Yankee Fans Say They'll Remember A-Rod For Drama And Performance
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Alex Rodriguez said that after hanging them up following Friday's game he'd be heading to Miami to be with his family before taking on his new advisory role with the Yankees.
As CBS2's Brian Conyebeare reported, Yankee fans young and old at the stadium on Sunday seemed just as sad as A-Rod who became emotional during his retirement announcement.
But they welcomed the news that the all-star was staying with the team as a special advisor and instructor.
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"If it's not working out for him to be playing with the Yankees as a team than having him as an advisor for the young, up-and-coming is awesome," Michelle Amin said.
"I like that he's staying with the organization. I think that he's turned his reputation around quite a bit," Declan Devito said.
That reputation was tarnished by a steroid scandal and season long suspension in 2014. The question on many fan's minds -- will that keep A-Rod out of the Hall of Fame?
"If anybody takes steroids it's going to hurt him," Roberto Gonzalez said.
"I don't think he'll get into the Hall of Fame in the next 10 years," David Lew said.
Others weren't so sure.
"Twenty-two years playing Major League Baseball, what he's accomplished almost 700 homeruns. I think the fans across the nation should be very proud of him," Rod Harris said.
"There was some drama with him back and forth, but you know what he's a Yankee at the end of the day, as a Yankee fan you gotta appreciate what he did for the team," Besmir Ismaili added.
Rodriguez may be the most polarizing player in Yankee history, some love him, some hate him, but most fans seemed happy that he would be staying on as a mentor.
"Having him as an advisor for the young up-and-comers is awesome," Michelle Amin said.
Others said 'good riddance' to the player who admitted using steroids.
"He cheated, and I don't think that he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame," Christian Cabello said.
His last game is already a hot ticket, the cheapest seats in the outfield grandstand are going for $49.99, and a Legends Suite is $7,500 on Stubhub.
No matter how much it costs to get into the stadium, you can expect an emotional sellout crowd on Friday when A-Rod plays his final game in pinstripes.