New York Yankees' Derek Jeter hugs teammate Jorge Posada after hitting a home run for his 3,000th hit during the third inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Saturday, July 9, 2011, at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Derek Jeter has always been known to have some flair for the dramatic, and on Saturday afternoon he lived up to his name of “Captain Clutch” as he hit a home run in the third inning at Yankee Stadium for hit number 3,000.
As fans were chanting “Derek Jeter! Derek Jeter!” the Yankee shortstop deposited a breaking ball into left field as the crowd roared in amazement, making him the first Yankee ever to have 3,000 hits for his career.
Running towards first base, Jeter kept his eyes on the ball and when the ball finally hit the seats he smiled rounding first base, as Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Casey Kotchman tipped his cap to the Yankees Captain.
Jeter was mobbed by his teammates when he reached home plate as his family and friends looked on in the stadium. He was first greeted by the only two teammates left from the ’90s championship teams–Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera.
New York Yankees' Derek Jeter reacts as he reaches home plate after hitting a home run for his 3000th hit during the third inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Saturday, July 9, 2011, at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Jeter was two hits away entering Saturday’s game after rain postponed Friday’s game. In the first inning, he singled between second and third to leave him one hit away from 3,000.
“It was just tremendous,” Jeter’s father, Dr. Charles Jeter said during an interview with the YES Network after his son’s 3,000 hit. “I really can’t describe how I was feeling.”
And what was he thinking before the hit? “Well we need a victory first of all,” said Jeter, sounding just like his son.
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