Hello Sports Fans,
In our second segment of the “NYG Reporter Sports Special” (major global sports news), we take a look at a truly rare feat in sports history. Four days ago in the Bronx, New York Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez, hit his 600th home run out of the park, in the first inning against Shawn Marcum and the Toronto Blue Jays. He finally did it after the longest drought between HR’s for the No.600 group members with 46 at-bats between HR’s (his 17th of the season). As if written for a made for TV movie, he hit home run No.600 exactly 3 years to the day from when he hit No.500. Spooky stuff huh? He will need to keep that 100 HR per 3 year pace going to become the king, something he could realistically achieve in 6 or 7 seasons.
I am a Yankee fan and I was happy that Alex hit that home run in Yankee stadium (monument park to be exact). The ballpark needed something to cheer for as 2010 has been particularly hard on the Yankee family. Because both owner George Steinbrenner and announcer Bob Sheppard, passed away within days of each other during the summer of 2010.
Alex became just the seventh player in baseball history to reach the No.600 plateau. He was also the youngest player ever to achieve this benchmark at 35 years old, which he had just turned a week earlier. It is hard to believe that A-Rod has played 17 seasons in the major leagues.
I wanted to wait a few days before I covered this historical accomplishment because of the backlash I expect. Everyone here at the nygreporter would like to say Congrats to Alex! I think it is a shame that the steroid era has tarnished this accomplishment in some writers minds. Most fans of the game will be rooting for Alex to do well but almost all of them still shake their head when the topic of steroids comes up. Alex was a man about the situation and admitted it but it is still something that will follow him where ever he goes. I say it is in the past and everyone should leave the man alone and let him do his job.
If you take a look at the all-time home run list below, you will see that Rodriguez is only nine home runs away from taking sole possession of sixth place by surpassing Sammy Sosa. This is something I think A-Rod is more then capable of doing this year. However, he will have to wait until next year to take over Ken Griffey Jr and the fifth spot at 630 home runs. Again, something that A-Rod is very capable of doing. For a guy who is clearly aging well, A-Rod might be able to play another decade.
Rodriguez was originally drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 1993 and he was born in New York.
Most Home Runs All-time as of 8/8/10:
1. Barry Bonds – 762 HR’s
2. Hank Aaron – 755 HR’s
3. Babe Ruth – 715 HR’s
4. Willie Mays – 660 HR’s
5. Ken Griffey Jr. – 630 HR’s
6. Sammy Sosa – 609 HR’s
7. Alex Rodriguez – 600 HR’s
8. Frank Robinson – 586 HR’s
9. Mark McGwire – 583 HR’s
10. Jim Thome – 577 HR’s
Do you think 3B Alex Rodriguez will end up as the all-time home run king by the end of his career? Will he hit 763 home runs?
Alex Rodriguez awards received:
1996 – AL Batting Champion
2001 – AL Home Run Champion
2002 – AL Home Run Champion, AL RBI Leader, AL Gold Glove-SS, AL Hank Aaron Award
2003 – AL MVP, AL Home Run Champion, AL Gold Glove-SS, AL Hank Aaron Award
2005 – AL MVP, AL Home Run Champion
2007 – AL MVP, AL Home Run Champion, AL RBI Leader, AL Hank Aaron Award
2009 – World Series Champion
1996-2009 – 10-time Silver Slugger award winner
1996-2010 – 13-time All-Star roster member
RD – nygreporter.com
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NYG Reporter Sports Special: Edition 0002
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