday at soggy Yankee Stadium.

"I'm happy I was able to do it quickly,'' he said.

The start was delayed 87 minutes by heavy rain that had tapered off by the third inning. Jeter struck out swinging against Tillman in his first at-bat, but came through his next time up.

"It's vintage Derek Jeter. Stay inside the ball and hit it the other way,'' Girardi said. "I think everyone was just ecstatic for him. ... I think we all feel very proud to be around him.''

Gehrig's final hit came on April 29, 1939, a single against the Washington Senators. The Iron Horse had held the club record since Sept. 6, 1937, when he passed Babe Ruth.

Gehrig's career ended suddenly in 1939. Two years later, he died at 37 from the disease that would later bear his name.

Jeter got his first hit on May 30, 1995, at Seattle and set the Yankees mark with 14 seasons of splendid consistency. His two singles Friday night gave him 1,363 hits at home and 1,360 on the road.

Now, No. 2 in Yankees pinstripes is number one in the record book for baseball's most storied franchise.

"It's still hard to believe for me,'' he said.

The 35-year-old Jeter also moved past Gehrig for 53rd place on the game's career hit list. Roberto Alomar is 52nd at 2,724.

It was Jeter's 268th hit against Baltimore, his most against any opponent.

Jeter finished 2 for 4 and grounded into an inning-ending double play in the sixth.

It was a special night at Yankee Stadium in several ways. Both teams and the umpires wore red caps with stars and stripes inside the logos to commemorate the eighth anniversary of 9-11. Pregame ceremonies included a moment of silence to remember those who died in the attacks.

Dorine Gordon, president and CEO of The ALS Association Greater New York Chapter, also congratulated Jeter in a statement that was passed out in the press box at Yankee Stadium.

ALS, of course, is the disease that afflicted Gehrig.