Jeter wlll get to 3500 hits easily if he stays healthy, and may even make a run at Rose.
Not to mention the leadership presence that Jeter adds to club and he is a great clutch hitter and play maker in big games.
But Evans' on base was comparable to Jeter. (.370 for Evans to .389 for Jeter.) Evans had a slightly higher slugging average.
I didn't believe you at first that Jeter could take a run at Rose, but looking at the numbers, it does look possible. My prediction is that Jeter will make it easily in his first year of eligibility.
However, the name that comes to mind is Don Mattingly. Everyone figured Mattingly was a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame, but he's never gotten there. (He was a six-time all star.) Injuries derailed his career.
The question is whether Jeter would go in if he retired today. If he retired today, he would not have the numbers of other players of his generation.
Fortunately, Jeter isn't retiring today, so it's almost certainly a moot point.
On another subject, anyone know the record for most number of future Hall of Famers on one team? The '95 Atlanta Braves will probably send five people to the Hall of Fame: McGriff, Chipper Jones, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz. The current Yankees will almost certainly send Jeter, Rodriguez, Clemens, and Mariano Rivera. If Mussina and Giambi join them, that's six.
Thanks all, for indulging me on this discussion. I figured the all-star break could also be a break from serious politics for at least one thread.