Yankees legend A: .285 batting average, .348 on-base percentage, .830 OPS, 358 home runs, 3 A.L. MVPs
Yankees legend B: .284 batting average, .378 on-base percentage, .901 OPS, 351 home runs, 2 A.L. MVPs
Legend A is Yogi Berra. Legend B? Well, you probably know who it is because of the headline.
Alex Rodriguez’s time in pinstripes has been marred with PED use, Page Six gossip, and controversies surrounding popcorn. But the fact of the matter is that Rodriguez, by any objective statistical matter, is one of the greatest offensive players in Yankees history. And while he may have had more than his fair share of bad moments, he should stand as one of the greatest Yankees of all time. The numbers speak for themselves. And for that reason, after learning that Friday will be A-Rod's last day in pinstripes, Rodriguez deserves to have his number retired by the franchise.
Monument Park isn’t exactly an exhibit of saints. Babe Ruth was a serial philanderer who enjoyed hookers about as much as hot dogs.
This sounds crazy on the surface, but when you look at the numbers it is a completely justifiable position to take. The only Yankees with at least 350 home runs are Rodriguez, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Berra. Except for A-Rod, they all have their numbers retired and are universally considered to be American icons. Gehrig, DiMaggio, Berra, Mantle, Roger Maris, and—you guessed it—Rodriguez are the only players in Yankee history with multiple MVPs. All of them have their numbers retired except, of course, for Rodriguez.
The Yankees have retired more than their fair share of numbers over the years, including several players who are far less deserving than A-Rod. Maris, for example, really only had three elite seasons in pinstripes, but one of the best years in baseball history when he belted 61 home runs in 1961. Jorge Posada played in the same era as Rodriguez, and never put up anywhere near the numbers A-Rod did. A-Rod also had 64 more home runs and a higher career slugging percentage than Bernie Williams. So if Maris, Posada, and Williams deserve spots in Monument Park, why shouldn’t A-Rod?
We know why. Off-the-field Alex Rodriguez likely ruined any chance of on-the-field Alex Rodriguez earning immortal status with the Yankees. The fanbase generally loathes him and he’s had issues with management at various points during his time in the Bronx. Still, that shouldn’t keep him from being honored permanently by the Yankees. Monument Park isn’t exactly an exhibit of saints. Babe Ruth was a serial philanderer who enjoyed hookers about as much as hot dogs. Mickey Mantle was an alcoholic. Andy Pettitte As a member of the Yankees, Rodriguez is sixth all-time in homers, 11th in RBIs, 10th in runs scored, 17th in hits, 10th in extra-base hits, sixth in slugging seventh in OPS, and eighth in WAR. He’s towards the top in just about every major franchise category—and we’re talking about the most storied franchise in American sports. Why shouldn’t someone like that get their number retired, or at the very least get some fan appreciation?
It may not look like it now, but history will look fondly on A-Rod’s statistical dominance, and maybe even put Rodriguez into Cooperstown with a Yankees hat on his plaque. Without A-Rod, it’s unlikely the Yankees would have made nine playoff appearances, or won the 2009 World Series. It probably won’t happen anytime soon—and there’s a pretty good chance it never will—but Alex Rodriguez deserves to have his number retired with the Yankees. The stats don’t lie.
