Biggio's message to Jeter: Enjoy yourself
Craig Biggio, the last player to reach the 3,000 hit milestone, spoke with Newsday about his run at 3,000 hits, and his advice for Derek Jeter. Credit: Getty Images
If Derek Jeter were to ask Craig Biggio for advice about the days leading up to his 3,000th hit, Biggio's response would be simple.
Enjoy it.
That's the message Jeter's parents already have given their son about his pursuit of 3,000, and it's exactly what Hall of Famer Paul Molitor told Biggio long before his big day, too.
The most recent player to join the 3,000-hit club, Biggio recalled in a recent interview with Newsday how he bumped into Molitor around the time when Biggio was at 2,800 hits. When Molitor asked Biggio if he was going to make a run at 3,000 and Biggio didn't exactly answer, Molitor gave him some unsolicited advice.
Biggio remembers Molitor's message going something like this: "Just enjoy it. Go out and have fun. If it happens, it happens, and that's great. But if you don't get there, you had a hell of a career, also."
Those words had a big impact on Biggio (3,060 hits), who was born and raised on Long Island, as he pursued the 3,000 mark during the 2007 regular season, his final year in the majors. They meant something because of the caliber of the player they came from. Molitor finished his career with 3,319 hits, ninth all-time.
Former Kings Park High School star Biggio said he doesn't really know Jeter, but he's following his pursuit from his home in Houston and rooting for him. Biggio said he's always liked how Jeter has carried himself on and off the field, taking his responsibility as a role model seriously.
"His mark is really just being a class act,'' Biggio said, "and that means a lot to me."
After picking up a single Saturday night, Jeter has 2,985 hits. Once he reaches 3,000, he will join Biggio as two of only 10 players -- out of 28 -- to have accomplished that achievement with one team. The others are Stan Musial (3,630), Carl Yastrzemski (3,419), Cal Ripken Jr. (3,184), George Brett (3,154), Robin Yount (3,142), Tony Gwynn (3,141), Al Kaline (3,007) and Roberto Clemente (3,000).
"Yankees fans should be proud of that," Biggio said.
After entering the 2007 season 70 hits shy of 3,000, Biggio picked up his milestone hit when he singled off the Colorado Rockies' Aaron Cook in the seventh inning in Houston on June 28. (Biggio was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double.) It was his third hit en route to a five-hit game.
"The moment is a moment I'll never forget, especially having my family there," Biggio said. "I appreciated it more a little after the fact because I was able to absorb it. I was thankful to get there, but you're thinking about your teammates every day, that they have to answer questions every day."
Biggio hopes Jeter gets the chance to reach 3,000 at home, because Biggio remembers how getting that big hit in front of the Houston fans made his moment all the more special. At Jeter's current pace, it appears he might have a chance during this next 10-game homestand.
"But in the big picture, you're fighting to win your division, and the milestone cannot get in the way of that," Biggio said. "And if anybody knows that, Derek does. He's a pro's pro."
More Yankees headlines
