BASEBALL OXYGEN

Pete Rose is the all-time hits leader. He’s also the all-time leader in at bats, plate appearances and games played. He’s 1^st in singles, 2^nd in doubles, 6^th in runs scored, and 7^th in total bases. He’s also the greatest player NOT in the Hall of Fame, but that’s a different article entirely. This article, the first in a series called Record Breakers, is dedicated to the slim possibility that Rose will lose his crown as the all-time hits leader any time soon.

Rose stands at 4,256 hits. 67 more than Ty Cobb, and almost 1,500 more than his closest active pursuer, Ken Griffey Jr. Since Griffey’s career is coasting to an unremarkable and unfortunate close, Charlie Hustle’s most legitimate contender would probably be Derek Jeter.

Rose has a few things going for him. For one, he played from 1963-1986, a hell of a long time by any standards, taking the field for at least 148 games in 19 of those seasons. Rose recorded at least 170 hits in 18 of his first 20 seasons. The model of consistency, he was also the table setter for several high-octane offenses for the better part of three decades.

Derek Jeter has also been on his share of offensive juggernauts. In 15 seasons with the Yankees, Jeter has average 193 hits while playing in at least 148 games in 14 of his 15 seasons, almost mirroring Rose’s dedication. Were Jeter to average 190 hits for the next 8 years, he would pull even with Rose. In 2009, Jeter had a career year with the bat and in the field, but the latter might be his downfall. Jeter won’t be playing shortstop for the Yankees for the next 8 years because his defense just won’t be strong enough. He’s never played another position, and you wonder if he has the pop to stick around as a designated hitter.

Another interesting case is Ichiro. Had Ichiro moved to the U.S. instead of dominating the Pacific League of Japan for nine years, he’d probably be well on his way to breaking the hits record. Though Ichiro has astonishingly eclipsed the 2000 hit mark after only nine seasons, he’s 35 years old. Not that that’s old- Rose amassed over 1,700 of his hits after the age of 35. If Ichiro could play 10 more seasons at the pace he’s established thus far, he would retire with 4,330 hits, or 74 more than Rose.

And even though Jeter has accumulated over 700 MLB hits more than Ichiro at the age of 35, I would still put my money on Ichiro to finish with more hits. I think Jeter’s fall from grace will be much more precipitous than Ichiro’s.

Let’s not forget A-Rod either. At 33, Alex already has over 2,500 hits and ever the pursuer of numbers, one could imagine him hanging on for way too long, DH-ing in front of meager crowds at Kaufman stadium in Kansas City, desperate for more and more records and accolades.

And that’s where I’ll end. If he’s got a legitimate shot at it, will Jeter bother to hang on for a couple of bad years just to seize the hits record? Rose’s last two seasons were bad. Not Boston Brave Babe Ruth bad, but not pretty numbers. He was there to chase history and the hits record, and you can’t blame him. Rose stuck around to eat Cobb, will Jeter linger long enough to pluck Rose?