Former Yankees' 3B Alex Rodriguez - Corey Sipkin/Getty Images
Alex Rodriguez, or “A-Rod” as the MLB called him, was a tall, lean 18-year-old when he debuted with the Seattle Mariners.
As he moved on to the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees, he showed off his talents by becoming a home run hero and a three-time MVP record holder.
Upon playing his last game in August 2016, the fantastic third baseman was among the all-time leaders in home runs, RBIs, and runs scored.
Let’s take a look at how A-Rod became the player he was.
Alex Rodriguez “A-Rod” The Beginning
On July 27, 1975, Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez was born to parents Victor Rodriguez and Lourdes Navarro in the “Big Apple.” He is the youngest of three children. But he became a man just as much as his two older siblings.
Rodriguez’s life revolved around baseball since his younger years. His father played as a professional catcher for the Dominican Republic and cheered on the New York Mets. At four years old, A-Rod moved to the Dominican Republic with his family and began playing baseball. In fifth grade, Rodriguez and his family relocated to Miami, Florida. In high school, Rodriguez excelled in football and was a natural quarterback at Westminister Christian School in Miami.
Rodriguez evolved into a better baseball player. He batted .477 and stole 42 bases in only 35 games while taking the school to the 1992 state championship. He was chosen as the “USA Baseball Junior Player of the Year” and Gatorade’s “National Baseball Student-athlete of the Year.” At 6′ 3″, 195 lbs, Rodriguez decided to focus his senior year solely on baseball. Scouts came to the diamond excited to watch the young Rodriguez play.
Alex Rodriguez “A-Rod” Major League Journey
Seattle Mariners
The University of Miami welcomed its doors wide open for A-Rod to play college ball but plans change sometimes. Nevertheless, The Seattle Mariners selected him number one overall in the 1993 amateur draft. Rodriguez quickly made his way up the Seattle Mariners farm system ranks and made his MLB debut with the Mariners in 1994. This one was special because it was just before his 19th birthday.
The vibes were trending upward. He only recorded 54 at-bats that year, but they rose to 142 in 1995. A-Rod swiftly became an ace in 1996, and his stats proved it. He batted .358, hit 36 dingers, and drove 123 RBIs to finish second in the MVP race. Rodriguez’s play continued to evolve over the next decade. He became one of baseball’s best and most diversely skilled players the game hadn’t seen before.
He continued to shine and was on track to become one of the all-time MLB greats. In 2001, Rodriguez signed the most expensive contract in baseball history.
Texas Rangers
He put his John Handcock from pen to paper and signed a 10-year, $252 million deal with the Texas Rangers. Afterward, he proved why he was worth his profitable salary. He led the American League in home runs three years in a row, and the MLB named him league MVP in 2003.
Unfortunately, the team never competed for a World Series title. Thus, A-Rod requested a trade in the off-season. Like any major sports star, A-Rod grew tired of the Rangers’ environment and culture of not making it to the World Series. Therefore, the Rangers granted his wish and traded him to the New York Yankees. Of all the places, the Rangers organization knew they were sending him to the right place to compete for championships.
However, A-Rod agreed to switch to third base because the beloved Derek Jeter was the franchise’s premier shortstop.
Big Beginnings in New York
A-Rod made an A-mazing first impression with the New York Yankees. He won another MVP award in 2005 while batting .321 with 48 home runs. He took a big leap forward in 2007, leading the league with 54 home runs, 156 RBIs, and 143 runs to earn him his third MVP award. At 32, he became the youngest player to hit 500 career home runs on Sat. Aug 4.
“A-Rod’s” Problems
The MVP’s character took a hit before the beginning of the 2009 season. He battled to win over the New York fans and even heard whispers coming from his teammates in the locker room. They were all questioning the reliability of his numbers when he declared he was taking steroids earlier in his career. He was also troubled by the inefficiency to come through in the postseason. Rodriguez was able to squash those attackers by slugging the Bombers to the World Series in 2009.
What is A-Rod’s Legacy?
Despite Rodriguez’s past discrepancies and wrongdoings regarding steroids, some believe he persevered through those struggles and is still considered one of MLB’s greatest evolving players. Others may still be hostile to Rodriguez, but people make mistakes and must learn the virtues of patience and conquering.
A-Rod is a legend in MLB and was vital in helping the Yankees win the 2009 World Series for himself and the team. His upbringing and his growth from a young kid living in the Dominican Republic to all those years in Seattle and Texas without a World Series title to finally winning one in New York are revolutionary and monumental for the game of baseball.
Therefore, we ask A-Rod, as a broadcaster now, to remember all the good he did for the game and look forward to lifting up the spirit of baseball for future generations. He has an excellent tag team partner in Jeter to help him carry that vision.
Accolades
- In 1997, Rodriguez was named the “Major League Player of the Year” by the Sporting News and Associated Press
- In 1998, he was selected as “Players Choice AL Player of the Year”
- In 1999, Rodriguez was named the “Major League Player of the Year” by Baseball America
- In 2003, he became the youngest player to hit 300 home runs and won the “Babe Ruth Home Run Award”
- In 2007, Rodriguez hit his 500th career home run. He was the first and only player in MLB history ever to hit 500 home runs, playing for three different teams. He won the “Players Choice Award” for ‘Outstanding AL Player’
- In 2012, he tied Lou Gehrig’s record of 23 grand slams on the way to a total of 25
- On May 7, 2015, Rodriguez hit career home run No. 661 to pass Willie Mays for fourth all-time
- On May 27, 2015, he set an AL record for the most career RBIs, surpassing Lou Gehrig
With all the records that A-Rod took with him after leaving the game of baseball, it’s nice to see that he still gets to live his dreams out in the booth as an analyst for Fox Sports and ESPN, sharing his experiences and knowledge of the game.
For another interesting Sports story, please check out:
What Season-Altering Decisions by the Bills Made 2024 a Success?
,
