Alex Rodriguez

Alexander Emanuel Rodriguez (born July 27, 1975 in New York City), nicknamed A-Rod, is widely regarded as one of the best players in Major League Baseball and at a young age already is being talked about among the all-time greats.

Texas Rangers

A free agent after the season, Rodriguez, who wanted to go to a World Series-caliber team, was immediately rumored to be heading to the Mets because of his appearance at Shea, but instead chose to go to the Texas Rangers (last in their division in 2000, but winners of 3 of the previous 4 AL West Championships), signing what is the largest contract in American and world sports history, a 10-year contract worth a world record $252 million that also brought publicity to the so-called Jock tax. Because of the size of the contract, Mariners fans that loved him immediately turned on him for taking the money and running instead of staying with the franchise that drafted him; to this day he's regularly booed every time he returns to Seattle.

Related Topics:
American - Jock tax

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Despite the enormous pressure imposed by the contract, Rodriguez continued to produce, and has been even better than before. He hit 52 home runs in 2001, and followed that with a major league-best 57 home runs in 2002, the most ever for a shortstop. He put a bookend on that year by winning his first Gold Glove Award. Unfortunately, the Rangers made no real improvement in the two years he played there, finishing last both times, and it likely cost him the MVP award in 2002, as he finished second to fellow shortstop Miguel Tejada. Although Tejada had lesser numbers than Rodriguez, he played for a championship-caliber team. The Mariners didn't miss him; they won a world record-tying 116 matches in their first year without him.

Related Topics:
2001 - 2002 - Gold Glove Award - Miguel Tejada

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rodriguez's last season with Texas, 2003, was another productive year for A-Rod. He hit .298 with 47 home runs, won his second consecutive Gold Glove Award and was named the league's MVP, despite the Rangers remaining mired in last place.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~