MAIN Sports Sports Stars Alex Rodriguez

Often in the news for his performances both on and off the field, Alex Rodriguez has recently made headlines with a mention in a controversial book - penned by ex-Yankee manager Joe Torre - who revealed that one the highest paid sluggers in major league basebal was reported to have been called "A-Fraud" by his fellow teammates.

That nickname was later degraded to "A-Roid" by sports columnists when more news broke in 2009 regarding his use of steroids in anonymous testing conducted in 2003.

Since 2003, A-Rod has repeatedly denied his involvment in the baseball steroids controversy until this year when he apologized to fans to having used the banned substance, saying that he discontinued using steroids in 2004.

A-Rod Bio

Born Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez in New York, New York on July 27,1975, A-Rod grew up in Miami and there began his early career at Westminster Christian School, batting .419 with 17 home runs and 90 steals in 100 games.

He later became the USA Baseball Junior Player of the Year and the first high school player to ever try out for Team USA in 1993.

His professional career began with the Seattle Mariners, before signing an unprecidented free agent deal with the Texas Rangers. In 2003 he became the youngest player in major league history to reach 300 home runs. Also that year, he was named American League Most Valuable Player and traded to the New York Yankees three weeks later - the first MVP to be traded in major league history.

Rodriguez lived up to the much-publicized hype and $22 million salary in his first year with the Yankees, hitting .286 with 36 home runs and 106 runs batted in - in his seventh consecutive season with at least 100 RBI.

Eventually, he was moved up to the No. 2 spot in the batting order, directly behind good friend and Yankee captain, Derek Jeter.

On June 8, 2005 the 29-year-old A-Rod went down in the record books as the only player in baseball history to hit 400 home runs before reaching age 30. The historic homer was the second of the night for A-Rod in a 12-3 win against the Milwaukee Brewers.

In November, Rodriguez' star continued to rise as he won the American League Most Valuable Player award, beating out Red Sox hitter David Ortiz to win MVP for the second time in three seasons.

In 2006, despite an otherwise lackluster season, A-Rod reached another milestone by becoming at age 30 the youngest player in baseball history to reach 450 homeruns. In 2007, he reached his 500th home run becoming at 32 years old the youngest player ever to reach that milestone.

The sports pages also had a field day in 2007 over rumors that the Yankee slugger was about to jump to the Chicago Cubs in a record-breaking deal that could have been worth as much as $30 million a year for 10 years and included an ownership stake in the team. Instead, a final Yankee deal with A-Rod was signed in mid-November worth more than $275 million.

Rodriguez captured his third American League MVP title following an outstanding 2007 season in which he led the AL in homers, RBI, runs and slugging percentage (.645). He is now up for a nomination as Best Athlete in this year's ESPY Awards airing in July.

A-Rod, A Player Off the Field?

Off the field, Rodriguez was in the news in 2007 as tabloids dubbed the married Yankee Slugger "Stray Rod". after he was spotted with a mystery blonde while on the road in Toronto.

A-Rod had also been rumored in the possible divorce proceedings of pop queen Madonna, with reports siting their late night dalliances in New York as the reason for her rumored divorce from Guy Ritchie.

As a result, A-Rod's wife, Cynthia, filed a multi-million dollar divorce proceeding reportedly settled peacefully in September 2008.

Rodriguez and wife Cynthia were married in 2002 and have two daughters, Natasha (b.2004) and Ella, born on April 21, 2008.

A-Rod around the Web:

AROD.com - The slugger's official site with a career timeline, bio, pictures, video clips, official stats, information on the AROD Family Foundation, online shop,

Alex Rodriguez Statistics - Baseball Reference.com - The complete record including vital stats, batting and fielding records with the Mariners, Rangers and Yankees, plus a complete salary history.

New York Yankees - Alex Rodriguez - The official team site featuring a photo gallery, vital stats, current season standings, career highlights and biography.

ARod Central - Online fan site with busy messageboards and discussions on the Yankee star's life, career and related articles.

Alex Rodriguez's Unofficial Website - Fan site offering photos and publicity shots, vital stats and biography, career highlights, fun facts, quotes.

Alex Rodriguez - Complete profile detailng A-Rod's early years with the Seattle Mariners, subsequent moves to the Texas Rangers & Yankees, plus related stats and salary history, pictures & related links, from Wikipedia.

also see in Sports -> World Series Baseball | New York Yankees

also see in Sports Idols -> Jason Giambi | Ken Griffey, Jr.

Derek Jeter | Mike Piazza