Alex Rodriguez

Alexander "Alex" Rodriguez, informally known as "A-Rod," third basemen for the New York Yankees, was born July 27th, 1975 in New York City. When Alex was just four years old, he parents relocated him to the Dominican Republic, his fathers home land. Later they relocated to Miami Florida where Rodriguez started shining on the baseball field. In 1993 Rodriguez was the first overall pick for the Seattle Mariners, he made his first appearance with the Mariners playing short stop, at age 18.

Alex Rodriguez's first successful season came about in 1996, three years after he entered the world of major league baseball. He had a batting average of .358, 36 home runs and batted 123 runs in, achieving overall league best. He went on to achieve 6 great seasons with the Mariners. In 1998 he became the third player in history to achieve 40 home runs, and 40 stolen bases in a season. In 2001 when Rodriguez was a free agent, the Texas Rangers signed him to a 10-year $252 million contract. The richest contract ever given to an athlete at the time.

With the Rangers, Rodriguez continued to have amazing offensive seasons, In 2003 he won MVP, with a .298 batting average, 47 home runs, and 118 runs batted in. After the season was finished, he was traded to the New York Yankees. In 2005 he won his second MVP title with a batting average of .321, 48 home runs, and 180 runs batted in. At Yankee Stadium on Aug. 4, 2007, at age 32, Rodriguez hit his 500th career home run, becoming the youngest player to accomplish that achievement. The 2007 season was Rodriguez's best yet, he had a .314 batting average, with 56 home runs and 154 runs batted in. He was named Most Valuable Player, for a third time.

http://www.biography.com/articles/Alex-Rodriguez-39389