MAIN Sports Sports Stars Alex Rodriguez

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 the milestone.

Off the field, Rodriguez has been in the news also this season over reports that he had been spotted with a mystery blonde while on the road in Toronto, with tabloids dubbing the married Yankee Slugger "Stray Rod".

The sports pages also had a field day over rumors that the Yankee slugger was about to jump to the Chicago Cubs in a record-breaking deal that could be worth as much as $30 million a year for 10 years and includes an ownership stake in the team.

Stay Rod

Days later, rumors began to buzz that A-Rod was once again negotiating with the Yankees in an effort to keep alive the possibility of his future in New York. The reports were confirmed by the Yankee champ himself on his official Web site. The final Yankee deal will reportedly be signed in mid-November and is said to be worth more than 275 million.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez has 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).

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