Can't have a 4000 hit thread without a 3000 hit thread...

onlyanumber

Craig Biggio is next in line to break the 3000 hit plateau. He currently has 2930. Barry Bonds comes in at 2841, followed by Julio Franco at 2566. Then it gets interesting. Steve Finley has 2541 career hits, Omar Vizquel has 2472, and Ken Griffey has 2412. Who do you think makes it to 3000?

1420sports

Biggio breaks the barrier. Hopefully Griffey does (doubtful)

I don't think anyone else mentioned breaks 3000.

bulldog33

whats jeter at? and arod? i think they over 2k or just about at it and are still young. so baring a bad injury they will be over 3k..

who else is around 2k at young age?

bulldog33

just checked jeter is at 2150.. so at 32 he might get over 3800 hits.. we shall see...

arod is at 2067 hits... so at age 31 he could also reach 3800 or 4k. never no.

johnny damon has 1958 hits..so at age 33 he might reach 3k

anyone else you guys can think of?

Piman58

I wouldn't be surprised if Julio gets to 3000. His hardest task will be to convince a big league club that he can still
produce better than anyone else they may have. In the last three years he has a total of 16 stolen bases. There are
a lot of major league players that can't match that. Besides it would be great to see someone who played against
Ruth reach 3000.

grote15

Jeter should get to 3,000 hits easily. Can't see Griffey staying healthy enough to get there. Franco is way too old, he only plays part time now and doesn't get the necessary at bats. Had he not spent a few years away from MLB though playing down in Mexico, he'd almost certainly have 3,000 hits by now or at least be very very close. That would have been very interesting because it's universally assumed that amassing 3,000 career hits punches a one-way ticket to Cooperstown, but I just don't think HOF when I think of Juilo Franco. He is certainly the poster boy for longevity, though, so at what point should we use longevity as a detriment to evaluating a player's chances for the HOF? (Assumming, hypothetically, that Franco had played in the majors instead of outside the U.S. during those years.)

It'll be interesting to see, too, if Ichiro can keep up his current pace of 220 hits a season, and by doing so, he may have an outside shot at 3,000 hits which would be an incredible feat for someone who started in MLB as late as he did. Is he HOF worthy if he keeps it up? I'd say yes, easily.

SeatedCoin

I think Ichiro will definitely make it. He has already broken the major league record for hits in a season which George Sisler held for 84 years. That certainly says something besides getting to 3,000 hits which I think he will.

MPeter

Andruw Jones has a chance at 3,000 and 500 HR's if he keeps it up. Chipper Jones has been fading lately, but may have a chance if he stays healthy.

Cubby

Miggy Cabrera

DeutscherGeist

Julio Franco played a lot in Japan and Mexico after that monster 1994 season with the White Sox. He spent his prime years playing abroad. He was a distinguised player in Japan and even got the equivalent of the gold glove as a first baseman there.

His time playing abroad really messed up his chances of getting 3000 MLB hits. He would easily have gotten it had he stayed in MLB.

However, this guy is a physical marvel. He is reliable and hits above average at the very least. He runs well and can field if necessary. He is a great asset to a team even now. He can get 3000 hits, but he needs 5 more part time years. At age 47, for sure he will want to play 3 more years. We will have to see what he can amass in the next three years.

Satchel Paige played until he was well over 50. I think the wear on a pitcher may be greater than on a hitter. Only time will tell.

DeutscherGeist

Biggio will get 3000 hits.


Griffey is too injury prone. My bets would be with Franco over Griffey since they are at the same level right now in terms of total hits.

Jeter and A-Rod are excellent bets as well.

Bonds can easily get it barring any legal troubles--that may do him in though.

Ichiro has an outside shot

Jeter might get 4000 hits. He will have to play well into his 40s, which is a possibility. If he remains healthy, I am sure the Yankees would find a role for their captain. Heck, they did not want to let Mattingly go and actually pursued him until he retired for good.

Gary Sheffield can make it to 3000 if he continues to stay healthy. He does not get injured often and has proven to be a gamer overall. Frank Thomas and Griffey did not hold up well in terms of durability.

frankhardy

On Ichiro being a Hall of Famer - isn't it the BASEBALL Hall of Fame and not the MLB Hall of Fame? His time in Japan could at least compliment his MLB career, couldn't it?

onlyanumber

I didn't mention Jeter and ARod because I consider them locks for 3000. They are both young and in their primes. I mean, Jeter is averaging 207 hits a season and ARod is somewhere around 195.

Steve Finley really intrigues me. It's almost a Molitor type situation. I don't think anyone expected Molitor to be as much of a hit machine as he was after 35. Finley is 469 hits from 3000 and on his pace, he could make it to 3000. The Giants have no one to take his place over the next few seasons, so if he stays put, he could do it.

BobaFett72

Molitor was a much better hitter than Finley. Molitor would have easily had 600-750 more hits in his career if not for so many injuries and time lost. Anyone can accumulate hits if your a full time and hit .250 with 600+ at bats.

frankhardy

<< <i>Steve Finley really intrigues me. It's almost a Molitor type situation. I don't think anyone expected Molitor to be as much of a hit machine as he was after 35. Finley is 469 hits from 3000 and on his pace, he could make it to 3000. The Giants have no one to take his place over the next few seasons, so if he stays put, he could do it. >>




That really intrigues me. Steve Finley is from Paducah, KY, which where I work and very close to where I live. Is there anybody in history that has 3000 hits and NOT in th Hall of Fame? I never, ever thought of him as a Hall of Fame candidate. That may change some minds.

onlyanumber

<< <i>Molitor was a much better hitter than Finley. Molitor would have easily had 600-750 more hits in his career if not for so many injuries and time lost. Anyone can accumulate hits if your a full time and hit .250 with 600+ at bats. >>



I agree whole heartedly about Molitor. The only reason I mentioned him was the fact that he snuck in there to 3000 hits. I don't think anyone expected him to break that barrier in the mid 80's, and then next thing you know he's at 3000.

SDSportsFan

<< <i>On Ichiro being a Hall of Famer - isn't it the BASEBALL Hall of Fame and not the MLB Hall of Fame? His time in Japan could at least compliment his MLB career, couldn't it? >>




The full name is The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, which would imply that it's for U.S. baseball only.



Steve

frankhardy

Oh! My bad!

Skinpinch

Three full time seasons of at bats from Steve Finley puts him on the cusp. It is possible, but a lot to ask for since he is turning 42 this season.

BobaFett72

Regarding Ichiro, if he plays ten to fifteen seasons in the U.S. and ends up with a career .320 batting average and 2500+ hits, etc.
it would be hard not to put him in the hall, how many years did he play in japan putting up stellar numbers?

stown

Y'all sure want to jinx Biggio, huh.

For now on, please say he "should" get 3,000 hits. He could have a freak injury, mental issues, suddenly retire, etc.

Your cooperation is sincerely appreciated

frankhardy

Craig Biggio will end up as the greatest player in the history of the game and will have the best all around season of all time!

ToppsCo1lector

<< <i>Craig Biggio will end up as the greatest player in the history of the game and will have the best all around season of all time! >>



Arod is clutch....Don't forget that either!!!