With A-Rod Set To Retire In Two Years, A Look At His Best/Worst Moments

By Johnny Carey, CBS Boston

BOSTON (CBS) -- Break out the tissues and ready the farewell tours, baseball fans. Alex Rodriguez is retiring ... two years from now.

In what many have aptly described as "the most Alex Rodriguez move of all time," the Yankees third baseman/DH decided that Wednesday, March 23, 2016 would be the appropriate time to announce his fall 2017 retirement.

"I won't play after next year," Rodriguez told ESPN's Andrew Marchand. "I've really enjoyed my time. For me, it is time for me to go home and be Dad."

Aw shucks.

How cute.

After what would be 23 years (24 if you want to count his 162-game suspension in 2014) in the big leagues, A-Rod just wants to go home and "be Dad." Of course, it'll be a lot easier to "be Dad" after he makes the final $42 million of his mega-deal. Who can really blame him for wanting that?

I, for one, will miss A-Rod, and I mean that sincerely.

The world of sports needs villains, and Alex Rodriguez is just about as perfect of a villain as you'll ever find. He's insecure, insincere, a confirmed cheater, and to top it all off, he's a really, really good baseball player. It's just about impossible not to hate on A-Rod, which is what makes him such a compelling figure in sports.

In memory of Alex Rodriguez's career, which is ever so "close" to ending, here are just a few of A-Rod's Greatest Moments.

1. It was just my running motion! 

Red Sox fans will never forget what has become A-Rod's most iconic moment. In the bottom of the eighth inning of Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS, Rodriguez rolled a grounder off the end of his bat. Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo ran over to tag Rodriguez, who promptly swatted the ball out of Arroyo's hand. To the absolute delight of Rodriguez, the ball rolled into right field and Derek Jeter scored. The umpires originally ruled a clean play, but after talking it over, the crew ruled Rodriguez out and sent Jeter back to his base.

Nothing beats A-Rod's expression after being called out at second base.

2. Remember that time he got booed at home?

A-Rod is so unlikable that a good portion of The Bronx crowd (even after helping win them a World Series), booed him for attempting to play through a suspension. That had to hurt.

3. "I Got It!"

A-Rod was widely criticized in 2007 for yelling "I got it" while a pop fly was in the air against Toronto. The ball dropped, and a run scored. This move evokes mixed emotions. Yes, it might not have been as big of a deal had someone else done it, but considering that's just the kind of play you'd expect from A-Rod, it was hard to overlook. Not cool.

4. A-Rod v. Varitek

Yelling "Bleep you" at Jason Varitek and asking him to hit you wasn't the smartest move. It sparked a legendary brawl, and remains one of the iconic moments in the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry.

5. A-Rod v. Dempster

In a way, this was the most symbolic A-Rod moment ever. After clearly being thrown at by Ryan Dempster (four times), Rodriguez absolutely smashed a home run to straightaway center field. It was not only a reminder of how much people/players hated A-Rod, but also of how great he was.

6. A-Rod says he never took steroids 

Whatever you say.

7. A-Rod says he did take steroids 

Well, that "60 Minutes" clip is awkward now.

8. We can only assume he's not allowed back at FOX

This video is hilarious. Trying to look like one of the boys with Terry Bradshaw and Co., A-Rod's Geno Smith impression destroyed what looked to be an expensive piece of equipment. To be fair to A-Rod, Jay Glazer could've gotten up to grab that one. He put it where only his receiver could get it.

So, enjoy what (relatively) little time you have left with one of sports' greatest villains, because it's kind of, sort of, close to being over.

Or, maybe not.

Never change, A-Rod.

Johnny Carey is a senior at Boston College. You can find him on Twitter @JohnnyHeights.

In:
• MLB
• Alex Rodriguez
• New York Yankees
• Boston Red Sox