Alex Rodriguez has made the announcement that when his current contract with the New York Yankees ends after the 2017 season, he will retire. It will be an end to one of the most accomplished –as well as polarizing— careers in baseball history. And while the debate has been ongoing for years, it gives an even more decisive framework to the question of if Rodriguez is worthy of being a Hall of Famer or not.
On paper, the numbers scream ‘yes’. The 600 plus home runs, 3,000 hits, 14 All-Star Games, three Most Valuable Player Awards and World Series title all say this is a definitive career in the history of the game. However, there is far more to it than that when evaluating Rodriguez, who’s suspensions due to performance enhancing drugs, greedy negotiation tactics and defiant nature have all led to him being at various times hated as much as beloved.
Regardless of both of these things, Rodriguez has been one of the most impactful players in the history of the game. With all other off field issues aside, here are the top five reasons why A-Rod is without a doubt one of the greatest players of all-time.
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