Alex Rodriguez The Tragic Hero

By: Jack Patrick and Blake Walls

Jack Patrick and Blake Walls

Childhood and growing up

● He was born in New York City

● Moved to Dominican Republic when he was 4 but moved to Florida
when he was 7
● After moving there, finances got tight which caused his father to
leave when he was 9
● Before he left, his father taught him how to play baseball
● His mom had to work two jobs so it was hard for him to practice
more baseball
● Quotation: “At age 4, Rodriguez moved with his family to the Dominican
Republic, where he first started playing baseball.”
● Source: Biography.com
Start of his career

● He played Baseball at Christopher Columbus High and

Westminster Christian School
● After high school he was drafted to the Seattle Mariners in 1993 for
$12 million
● He then signed with the Texas Rangers in 2001 for $252 Million
● Reached multiple ALCS and became the youngest player to hit 500
homeruns.
● Quotation:“A-Rod set the previous mark with his $252 million,
10-year deal with Texas in December 2000”
● Sources: CBS Sports.com, Biography.com

Baseballrefernce.com
Height of His Career

● After 3 years on the rangers, he was traded to the New York Yankees
for a 10 year contract worth $307 Million
● On the Yankees, he had 359 home runs with total of over 1500 hits
○ 4th overall for most homeruns
● He won the 2009 world series with the yankees
● Signed another contract with Yankees and became the
MLB Highest paid player worth $275 Million
● Quotation:“Baseball's highest contract, finalizing his $275 million, 10-year agreement with the New
York Yankees on Thursday.”

Source: New York Times,ESPN

Downfall

● In a ESPN interview in 2009, he admitted to using steroids in the 2003

season (Rodríguez) after lying about it previously
● This cost him $40 million
● He was also suspended for the 2014 season
● He lost a hall of fame spot
● Reputation is ruined forever and regrets it
● Won’t be remembered as a great and a liar
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX6_pvzs8CY
● Quotation” This thing cost me over $40 million. And it cost me my
reputation, and it may have cost me the Hall of Fame and a number of
other things."
● Source: USAToday.com
SPES

The best example of a tragic hero is Alex Rodriguez and here is why. Alex Rodriguez was born
into a poor family. His mom was forced to work two jobs because his dad left the family when he
was nine years old. He was a talented athlete and after high school was drafted by the Seattle
Mariners and played in the MLB ( Biography.com). At the height of his career, he was playing on
the New York Yankees and had a ten year contract worth $275 million (Business Insider). He
even won a world series in 2009 and holds three world records. They include most grand slams,
most home runs by a third baseman, and he was the youngest person to hit 500 homeruns
(Guinness World Records). Despite being a great player, he was found to have used steroids
while on the Rangers, and he paid the price. He was suspended from the 2014 season, had to pay
a fine of $40 million, and he lost his hall of fame spot. He even says in a interview “ How did I end
up here” (USAToday). Rodriguez could of been a top ten player of all time up there with Babe
Ruth,Lou Gehrig, Yogi Berra, and many more. But, now he will be known as a cheater who made
a tragic mistake that will affect his legacy even after he has died. In the end, we believe that Alex
Rodriguez is the most likely candidate to be a tragic hero
Thank you
 Works Cited

Rocher, Sofia. “Baseball Star Alex Rodriguez: MLB Athlete Enters Guinness World Records 2018.” Guinness World Records,
Guinness World Records, 10 Oct. 2017,
www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2017/10/baseball-star-alex-rodriguez-hits-a-home-run-into-gwr-2018-497638.

Sinn, Dylan. “Alex Rodriguez Says PEDs Cost Him $40 Million, Hall of Fame and More.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information
Network, 14 Oct. 2017,
www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/10/14/alex-rodriguez-says-peds-cost-him-40-million-hall-fame-and-more/764757001/.

https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/15/nyregion/yankees-said-to-be-closing-deal-to-obtain-rangers-rodriguez.htm

“Alex Rodriguez.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 28 Apr. 2017, www.biography.com/people/alex-rodriguez-39389.

Alex Rodriguez Stats.” BR Bullpen, www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rodrial01.shtml.

Axisa, Mike. “On This Date 15 Years Ago: Rangers Sign Alex Rodriguez to 10-Year Deal.” CBSSports.com, CBS Sports, 12 Dec. 2015,
www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/on-this-date-15-years-ago-rangers-sign-alex-rodriguez-to-10-year-deal/

.The New York Times. “Yankees Win 2009 World Series.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 4 Nov. 2009,
bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/live-analysis-world-series-game-6-phillies-at-yankees/.