My 2000 Fleer ‘Club 3,000′ Set Is Complete!!!

My 2000 Fleer ‘Club 3,000′ Set Is Complete!!!

It took quite some time, but this 14-card doozie is now complete.

When I decided to collect this set, I found it to be a fun challenge.  And along the way, I was able to learn about the 14 guys that this set of cards honors.  It was fun to read and report about their quest to earn 3,000 hits or 3,000 strikeouts.

And yet, while not wanting to take anything away from these 14 guys, I feel a little empty as I look at these cards laid out before me.  You see, there are so many deserving players that were omitted from this set that I would love to have seen included.  How about Hank Aaron and Willie Mays and Fergie Jenkins and Tom Seaver???

Nonetheless, this set was very fun to collect, and I love the design of these cards.  Because of the cards’ design, you know exactly what you’re looking at and there is a sense of baseball greatness and history within.

Here is the finished set:

Thanks.

2000 Fleer – “Club 3,000″ – Cal Ripken, Jr.

2000 Fleer – “Club 3,000″ – Cal Ripken, Jr.

Date of entry into “Club 3,000” – April 15, 2000

The Story – Just 11 games into the start of the 2000 baseball season, Cal Ripken took center-stage when his Orioles traveled to Minnesota to take on the Twins.  During the game, Ripken collected the 3,000th hit in his amazing career.  On the night, Cal was 3-for-5, with three singles.  Something tells me that the 18,000+ fans that attended the game are still hanging onto those ticket stubs!!

Baseball History – By the end of his career, Ripken amassed 3,184 hits.  Currently sitting in 14th place on the all-time list, Ripken is not often regarded as one of his generation’s greatest hitters, but his numbers would argue that point strongly!!

2000 Fleer – “Club 3,000″ – George Brett

2000 Fleer – “Club 3,000″ – George Brett

Date of entry into “Club 3,000” – September 30, 1992

The Story – With the clock ticking towards the end of the 1992 baseball season, George Brett’s march towards 3,000 career hits was coming down to the final week of the baseball season. 

On the road in Anaheim, Brett and his Royals’ teammates were being hosted by just over 17,000 Angels fans.  In true All-star form, Brett went 4-for-5 on the day collecting 1 double, 3 singles, and hit #3,000 in the process.

Baseball History – George Brett retired after playing in 21 big league seasons.  He collected 3,154 total hits – good for 15th place on the all-time list.

2000 Fleer – “Club 3,000″ – Wade Boggs

2000 Fleer – “Club 3,000” – Wade Boggs

Date of entry into “Club 3,000” – August 7, 1999

The Story – At home(literally as Boggs is from the Tampa area) and in front of almost 40,000 fans, Wade Boggs entered the game with 2,999 career hits.  Taking on the Cleveland Indians, Boggs went 3-for-4 collecting 4 RBI and scoring 2 runs on the day.  Hit #3,000 was a home run off of Chris Haney that landed deep in the right field seats.  The Rays lost the game 15-10 that day, but for the capacity crowd that was on hand, they got to witness baseball history.

Baseball History – Boggs is the only player in major league baseball history to hit a home run as the 3,000th hit of his career.  He retired at the end of that season with 3,010 total hits.  He currently ranks in 25th place on the all-time hits list.

2000 Fleer – “Club 3,000″ – Bob Gibson

2000 Fleer – “Club 3,000” – Bob Gibson

Date of entry into “Club 3,000” – July 17, 1974

The Story – At home, and battling ‘The Big Red Machine’, Bob Gibson had an ‘odd’ day by the standards he had set for himself.  Battling the talented Reds’ offense, Gibson pitched 7 innings while giving up 10 hits and only striking out 4.  But in those 4 strikeouts came #3,000 of his career against Cesar Geronimo.

Baseball History – Gibson struck out 3,117 batters over the course of his 17-year career.  He currently ranks in 14th place on the all-time list.

2000 Fleer – “Club 3,000” – Carl Yastrzemski

2000 Fleer – “Club 3,000” – Carl Yastrzemski

Date of entry into “Club 3,000” – September 12, 1979

The Story – At home, and battling their division rivals, the Red Sox took on the New York Yankees in front of 34,000+ fans in attendance.  With both rosters chock full of superstars, none shined brighter on this day than Carl Yastrzemski.  In the bottom of the 8th inning, with an 8-2 lead, Yaz singled off of Yankees’ reliever Jim Beattie to collect the 3,000th hit of his big league career.  He was pulled from the game for a pinch-runner, but I see that move as more of a respect thing so the crowd could salute him for a bit longer.

Baseball History – Yaz collected 3,419 hits during his career.  He currently sits in 8th place on the all-time list. 

2000 Fleer – “Club 3,000” – Stan Musial

2000 Fleer – “Club 3,000” – Stan Musial

Date of entry into “Club 3,000” – May 13, 1958

The Story – On the road and battling their rivals, the Chicago Cubs, there were just under 6,000 fans in attendance to see Stan Musial record hit number 3,000 of his career.  Used as a pinch hitter in the game, Musial entered the contest in the 6th inning.  And in his lone at-bat, he laced a double off of Cubs’ pitcher Moe Drabowsky. 

Baseball History – Musial has 3,630 career hits as a major leaguer.  That total puts him solidly at 4th place on the all-time list.  It looks as if that spot will be his for quite some time!

2000 Fleer – “Club 3,000” – Dave Winfield

2000 Fleer – “Club 3,000” – Dave Winfield

Date of entry into “Club 3,000” – September 13, 1993

The Story – Playing for the Twins and at home, Winfield entered this game with 2,999 hits on his resume.  With just 3 weeks left in the season, this was a match-up of a 6th and 7th place team so it was a relatively small crowd of just over 14,000.  But for those that showed up, they got to witness baseball history!!  Winfield collected 2 hits in the contest, both singles, in this 13-inning marathon.  Hit #3,000 came off of fellow Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley in the 9th inning.

Baseball History – Winfield finished his career with 3,110 hits.  He presently ranks in 19th place on the all-time list.

2000 Fleer – “Club 3,000” – Robin Yount

2000 Fleer – “Club 3,000” – Robin Yount

Date of entry into “Club 3,000” – September 9, 1992

The Story – At home, and in front of 47,000+ Brewers’ fans, Robin Yount made baseball history as he joined the ‘3,000 Hits Club’ on this day.  Late in the season with playoff hopes slipping, Yount and his Brewer teammates were facing the Cleveland Indians.  Yount’s only hit of the game, a single, came in the bottom of the 7th inning off of Jose Mesa.  Yount made history with that hit and the Milwaukee fans showered him with thunderous applause!!

Baseball History – Yount finished his career with 3,124 career hits.  He currently sits in 17th place on the All-time hits list.

2000 Fleer – “Club 3,000” – Lou Brock

2000 Fleer – “Club 3,000” – Lou Brock

Date of entry into “Club 3,000” – August 13, 1979

The Story – At home, and in front of 44,000+ fans, the Cardinals took on their divisional rivals – The Chicago Cubs.  Ironically, the Cubs were the team that Brock entered the major leagues with.  On this day, Brock made baseball history capturing the 3,000th hit of his big league career.  In the game, Brock went 2-for-2 raising his batting average to .326.  And while his day momentous for his career and baseball history, it was just as important that his two hits helped the Cardinals win the game 3-2.

Baseball History – The game’s second greatest base stealer of all-time also ranks in 23rd place on the all-time hits list with 3,023 career hits.