Only a few jersey numbers in the Yankees can stir as much debate as #13. The one worn by one of the most polarizing figures in modern baseball: Alex Rodriguez. Well, love him or hate him, A-Rod left a massive footprint in the Bronx with over a decade of towering homers and MVP seasons. But certain controversies kept him out of certain recognitions. And after all these years, Rodriguez is wondering whether his number will ever find its place in Monument Park.
Now, A-Rod is not keeping those thoughts to himself. In a recent meet-up of the Yankees-Red Sox greats, including Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and David Ortiz, the former Yankee DH brought up the subject in playful banter. That too, with none other than his longtime rival-turned-ally, Red Sox legend David Ortiz.
The banter was first initiated by Ortiz, as he took the opportunity to hilariously troll Rodriguez. “When will they retire your jersey?” But Rodriguez, in his classic antics, took no time to respond with a swagger. “I think you have a higher chance of them retiring your jersey before mine.”
Now, let’s go back a little… Alex Rodriguez played his final game in 2016. And after five years, the number was reassigned to outfielder Joey Gallo. While we all had expected that we wouldn’t see any more Pinstripes with that number, things went otherwise. “It did not make me happy,” Rodriguez reacted in 2023.
For someone who spent over a decade in pinstripes, won three MVPs, and helped deliver a long-awaited championship in 2009, that move felt personal. But the Yankees have retired a record 22 jerseys till now. Then why not Rodriguez’s?
It might not be a coincidence that the Yankees have chosen not to retire his No. 13, despite A-Rod’s on-field accomplishments. Rodriguez was suspended for the entire 2014 season due to the use of performance-enhancing drugs. A scandal that tarnished his career. Then, subsequent denials and feuds with the Yankees over his alleged use of PEDs didn’t help either.
Now, it seems Rodriguez has accepted this. And hence, he was joking that the chances of the Yankees retiring Ortiz’s non-existent jersey are higher than retiring A-Rod’s existing one!
There’s no doubt about Alex Rodriguez’s contributions to the Yankees, though. Plus, this year, we have seen MLB reinstate Pete Rose from his lifetime ban. Probably, the Yankees, too, will recognize the 14x All-Star soon and place his jersey in Monument Park.
Rodriguez has no reason to lose hope
Well, Alex Rodriguez might be getting all the hype around his expectation for jersey retirement, but he is not the end of the list. The steroid era got a bunch of big names waiting to be recognized. It’s either about their jersey getting retired or their journey to Cooperstown.
But exceptions are also there.
Yes, PED use has kept many stars from receiving baseball’s highest honors. But there are a few notable exceptions when it comes to jersey retirements. Perhaps the most prominent one is David Ortiz’s. Despite his link to a 2003 anonymous survey test that reportedly showed a positive result, Ortiz never faced a suspension and got away with inconsistencies in the test.
The Red Sox retired his No. 34 in 2017, just one year after his retirement, celebrating his iconic postseason performances and leadership during three World Series runs!
But the most interesting comparison for Yankees fans is Andy Pettitte. For the unversed, in 2015, the Yankees retired Pettitte’s #46, despite him admitting in 2007 that he had used human growth hormone briefly in 2002. So, does it make a way for Rodriguez to get the equal treatment?
We think that jersey retirement isn’t solely about numbers or controversies. It’s more about context, public sentiment, and a player’s relationship with the franchise. Hopefully, Rodriguez will get his due by staying on the right side with the Yankees.
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