The A-Rod Top 10 – #1
by Owen Hetherington
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Capturing #27 for the Yankees and His First World Series
Rodriguez entered the 2009 season admitting to using steroids during the 2003 season with the Texas Rangers. It was one of the lowest points of his career having all of his personal accomplishments questioned, leaving his future in Cooperstown unknown. To top things off, he was coming off surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip which caused him to miss out on the first month of the season. Nevertheless, Rodriguez homered on his first pitch when he returned to action and set the tone for the rest of the 2009 season. He would then lead the Yankees into the post-season and be the biggest threat at the dish throughout their October run.
Against the Minnesota Twins in the American League Divisional Series, Rodriguez lead the Yankees going 5-for-11 (.455) with two home runs and six RBI’s in three games. In the ALCS, Rodriguez went 9-for-21 (.429) with three home runs and six RBIs to lead the Yankees to the World Series. In the Fall Classic, Rodriguez went hitless in his first two games of the series going 0-for-8 with six strikeouts. However, Rodriguez put it in gear in game three where he hit a two-run home run to right field in the fourth inning to cut the deficit to just one run with the Philadelphia Phillies leading 3-2. The Yankees would take game four in an 8-5 win over the Phillies. In the next three games of the World Series, Alex Rodriguez would go 4-for-10 at the plate with three doubles, four runs scored, and four RBIs.
His biggest hit came in game four where he broke the tie with a double in the ninth inning to help push the Yankees to a 7-4 win over the Phillies. Rodriguez and the Yankees would go on to win the series, capturing the Yankees’ 27th World Championship and the only ring of Rodriguez’s career.
Rodriguez has had so many great memories and moments with the Yankees. Although his future in the Baseball Hall of Fame is hanging on by a thread, his contributions to the Yankees organization have earned him a spot as one of the best players to dawn the pinstripes. I am hopeful that one day the Yankees will retire #13 from the organization and honor him out in Monument Park. His numbers and big moments have defined what it is to be a Yankee which is why he will forever be one of the all-time greats of the sport.
