Dodgers star Alex Rodriguez‘s 500th homer was a record-breaker. Still, the old-timer misses one thing about it and wishes to recreate it. Can you guess why? It is because of the American broadcaster and legendary commentator for the Yankees, Michael Kay. Kay is an Emmy Award-winning Yankees play-by-play announcer for the YES Network and ESPN.

He has been broadcasting Yankees baseball for almost three decades: the first ten years on radio and the latter on television. Being with the Yankees for so long as their announcer means that he has witnessed and lived through all their special moments. Yet he missed this one. So what happened? It turned out he had a day off the day Rodriguez hit his 500th home run. Naturally, Alex Rodriguez wants to recreate the moment so that Kay can call it for him.

Alex Rodriguez‘s near-perfect day on the 500th homer

Alex Rodriguez became the youngest player in Major League Baseball history to hit 500 home runs in 2007. When the ball hit the seats, he raised his hands in the air and began to trot around the bases, grinning broadly as the Yankee Stadium fans applauded. Upon reaching the plate, he blew a kiss toward the fans and hugged his fellow teammates, Bobby Abreu and Derek Jeter, who had both scored on the historic home run. On his way back to the bench, he hugged several of his teammates who were already on the field. Everything was perfect—well, nearly perfect. The one thing that did not happen was Michael Kay calling his home run, which still upsets A-Rod today.

While talking to Jason Kelly from Bloomberg Originals, the 49-year-old expressed his desire to rewrite history and have Michael Kay call his 500th homer. Kelly then passed on the message to Kay, who noted that it was Alex who took forever to hit that homer, and he did it on a day when Kay finally had a day off.

Surely, who could blame him? Everyone deserves a break, right? Kay took solace in knowing that, while he wasn’t present for the 500th, he was there for the 300th, 600th, and even Rodriguez’s 3,000th hit in the MLB. He also recalled that his phone almost met its end in the Central Park fountain when he found out about the 500th. “Well. Thanks very much, Alex,” he commented.

Michael Kay as the ‘Voice of the Yankees’

In an interview with Steve Adubato on One on One, Michael Kay shared that he wanted to be a Yankees announcer since he was nine years old. At nine, he knew he couldn’t play as he was afraid of the pitch but wanted to be associated with the Yankees one way or the other. Kay also expressed his admiration for the job he has and how seeing his family for a short time is a small price to pay for it.

Being the voice of the Yankees, Kay has had to put in a lot of effort transitioning from radio to the booth. But since it’s something he loves, and when you love your job, nothing can stop you. Despite the occasional bittersweet moments, like missing Alex Rodriguez’s historic 500th home run, they underscore the unique role he plays in the lives of fans and players alike.

Do you think Alex Rodriguez should recreate his 500th home run? Share your thoughts in the comments.