Alex Rodriguez New York Yankees 2010 Signed and Game Worn Jersey | Matched to 4 Games

The New York Yankees are undoubtedly the most prominent and well-established franchise in Major League Baseball. The winningest franchise in the sport, the Yankees have produced more Hall of Famers than any other team in the MLB. Ruth, Mantle, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Jeter, and Rivera are all names that help tell the story of the Yankees’ first 26 World Series trophies. But perhaps no name tells the story of championship number 27 better than Alex Rodriguez. 

This jersey was worn by Alex Rodriguez during the following games:

• April 30, 2010, when the New York Yankees played the Chicago White Sox. Rodriguez went 1 for 4 with 1 RBI. The Yankees beat the White Sox, 6-4.

• May 3, 2010, when the New York Yankees played the Baltimore Orioles. Rodriguez went 1 for 4 with 1 run. The Yankees beat the Orioles, 4-1. 

• May 4, 2010, when the New York Yankees played the Baltimore Orioles. Rodriguez went 0 for 2 with 1 run. The Yankees beat the Orioles, 4-1.

• May 5, 2010, when the New York Yankees played the Baltimore Orioles. Rodriguez went 1 for 4 with 1 RBI. The Yankees beat the Orioles, 7-5.

The jersey has been photomatched by MeiGray and is accompanied by a photomatch letter. A letter from James Spence Authentication in regards to the signatures is also included with this lot.

Going Deeper | Alex Rodriguez

Born in New York, Rodriguez and his family moved to his father's home country of the Dominican Republic when Alex was four. When he relocated to Miami, Rodriguez was considered one of the most dynamic and highly touted prospects in baseball. Often compared to Ken Griffey Jr., as a high school player, Rodriguez was selected first overall in the 1993 MLB draft by the Seattle Mariners. He made his major league debut at just 18 years old.

Regardless of his draft status, in the eyes of Mariners GM Lou Pinella, there was still room for growth. Rodriguez spent the first two years in the MLB back and forth between the majors and the minors. “Even though we all knew he was our shortstop of the future, it wouldn't have been fair to the guys on the field or to Alex [to put him in the starting lineup]. Our veterans were doing a great job, and we were winning games. ... Quite frankly, Alex was ready. He just needed more at-bats. But he's always had a great attitude.”

In 1996, Alex’s time would come, and what a time it was. In his first full season in the MLB, A-Rod immediately established himself as an elite professional. He won the batting title with an impressive .358 batting average, the highest by a right-handed hitter since Joe DiMaggio. His 36 home runs and 123 RBIs also landed him in the All-Star game that year, making him the youngest shortstop to receive MLB All-Star honors.

During his time with the Mariners, A-Rod set franchise records for batting average, runs, hits, doubles, and total bases. In 1998, he became the third player in league history to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in the same season. 

Mega Millions

Before the 2001 season, as a free agent, Rodriguez signed with the Texas Rangers. His 10-year, $252 million contract marked the most lucrative contract ever signed by an athlete.

With the Rangers, Rodriguez’s stellar play continued. In 2003, he won the American League MVP with a .298 batting average, 47 home runs, and 118 RBIs. 

Pinstripes

Post-2003, Rodriguez was traded to the New York Yankees. With the shortstop position occupied by Derek Jeter, Rodriguez switched to third base. In 2005, he won his second AL MVP with a .321 batting average, 48 home runs, and 130 RBIs. 

On August 4th, 2007, A-Rod etched his name into the record books. At 32 years old, Rodriguez recorded his 500th career home run, becoming the youngest player to accomplish the feat. He finished the season with his third MVP trophy, recording a career-best .314 batting average, 54 home runs, and 156 RBIs. 

2009 was a tumultuous year in A-Rod's career. In an interview with ESPN, A-Rod, with a shaky voice, issued an admission of guilt confirming that his name belonged on a list of 104 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in 2003. The tests, which were supposed to remain anonymous, were issued to determine whether regular drug tests were necessary for the league. A-Rod and many other of the league's top names tested positive. 

The revelation threatened to taint his extraordinary career, as the 2001-2003 seasons were some of A-Rod’s strongest. He attributed the pressure of signing a major contract with Texas to his decision to use PEDs. 

In the wake of the admission, the 2009 regular season was far from spectacular for Rodriguez. He failed to surpass 30 home runs or 100 RBIs for the first time since 1997, and his streak of nine consecutive All-Star game selections was also snapped. 

The 2009 playoffs, however, would prove to serve as a point of redemption. A-Rod, an infamously subpar playoff performer, put on a career-defining performance and ultimately won his first and only World Series title. Overcoming his reputation as a poor playoff performer, Rodriguez finished the postseason with a batting average of .365. He also tacked on 6 home runs and 18 RBIs.