Today, Alex Rodriguez is widely regarded as a multifaceted individual, possessing an impressive array of talents and abilities. As a former baseball player, broadcaster, investor, social media personality, and dedicated father, A-Rod has crafted an image that is both admirable and enviable. However, his relationship with his own father, Victor Rodriguez, was not always idyllic.
Despite his father leaving the family when the former MLB slugger was just nine years old, it was through Victor’s love of baseball that A-Rod was first introduced to the sport that would ultimately shape his life and career. Despite the challenges he faced in his relationship with his father, his passion for baseball was ignited by the memories and love they shared for the sport.
In a 2018 interview with Cigar Aficionado, the Yankees’ star player was asked about his father and their shared love for baseball, specifically in relation to the New York Yankees and Mets.
A special father-son moment featuring two great New Yorkers
In his response to the question, Alex Rodriguez reminisced on a charming father-son moment that he shared with his father, Victor, while they listened to the expert commentary of two renowned announcers, Phil Rizzuto and Ralph Kiner, who were announcers with the New York Yankees and New York Mets, respectively.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Popular American publisher Marvin Shanken asked A-Rod, “He was a baseball player in the Dominican Republic. When you were a kid, do you remember him teaching you, playing with you? Throwing the ball?”
While A-Rod denied his father teaching him the sport, he spoke about a core memory. And he said, “No, because he was older. But what I do remember was sitting on his lap as a toddler and listening to [Yankees announcer] Phil Rizzuto and [Mets announcer] Ralph Kiner.”
Alex Rodriguez and his rise to the top despite his difficult circumstances
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Hailing from New York, Alex Rodriguez spent the formative years of his life in the bustling metropolis. However, as his father’s shoe business began to falter, the family was forced to relocate to Miami when A-Rod was just nine. Tragically, his father abandoned the family in Miami and returned to New York, leaving A-Rod and his family to navigate the challenges of a new city on their own.
In Miami, A-Rod discovered his love for baseball, and ultimately decided to pursue a professional career in the sport, forgoing a scholarship offer from the University of Miami. Despite the difficult circumstances of his father’s departure, A-Rod’s passion for baseball propelled him toward a successful career in the sport and allowed him to make a name for himself in the world of baseball.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Watch This Story – Alex Rodriguez’s Dating History: Kate Hudson, Jennifer Lopez And More
Eventually, Rodriguez, who eventually moved to smash 696 homers, made his debut with the Seattle Mariners at just 18 and set a record as the youngest debutant for the Seattle Mariners.
