Never in the history of the league has a player reached 3000 hits for his career, but 38 year old
Jorge Cruz hopes to be the first, finishing last season with 2751. Cruz finished last season with the Orlando Wizards, and became a free agent following the year. After a lengthy holdout, Cruz signed a one year deal with the New York Empires, hoping to rebound from a poor year last season, in which he hit .236, a career low for the .287 career hitter.
Cruz has never gotten more than 193 hits in a season with a career .399 on-base percentage, so he'll need to play well enough to earn a contract for next season needing 246 hits to reach the magic number. Cruz has the career lead in hits by 40 over second place Dennis Long, who retired back in 1898.
The next closest active player is
Paul Charles who has 2519 hits, and is 37 years old. Charles hit .268 for the Washington Capitals last season, and collected 161 hits. Whether Charles can catch Cruz, or either can reach 3000 remains to be seen.
Career Hit Leaders
1. Jorge Cruz #-2754
2. Dennis Long -2711
3. Howard Smith - 2569
4. Salvador Gonzalez - 2549
5. Paul Charles #-2547
6. Wilson Guzman - 2532
7. Timoteo Fuentes - 2507
8. Willis Potts #-2447
9. Jose Gonzalez #-2445
10. Elliot Carter #-2399
11. Pancho Garcia - 2388
12. Ivan Garcia - 2372
13. Nick Joseph #-2348
14. Ken McLaughlin - 2296
15. Bob Hankins - 2251
16. Blaine Burns - 2195
17. David Swanson - 2178
18. Mike Denton - 2154
19. Steve Hutchinson - 2135
20. Nathaniel Jones - 2103