Alex Rodriguez Sacrifices Personal Glory for the Yankees

by Harold Friend

By 2004, Alex Rodriguez was well on his way to being ranked as the second greatest shortstop of all time, but money got in the way. Honus Wagner is considered the greatest of all shortstops, but Alex was not far behind.

The Yankees Acquire Alex Rodriguez

One of the most popular, well-known entertainers in the game, Alex was traded from the Texas Rangers to the New York Yankees in 2004. The Yankees sent infielder Joaquin Arias, who has a .311 lifetime batting average, and Alfonso Soriano, who averages about 145 strikeouts a season, to Texas for Alex.

Alex Rodriguez Was a Great Shortstop

Shortstop is a key position that requires great defensive skills to a greater extent than any other position, with the possible exception of catcher. Alex Rodriguez was an outstanding defensive shortstop with great range. He hit with more power than any shortstop had ever displayed.

Alex Rodriguez Put the Yankees First

The Yankees already had a future Hall of Fame shortstop, so Alex, always a team player, volunteered to play third base, despite the fact that he was a better defensive player than Derek Jeter.

Once again, Alex put the welfare of his team ahead of personal glory. One cannot and should not under-emphasize the sacrifice Alex made by moving from shortstop.

The Greatest Shortstops

The best shortstops include Honus Wagner, Ozzie Smith, Cal Ripken, Luis Aparicio, Phil Rizzuto, PeeWee Reese, Lucius Appling, and Joe Cronin. Smith and Aparicio were clearly better than Alex on defense, but none comes close to Alex offensively, with the exception of Honus Wagner.

Alex Rodriguez Compared to Honus Wagner

Alex has hit 572 home runs compared to only 101 for Wagner, but the Flying Dutchman hit so many doubles and triples that he has a higher OPS+ (150) than Alex (147). Wagner hit.327 compared to Alex's .304. It is difficult to assess Wagner's defensive skills, but they couldn't have been better than Alex's.

By the end of Alex's career, almost any one who saw Wagner play would probably be dead, so statisticians could show why Alex was better than Wagner. No living person could say that she saw both Wagner and Alex play, and that Wagner was the better player. Alex Rodriguez gave all of that up to help his team win.

Alex Rodriguez is the Greatest Third Baseman in Yankees' History

There were rewards. Alex Rodriguez has become the greatest third baseman in the history of baseball's most storied franchise. He is a household name. Fans proudly walk down the street wearing replicas of his number 13 jersey. His work ethic and workouts are legendary, surpassed in intensity, according to some, only by Roger Clemens.

Alex Plays to Win

Alex Rodriguez is well compensated for his skills, but if one were to speak to Alex, it is likely that they would learn that Alex Rodriguez plays to win the World Championship. However, it is unlikely that Alex would claim that it is something that money can buy. Despite playing for the team with highest payroll in baseball history, Alex is probably correct.

Reference:

Baseball-Reference

Davis21wylieMVP

116 days ago

Score 2

If A-Rod was unselfish in moving from SS to 3B to accommodate Jeter (which I think he was, btw), does that make the inverse true -- that Jeter was selfish for not moving elsewhere for the good of the team?

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

116 days ago

Score 1

Jeter would be a much better CF than SS if you ask me... (his arm sucks at either position but he can get away with it more out there.)

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Davis21wylieMVP

115 days ago

Score 1

I've been saying that for years. He probably should have moved to CF after it became clear Bernie Williams was toast. Selfish vanity on the part of Derek Jeter is an underrated reason why the Yankees haven't won a championship since 2000.

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LouGehrigRed-Shirting

115 days ago

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How do you answer that?

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

116 days ago

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If not for Babe Ruth, we'd still be slobbering over Honus Wagner...

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LouGehrigRed-Shirting

115 days ago

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You got that right, except for Tyrus.

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Steel TownDraft Pick

115 days ago

Score 1

Come to where I live in Carnegie PA. They are still slobbering over him. We have plaques, a Road, an Apartment Building and of course his home all promenantly displayed.

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AllikskatJV Squad

115 days ago

Score 1

I wish he would stop 'sacrificing glory' in the postseason...ad much as I like him in pinstripes, he's got a great disappearing act in Oct..

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JuTMSY4Legend

115 days ago

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It is difficult to assess Wagner's defensive skills, but they couldn't have been better than Alex's. Oh? That seems fair.

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Tmil42AAA-er

115 days ago

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I would argue that Barry Larkin belongs in your great list of shortstops...but other than that, I have no qualms with your article.

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LouGehrigRed-Shirting

115 days ago

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I agree. I selected from Hall of Famers, but I have no argument about Larkin. He was great.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

115 days ago

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Arky Vaughn?

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PmoehrinVarsity

115 days ago

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I love the people who try to argue that Alex Rodriguez isn't a clutch player.

Ask that to Joe Nathan, see what he thinks of A-Rod being clutch in the postseason. He had two really bad series against the Angels in '05, and the Tigers in '06 I'll give you that, but other then that his numbers are pretty solid.

You take those two series out of the picture, and Arod becomes a .322 hitter in the postseason. By comparison everyone talks about how great of a postseason hitter Mickey Mantle was, yet you take out the 1960 World Series, and there really isn't that much to go on with Mantle.

