Alex Rodriguez was suspended for 162 games after the 2013 season for his role in the Biogensis Scandal and MLB’s subsequent investigation. Rodriguez returned to the Yankees in 2015 and has been one of the better hitters on the team through the first three months of the season. (Getty)
Alex Rodriguez collected his 3,000th career hit on Friday night against Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers. He became the 29th member of the 3,000 Hit Club, accomplishing one of Major League Baseball’s most revered accomplishments.
Here is the list of the 28 other players in the 3,000 Hit Club that Rodriguez joined on Friday:
| Player: | Hits: | Date Accomplished: | Seasons: |
| Pete Rose | 4256 | May 5, 1978 | 1963-1986 |
| Ty Cobb | 4191 | August 19, 1921 | 1905-1928 |
| Hank Aaron | 3771 | May 17, 1970 | 1954-1976 |
| Stan Musial | 3630 | May 13, 1958 | 1941-1944,1946-1963 |
| Tris Speaker | 3514 | May 17, 1925 | 1907-1928 |
| Derek Jeter | 3465 | July 9, 2011 | 1995-2014 |
| Carl Yastrzemski | 3419 | September 12,1979 | 1961-1983 |
| Cap Anson | 3418 | July 18, 1897 | 1871-1897 |
| Honus Wagner | 3415 | June 9, 1914 | 1897-1917 |
| Paul Molitor | 3319 | September 16,1996 | 1978-1998 |
| Eddie Collins | 3315 | June 6, 1925 | 1906-1930 |
| Willie Mays | 3283 | July 18, 1970 | 1951-1973 |
| Eddie Murray | 3255 | June 30, 1995 | 1977-1997 |
| Nap Lajoie | 3242 | September 27,1914 | 1896-1916 |
| Cal Ripken, Jr. | 3184 | April 15, 2000 | 1981-2001 |
| George Brett | 3154 | September 30,1992 | 1973-1993 |
| Paul Waner | 3152 | June 19, 1942 | 1926-1945 |
| Robin Yount | 3142 | September 9,1992 | 1974-1993 |
| Tony Gwynn | 3141 | August 6, 1999 | 1982-2001 |
| Dave Winfield | 3110 | September 16,1993 | 1973-1995 |
| Craig Biggio | 3060 | June 28, 2007 | 1988-2007 |
| Rickey Henderson | 3055 | October 7, 2001 | 1979-2003 |
| Rod Carew | 3053 | August 4, 1985 | 1967-1985 |
| Lou Brock | 3023 | August 13, 1979 | 1961-1979 |
| Rafael Palmeiro | 3020 | July 15, 2005 | 1986-2005 |
| Wade Boggs | 3010 | August 7, 1999 | 1982-1999 |
| Al Kaline | 3007 | September 24,1974 | 1953-1974 |
| Roberto Clemente | 3000 | September 30,1972 | 1955-1972 |
Rodriguez entered the club just over a month shy of his 40th birthday July 27th). Entering the 2015 season, there were several players who were in the realm of the Club, with a realistic opportunity at the accomplishment before their own careers end. The list of players and their hit totals — as of June 18th, 2015 — includes:
Ichiro Suzuki — 2,885 hits
Adrian Beltre — 2,604 hits
Albert Pujols – 2,519 hits
Among players with 3,000 hits, only Rafael Palmeiro and Pete Rose are the only two players not in the MLB Hall of Fame. Palmeiro has been snubbed by the voters due to his role with performance-enhancing drugs and Rose is still serving his lifetime ban. While it is a stretch to believe Palmeiro will be inducted someday due to his suspension and link to PED use, Rose’s ban won’t last forever and he should realistically be inducted eventually.