Known as A-Rod to fans and teammates, Alex Rodriguez plays third base for the New York Yankees. Born in New York City's Washington Heights neighborhood, Rodriguez moved to the Dominican Republic at the age of four. However, the family soon returned to the US and settled in Miami. Soon after, is father abandoned Alex and his mother, moving to New Jersey.
It was while living in Florida that A-Rod began to excel at the sport, becoming the star player on his high school team. He was an All-American player while in his senior year and was the first high school player ever to try out for Team America.
Upon finishing high school, Rodriguez signed a letter of intent to play for the baseball team at the University of Miami - but he decided to pursue a professional career in baseball instead, entering the amateur draft.
He was quickly picked up by the Seattle Mariners, where he played as the third 18 year old short stop since the turn of the century. His star was rising, but the season was cut short due to the Major League strike of 1994.
Because of this disruption, A-Rod didn't get a chance to really shine until the 1996 season, when he batted an incredible .358 average, scored 36 home runs and 123 RBIs, the highest averages for any right handed batter in the American League since Joe Di Maggio! This was a stellar season for Rodtriguez, with the highest total of hits, doubles, extra base hits and runs in the Major Leagues - he finished the season with the Major League Player of the Year title.
Rodriguez played with the Texas Rangers briefly before signing with the New York Yankees in 2004. As a Yankee, Rodriguez continued to be a record-setting player, winning MVP in 2005 and 2007. Despite his performance on the field, Rodriguez has often been criticized by fans for failing to deliver under pressure. Rodriguez is unrattled by the criticism, saying: "I could care less. In my career, I've been hearing it for a long time. It will never stop until you win five or six World Series in a row, and hit a Joe Carter home run. I've done a lot of special things in this game, and for none of that to be considered clutch, it's an injustice." No matter what some fans may think, Rodriguez is highly valued by his team, signing a 10-year contact in 2007 with the Yankees for $275 million - with the prospect of more should Rodriguez manage to break the home run record.
Lately however rumors and scandal have moved from his professional to his personal life. Reported sightings of him in a strip club with another woman, his impending divorce and allegations of an affair between him and Madonna have blazed across the media. Rumors that have only been reinforced by Madonna's own pending divorce from Guy Ritchie.
It was while living in Florida that A-Rod began to excel at the sport, becoming the star player on his high school team. He was an All-American player while in his senior year and was the first high school player ever to try out for Team America.
Upon finishing high school, Rodriguez signed a letter of intent to play for the baseball team at the University of Miami - but he decided to pursue a professional career in baseball instead, entering the amateur draft.
He was quickly picked up by the Seattle Mariners, where he played as the third 18 year old short stop since the turn of the century. His star was rising, but the season was cut short due to the Major League strike of 1994.
Because of this disruption, A-Rod didn't get a chance to really shine until the 1996 season, when he batted an incredible .358 average, scored 36 home runs and 123 RBIs, the highest averages for any right handed batter in the American League since Joe Di Maggio! This was a stellar season for Rodtriguez, with the highest total of hits, doubles, extra base hits and runs in the Major Leagues - he finished the season with the Major League Player of the Year title.
Rodriguez played with the Texas Rangers briefly before signing with the New York Yankees in 2004. As a Yankee, Rodriguez continued to be a record-setting player, winning MVP in 2005 and 2007. Despite his performance on the field, Rodriguez has often been criticized by fans for failing to deliver under pressure. Rodriguez is unrattled by the criticism, saying: "I could care less. In my career, I've been hearing it for a long time. It will never stop until you win five or six World Series in a row, and hit a Joe Carter home run. I've done a lot of special things in this game, and for none of that to be considered clutch, it's an injustice." No matter what some fans may think, Rodriguez is highly valued by his team, signing a 10-year contact in 2007 with the Yankees for $275 million - with the prospect of more should Rodriguez manage to break the home run record.
Lately however rumors and scandal have moved from his professional to his personal life. Reported sightings of him in a strip club with another woman, his impending divorce and allegations of an affair between him and Madonna have blazed across the media. Rumors that have only been reinforced by Madonna's own pending divorce from Guy Ritchie.
About the Author:
How much do you know about baseball? Nothing But Sports is a great place to brush up on your sports trivia and learn how to swing that bat.
0 comments:
Post a Comment