Alex Rodriguez

Baseball Player

Name at birth: Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez signed a 10-year, $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers in 2000, making him the highest-salaried player in professional sports history. Rodriguez played his first major league baseball game at age 18 and became the starting shortstop for the Seattle Mariners at age 20. Nicknamed "A-Rod," he hit .358 with 36 homers in 1996, his first full season in the majors. His power, defensive skills, charisma and fan-friendly Hispanic heritage made him an attractive free agent after the 2000 season, and Texas owner Tom Hicks signed Rodriguez to the unprecedented $252 million deal. Rodriguez played well for the Rangers (winning the American League MVP award in 2003), but the team finished last in its division for three straight years, and some felt that Rodriguez's mammoth contract had hobbled the team. In 2004 Rodriguez was traded to the New York Yankees, where he moved to third base to play alongside Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter. He had an uneasy time with the New York media and was criticized by fans who felt his post-season failures outweighed his regular season excellence. At the end of the 2007 season -- during which he batted .314 and hit 54 home runs -- he announced he would opt out of his Yankees contract and become a free agent.

Extra credit: Rodriguez bats right-handed, throws right-handed, and wears uniform #13... Seattle made him the first pick in the first round of the 1993 amateur draft... His first appearance in the majors was on 8 July 1994... In 1998 he had 42 homers and 46 stolen bases, making him the third-ever member of baseball's "40-40 club" (Barry Bonds and Jose Canseco were the other members)... Rodriguez hit his 500th home run on 4 August 2007, becoming (at 32) the youngest player to reach that number in major league history.

Other famous Yankees include sluggers Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle and Ball Four author Jim Bouton.