Whats more impressive, 3,000 hits or 500 homeruns?

Question

I've gotta say 3,000 hits. I know it takes skill to do both, but in this era of baseball 500 hrs is nothing. In the next 10-15 years there might be only 3 guys to reach 3,000 hits and about 15 guys to hit 500 homers. Timmy K from ESPN does a great job of explaining what I just said but he sounds better and he knows what he's talking about....he said 3,000 hits to

Answer 1

You make the exact same case that I would. 500 homerun milestones are becoming more and more common, making them less impressive. Steriods, small ballparks, and our love affair with the home run are making this milestone less meaningful, making 3000 hits more impressive.

I would also argue that it's better to be a one-dimensional basehitter than a one-dimensional homerun hitter. A Biggio (in his earlier years), Ichiro, or Derek Jeter type hitter is more valuable to a team because of their consistency. You have confidence that they will either get a hit, put the ball in play, or make a productive out every time. With a one-dimensional homerun hitter like an Adam Dunn, Sammy Sosa, or Wily Mo Pena, though he may be able to knock it 500 feet, you also never know when he'll strike out or hit into a double play to kill a rally. 3000 hits is clearly the more impressive milestone, though.

Answer 2

Dang. I'm the odd man out, disagreeing (cheerfully, now -- so don't trash me). A couple of things make me say 500 home runs.
Currently, there are 27 with 3,000 hits and 21 with 500 home runs.
Yes, darn steroids has everyone paranoid about them (Selig is an idiot) but look past A-Rod, Thome, and Sheffield and you'll see that not very many are coming up on 500 or likely to get it. Oh, there are bound to be a few, but not many.
The guys with 3,000 hits don't seem to be in the World Series any more than the guys with 500 home runs.
Players play longer now with better health and more modern sports treatment, so 3,000 hits is more likely than 500 home runs. (Eddie Murray is an example. JUST did make 500 home runs, but got 3,000 hits with an average quite a bit under .300)
Maybe the 500-3,000 hit guys (with BAs under .300) are the stars, along with the 3,000 hit guys OVER .300.

Answer 3

Yea I think 3,000 and the biggest reason is Ted Williams. Aaron, Murray, Mays, and Palmeiro are on both, Bonds is about 100 away, and griffey is 500 away from 3000 so they could be on both one day. But I thought that more would be on both. Think about it, if you get a homer for 6 hits( which would be good ratio), and you got 500 homers, you would have 3000 hits.

Ted Williams is guy almost all hitters have to be placed up against. The last guy to hit .400 for a season. He in 500 club but not 3000 club. Says a lot. You have to stick around longer for 3000.

But Jason needs to look at the list, there are 27 in 3000, and 21 in 500 club. and more guys closer to 3000 then closer to 500.

Answer 4

3,000 hits will remain extremely difficult even if the hitter uses steroids, whereas 500 home runs becomes simple. Plus, in the next five years, the 3,000 hit club will become more exclusive. Only Bonds, Jeter, and Alex Rodriguez have any realistic chance of joining it in that time.

Answer 5

Drive for show, putt for dough...

Hitting wins championships...Homeruns bring the crowds...if a guy hits 500 HRs and 2000 hits...his HRs account for 25% of his hits, 20% for 500/2500...

My point is, is that the hits are more important. Usually clutch HRs are balls that guys are trying to hit hard up the middle or through a hole in the infield. Guys that get up there trying to hit a clutch HR usually ground out to 2nd or short.

Doubles stats are good indicators...usually a good doubles guy will have good RBI numbers.

Answer 6

Immediately Harmon Killebrew comes to mind.
Over 500 HR's, just 2000 plus hits, but oh, those strikeouts??

Answer 7

hits are harder then home runs , but i like to see someone hit more then 500 home runs , have more then 3,000 hits , and have a 300 lifetime batting average . infact i think there's only 3 player to ever do it . hank aaron ,willie mays , and eddie murray !!!

Answer 8

3000 Hits And 500 Home Runs

Answer 9

he said 3000 hits too

I agree with him. It is easier to hit home runs with everyone being juiced or the ball being juiced.