Better known by the nickname A-Rod, New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is one of the most famous players in baseball today. Born in New York City, Rodriguez's family moved to the Dominican Republic when he was four years old, only to return to Miami a short time later. Rodriguez's father took for New Jersey not long after returning to the US, leaving his family behind.
In Miami Rodriguez would begin his baseball career playing for his high school team. It was here that Alex would go All-American his senior year and be the first high school player to 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 continued with the Mariners until becoming a free agent and playing with the Texas Rangers for a short time. In 2004, Rodriguez was signed by the New York Yankees, where he still plays today. He has continued to play at a level few others can match, winning the MVP titles in 2005 and 2007. He has been criticized by sportswriters and fans for sometimes failing to hold up under pressure, something which has not bothered him; says Rodriguez: "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." The Yankees apparently do not agree with this criticism, having signed him to a 10 year, $275 million contract. If Rodriguez breaks the home run record while on the team, he stands to make millions more.
A-Rod's personal life is also controversial; he has been seen with another woman and his marriage is reputed to be on the rocks. There have also been rumors that Rodriguez has had an affair with Madonna, something lent more credence by the singer's own troubled marriage to filmmaker Guy Ritchie.
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