How blasphemous is it that Alex Rodriguez wore a Red Sox uniform?

Alex Rodriguez was once thought to be on his way to the Boston Red Sox, and now we know what he would’ve looked like in the colors.

As the Texas Rangers looked to shed his big contract after the 2003 season, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees stood out as the top two suitors for Alex Rodriguez. Both had the ability to add that kind of money to their payroll, and could surely make room for him in their lineup.

Rodriguez of course ended up being traded to the Yankees, after a deal with the Red Sox didn’t go through. He would spend 12 seasons as a lighting rod, amid steroid allegations (including a full season suspension) and milestones (600 home runs, 3,000 hits).

Rodriguez has been working as an analyst for Fox during recent postseasons, and former Red Sox rival David Ortiz has been working alongside him. The two had a friendly bet on the Yankees-Red Sox ALDS, which of course Boston won 3-1.

During Friday night’s NLCS Game 1 postgame show, Rodriguez had to settle the bet.

Ortiz was ready to go, with goggles on and champagne to douse Rodriguez with. Then A-Rod opened up his Red Sox jersey, revealing a Yankees t-shirt and proclaimed “I’m a Yankee for life.”

In a certain, partial way, this blasphemy of uniform changes was done in reverse years ago.

In a “This is Sportcenter” bit for ESPN, Ortiz puts Jorge Posada’s Yankees hat in order to “break it in ” and create the proper curve in the bill. Then “Wally”, the Boston mascot, has exactly the reaction you’d expect from a Red Sox fan who sees Ortiz in a Yankees hat.

Red Sox fans might be glad they avoided having Rodriguez, with all the controversy he came with a few World Series wins since. But one of baseball’s biggest what-if scenarios now has a confirmed visual.