New York Yankees: A-Rod Was Young and Naive. Now He's Old and Foolish

The player who could have been ranked as the greatest shortstop in baseball history made his major league debut on July 8, 1994 at Fenway Park, batting ninth in the Seattle Mariners lineup.

In the third inning, facing Boston Red Sox starter Chris Nabholz, Alex Rodriguez grounded out to third baseman Scott Cooper. He finished the day hitless in three at-bats.

The next day, Rodriguez got his first major league hit off Sergio Valdez. With two outs in the fourth inning, he singled and promptly stole second on Valdez's second pitch.

Alex's third game was a disaster. He went hitless in four at-bats, struck out three times and made a wild throw for an error.

A-Rod, as he would be referred to with the passage of time, made some spectacular defensive plays in his first few games that would have made his good friend, Derek Jeter, proud.

On one play, Rodriguez made a backhand stop on the outfield grass and nipped the batter by a half-step. In his next game, he dove headlong to his right to snare a hard smash that seemed headed for the outfield, righted himself and made a spectacular to throw to first which was a nano-second too late.

Mariners manager Lou Piniella wasn't completely certain that the 18-year-old Rodriguez was ready.

"If it doesn't work out," said Piniella, "I'm the one who's going to be criticized."

Rodriguez, who even at the age of 18 didn't lack confidence, responded to his manager.

"No," he said. "I know I'm ready."

But the future New York Yankee, who deferred to Derek Jeter by moving to third base and sacrificing his chance to be the greatest shortstop ever, was a little naive and even awed at times.

Former Yankees relief pitcher Goose Gossage was finishing his career at the age of 42 with the Mariners. The Goose enjoyed kidding around with young Alex.

Rodriguez told Gossage that he had been with Appleton, Wis. before he joined the Mariners. Gossage told him that he had once played for Appleton.

"When was that? Back in '88?" Rodriguez asked.

"Uh, no, 1971," Gossage said.

"Wow," said Rodriguez. "I was born in 1975."

Yes, A-Rod has changed quite a bit.

When Seattle signed Rodriguez, whom it had drafted as the first player in the first round in 1993, it signed him for three years for a total of $1.3 million.

When A-Rod is in the final year of his current contract with the Yankees, he will be almost 42 years-old, which was Gossage's age when Rodriguez was in his debut season. The Yankees were so eager to sign him, they will pay him at least $20 million in what is hoped to be his final season.

The Mariners wanted Rodriguez to spend one-half of the 1994 season with Class A Appleton and the second half with AA Jacksonville before calling him up in Sept., but he did quite well, which resulted in Piniella talking general manager Woody Woodward into calling Rodriguez up in July.

Ken Griffey Jr. insisted that Rodriguez take the locker next to his own because he wanted to needle Alex. One time, Griffey, who had spent a lot of time as a youngster around ball players, handed Alex some coupons for McDonald's. He said,

"You're making one-point-three; when you get sent down after the All-Star break, take the guys out to lunch down there."

As all rookies used to do, Alex took the coupons and merely smiled sheepishly.

He realized where he was. "It's funny," he said. "Last year I would have paid anything to go watch a major league game. This year I'm playing in one."

Reference:

Verducci, Tom. "Early Riser." Sports Illustrated. 18 July 1994. p. 39.