Today is the anniversary of Derek Jeter’s 3,000th hit and A-Rod's first

On this day in 1994, Alex Rodriguez recorded his first two career hits for the Seattle Mariners. In 2011, New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter recorded his 3,000th hit on a home run.

Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez are more similar than you would think. Though Jeter was as revered by fans as A-Rod has been reviled, they have plenty in common. 

For one, they both have over 3,000 hits, and both entered the 3,000-hit club with a home run. 

A-Rod’s road to 3,000 began in 1994, in his second career game with the Mariners. A-Rod was a spindly 18-year-old when he topped a curveball just the pitcher’s mound and beat out an infield single for his first career hit.

• Add this photo to your folder of goofy A-Rod pictures

Though Jeter made his major-league debut a year later than Rodriguez, he recorded his 3,000th hit exactly seven years after A-Rod’s first, on this day in 2011. 

Now we’ll have to see if A-Rod follows in Jeter’s footsteps and becomes a publishing maven. 

• ​A.J. Pierzynski narrowly avoids Brewers’ sausage stampede

- Dan Gartland