ANAHEIM -- Growing up as a Yankees fan, Derek Jeter regarded Babe Ruth's name the same way any baseball student of his generation would -- as a larger-than-life figure from the history books, an untouchable.

So it is strange for Jeter to acknowledge not only touching Ruth in the Yankees' annals, but surpassing him. With a first-inning single on Tuesday, Jeter surpassed the Babe's mark of 2,518 hits, moving into sole possession of second place on the club's all-time list.

"It's kind of hard to believe. I don't know how else I can say it," Jeter said. "If you play long enough and you're consistent enough, maybe some good things happen. I guess I've been fortunate."

Facing Angels starter Ervin Santana in the first inning, Jeter stroked the hit to pass the Babe, a clean single into left field. It was Jeter's first hit of the series after going 0-for-3 with a walk at Anaheim on Monday.

Jeter finished the Yankees' 7-1 victory by going 2-for-4 with a run scored, giving him 2,520 hits as play completed.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said before Tuesday's game that he believes Jeter will appreciate the accomplishment more once he can escape the grind of preparing to play each day.

"I think when he goes home for the winter and he's sitting around and sees the ball on his mantle, I think he's going to enjoy it," Girardi said. "A lot of players have a hard time enjoying things during the season. It's when you go home."

Now that the 34-year-old Jeter has passed Ruth, his next target will be the Yankees' all-time franchise leader, Lou Gehrig, who had 2,721 hits.

"It sounds funny, to be honest with you," Jeter said. "Anytime you're mentioned in the same sentence with players like that, it feels good. I was a Yankee fan growing up so I'm well aware of all the history. I think it's something that maybe I'll get an opportunity to reflect on."

Jeter is also chasing Gehrig for the all-time record of hits at Yankee Stadium, remaining nine hits shy of catching the Iron Horse at 1,269.

Ten home games remain in the Bronx, so the pursuit will resume on Friday as the Yankees host the Rays to begin their final homestand of the season. The Yankees will move across the street to a new stadium at the conclusion of the 2008 season, freezing those numbers forever.

Jeter finished play on Wednesday batting .296 with 10 home runs and 67 RBIs.

A nine-time American League All-Star, he made his Major League debut with New York in May 1995 and was named the Yankees' team captain in 2003. He has been a member of four World Series championship teams.