Alex Rodriguez: MLB’s Finest?
Alex Rodriguez: MLB’s Finest
Baseball is one of the most favored sports in the US, and it has had its fair share of superstars who have cranked up the MLB odds and make betting more interesting for avid sports bettors.
However, choosing a legend among the sport is no easy task, but through the years we have seen plenty, and we believe most of you would agree when we say that Alex Rodriguez is up there in the top of the list. He played in the MLB from 1994 until 2016, although he had some dry spells in between. He has an impressive .295 batting average and made an astounding 3,115 hits. He was an All-Star 15 times over, and a 3x AL MVP as well. He had an amazing career and is nicknamed A-Rod. He played 22 seasons overall, playing from 1994 until 2000 for the Seattle Mariners. 2001 to 2003 for the Texas Rangers, and for the Yankees from 2004 until 2016.
He is also the CEO of A-Rod Corp as well, and although he is still affiliated with Baseball he has not played since 2016. Nonetheless, there is still plenty to say about this legend and his brilliant game. He was a highly valued prospect as he began his baseball career, but later he proved to be even more than just a baseball player, he became one of the greatest of all time!
But, was he the GREATEST player of all time?
Who Is Alex Rodriguez?
Alex Rodriguez is a well noted power hitter, a man considered to be one of the greatest talents in the history of MLB. However, his career did have a dark side that tainted his legacy, but we will get onto this later. He first started playing baseball in Miami, Florida, where he started playing in High School. By 1993 the Mariners selected him in the first pick of the MLB draft. He debuted with them at 18, and the rest is history.
His First Successes
Rodriguez had his first successful season in 1996, he made a league best .358 batting average, and completed a total of 26 home runs, and batted in 123. Over his 6 seasons with the team he racked up some truly epic stats. In 1998, he was actually the third player in the history of the league to hit a total of 40 home runs and steal 40 bases overall in one season. By 2001 he was a free agent and the Rangers picked him up, signing him to a 10-year contract for $252 million. This was, at the time, the richest contract given out to a player.
By the time he was 32 in 2007, he hit his 500th home run, and he became known as the youngest ever player to achieve this. At this point he was named AL MVP for the third time ever, and this season was noted as being his best ever!
Admitting PEDs
Then the bad stuff came into play. He admitted having used various performance-enhancing drugs from ‘01 to ‘03. While this did mean that they did not affect his best season ever (2007), it did taint his career.
It threatened to taint his extraordinary stats, and did seem to perform pretty sub-par for his standards. By 2010 he was still doing well, and he was noted as the 7th player in MLB history to hit 600 home runs.
The Early 2010s
Things were not resolved on the PED front either. In 2013, he needed to take time off for surgery, and on the day of his return he had been suspended for involvement with a company that supplied PEDs to MLB players.
He had not tested positive for PEDs, however, due to his past and his ties with the clinic being documented well enough, he was suspended due to suspicion. This was also the largest suspension for a first-time offender.
He did continue to play to the end of the season while he appealed his suspension. In 2014 however, they lowered it to 162 games.
The End Of His Baseball Playing Career
He rejoined the Yankees in 2015, and he hit the home run to pass Willie Mays total for the 4th highest MLB home-run total in history.
At this point he recorded his 3,000th hit of his career. He finished the season well, best since 2008. However, his play got worse in 2016, only batting at .200 as he played part-time. Not surprising really, as we know he later retired in August 2016. He managed to hit a grand total of 696 home runs, and 3,115 hits. He ranked 3rd, 4th, and20th among all time totals for the MLB by the time he retired.
When he did retire, he started a career as a broadcaster and a baseball analyst. So, he has not completely left the game behind, but since he is now in his 40s we doubt we will see him on the field again any time soon. But, he is still one of the best players we have seen.
It’s just a shame the PEDs tainted his career towards the end.
Vintage Baseball HOT ON EBAY
Card Collections ENDING SOON ON EBAY
MOST WANTED ROOKIE CARDS
VINTAGE SPORTS TICKETS
Baseball Hall of Famers
@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@