With the 1960 Series, Mantle is a .257 postseason hitter, but without it, his average drops to .239

It's just incredible the double standard the media, and fans put Arod under. Granted Arod isn't helping his cause much by going out with Madonna, but I haven't seen what makes Arod worse then 90% of the pro athletes out there. And I think Arod sucks as a human being. That should give you my opinion of pro athletes right there.

From 2000 to 2005 he was without question the best player in the American League, and he hasn't been all that bad since either. Yet Arod isn't a clutch player. For that to occur he would have to be a .100 from the 7th inning on, but a borderline .400 hitter from innings 1 through 6.

The real reason why ESPN and others don't like him I think is because he didn't go to Boston back in 2004, when they we're trying to work a deal out for him.

If Arod was on Boston we'd be hearing non stop about how Arod is the greatest player of his era. Instead ESPN and others are trying desperately to put that title on Albert Pujols.

I'm not even a Yankee fan, I hate the Yankees as a matter of fact. But I'm a baseball fan first, and I don't knock great players for made up reasons no matter who they played for.

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LouGehrigRed-Shirting

115 days ago

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Good points, but Mickey did a key grand slam off Russ Meyer that was pivotal in the Yankees winning the 1953 WS, and the year before, he hit .345 against Brooklyn.

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PmoehrinVarsity

115 days ago

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I'm not knocking Mantle. I could have inserted him with dozens of other players in history. I just choose Mantle because of his name. Just trying to point out about how most of the negatives being applied to Arod can be attached to almost anyone.

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AllikskatJV Squad

115 days ago

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it's all about 'what have you done for me lately?'... 4-44 last 3 years in playoffs...

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PmoehrinVarsity

115 days ago

Score 2

Where are you getting those numbers from he's 7-44. But the problem with postseason stats is that it's a very small window to look at.

It's 13 games. Anybody can have a bad stretch in 13 games.

I generally don't judge how good a player is based on essentially half a month, although there are those who do. Not saying your one of them because I don't know enough about you, so don't take it the wrong way.

I just disgusts me that what's being said about Arod can be applied to so many other players in the game's history, and yet it's only Arod who gets singled out.

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KelsdadAll-Star

115 days ago

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Another quality article, Lou, but one point needs clarifying.

Alex Rodriguez did not "volunteer" to play third base.

Because of his no trade, he had to agree to the move before consenting to the trade. If the Yankees hadn't asked and only told him afterwards, he would have been able to file a grievance with the PA. (Remember that weak-ass threat Alfonso Soriano made with Washington and LF)?

I agree he was self-less in his attempt to win a WS, but the only way he would have played SS was to stay in Texas.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

115 days ago

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One game (Reggie Jackson), one at bat (Bill Mazeroski, Kirk Gibson) can erase the memories of fact and reality easily.

Barry Bonds sucked in the playoffs too, until 2002.

Hell, the people who rip A-Rod for his postseason performances are the same people who blabbed on and on that "Michael Jordan will never win a championship" in the late 80's...

It's a team sport. It's why Luis Sojo has 5 rings and Ted Williams has none.

It takes more than a great shortstop playing third base to win a World Series. And anyone who thinks differently is a damned foolish bag of hot air.

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Ron Sen, MDRed-Shirting

115 days ago

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A-Rod IS a great player. Winning a championship won't change the perception that he is a narcissistic prima donna. The story of the scorpion and the frog comes to mind (see 'The Crying Game'). He can't help his nature, and perhaps any of us would gladly exchange temperamental excellence for affable mediocrity.

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The oldest manVarsity

114 days ago

Score 1

Rod has way to much to go to even be compared to Honus Wagner. Not even in the same league yet and maybe never will be. Drug issue, his standoff appearance and me me me attitude puts his so far away from Honus that he may never be able to get there. Stats are great but drugs and roids could have been a very larger contributing factor in them. He ability on the field as a SS were above average if you ever say Honus play. Even as an old man, he could play with the best of them and hitting he takes a backseat to no one and one thing he had that A Rod doesn't is his knowledge of the game and to able to do just the right thing at the right time. I would take one Honus Wagner over 8 A-Rods any day of the year.

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LouGehrigRed-Shirting

114 days ago

Score 0

Thank you.

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The oldest manVarsity

114 days ago

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If anyone believes he said I will go gladly to third must be smoking funny something. If you went to the Yankees his only place was third base because Jeter the other prima donna wasn't going to give up his spot. All the Yankees Narcissistic prima donnas as Rod Sen wrote. Look at the owners and you will have to look no further. Ruth was the biggest Prima Donna of them all but he was one of the nicest and sweetest people ever. He did things that nobody ever heard of until late in his lifetime and after death. No to make everyone like him but because the Babe was the Babe plain and simple. I don't really like A Rod's style but his ability is on the highest but once again that drug issue steps to the front and his whole attitude sucks when it comes to me me me and to hell with everyone else. Money is and I guess always will be the bottom line for A Rod. But he could have been one of the greatest players of all time but for a few small variations aka drugs,sex life and personality.

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