Victorino relishes 1,000-hit milestone

PHILADELPHIA -- With his sixth-inning line-drive single to right field Saturday, Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino became the first Hawaiian-born player to reach 1,000 career hits.

"Being a Hawaiian-born player and being the first ever to do it, with guys that I looked up to that played ahead of me and to be the first ever to 1,000 hits, it means a lot," Victorino said before Sunday's series finale against the Giants. "Again, it's about playing the game and loving the game and hopefully being a role model and giving kids in Hawaii an inspiration to 'Hey, anything's possible.'"

Victorino, who is in his seventh full season with Philadelphia after the club selected him the Rule 5 Draft in 2004 from the Dodgers, also leads Hawaiian-born players in runs (583), doubles (181), triples (63) and stolen bases (183).

He said he never envisioned himself reaching this milestone and the accomplishment puts into perspective the achievement of all-time hits leader Pete Rose (4,256 hits) and others, including teammates and 2,000-hit club members Juan Pierre and Placido Polanco.

"I was teasing Juan yesterday, and I was like 'I got about 1,100 or whatever still behind you,'" Victorino said with a smile.

Is there any one hit that stands out above the rest?

"To be honest with you, I'd have to say yesterday was a pretty big moment to reach 1,000, to be the first Hawaiian-born," Victorino said. "Obviously the grand slam [off CC Sabathia in Game 2 of the 2008 National League Division Series) and the [2008] World Series and all those kind of things are all great, but from a personal milestone [standpoint], I think to be the first-ever Hawaiian-born player to reach 1,000 hits, that's pretty special for me. But again, I don't want to stop here. ... The big picture is about us winning. I think that's more where I'm focused."