Starting in December and ending on Opening Day, Joe Posnanski will count down the 100 greatest baseball players by publishing an essay on a player every day for 100 days. In all, this project will contain roughly as many words as “Moby Dick.” Yes, we know it’s nutty. We hope you enjoy.



In the days before Derek Jeter got his 3,000th hit, I wrote a 3,000-word essay about his legacy and impact on the game. I’ve updated it here.



Derek Jeter is not remembered for getting 3,000 hits. None in that club are remembered for the number itself, with the possible exception of Roberto Clemente who reached exactly 3,000 hits before dying while trying to bring aid to Nicaragua after a massive earthquake. In that way, the number will always be connected with him — though Clemente is surely remembered for so much more than 3,000.



And that is true of all of the 32 men who batted safely three thousand times in a career. They are all remembered...