The best present that Derek Jeter received after his 3,000th hit arrived from the highest office in the land.

"I got a ball signed by the three presidents that were in office since I started, saying, 'Congratulations,'" Jeter told ESPNNewYork.com. "That was pretty cool."

Jeter said a friend -- whom he wouldn't name -- gave him the ball, which was personally signed by Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

Today marks exactly one year after Jeter hit No. 3,000, which began a remarkable comeback.

Jeter just finished a first half in which he collected 111 hits, which is tied with Miguel Cabrera for the AL's best. Since that historic home run last July 9, Jeter has played in 148 games and has 211 hits.

It has all added up to a .308 batting average from last July 9 to this July 9. Before DJ3K last year, Jeter was hitting .257 in 2011.

The 38-year-old has watched his 3,000th hit countless times, because they play it over and over on the Yankee Stadium scoreboard on game days.

"The best part was I got to do it at home," Jeter said. "You get a chance to share with the Yankee fans. It is history. It is Yankee history. I just think that it is special to do it in front of the fans that I've played in front of my whole career."

Jeter had struggled for a year and a half before his home run landed in Christian Lopez's hands. When the ball went over the fence, Jeter remembers emotions of "excitement, relief and happiness."

"I was just happy," said Jeter, who went on to have a 5-fo-5 day. "It was something that you were proud of. A lot of pride."

Still, Jeter isn't sitting around daydreaming about last July. In fact, when told on Sunday that Monday would be the one-year anniversary of the accomplishment, Jeter seemed unaware, pausing for a moment.

"Oh yeah?" he said.

UP NOW: My column on the wildly successful first half for the Yankees. Mark Teixeira and Vincente Padilla got into it again. Accusations about "women's sport" and threats of being hit by bats fly.

ON DECK: I have a story about Robinson Cano and his dad, as they head back to the Home Run Derby. They are united through BP. Katie Sharp will have a YankeeMetrics at 10:45 a.m.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Where does Jeter rank on your all-time Yankees list?