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As 2009 Triumph Becomes Long-Gone Memory, MLB Icon Alex Rodriguez Reminisces Good Old Yankee Days Besides 2023 Failures

Published 10/15/2023, 10:30 AM EDT

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The New York Yankees were a great dynasty once. Setting records with their statistics, and winning World Series year after year, it was a glorious era. A huge part of the 2000s dominance of the Bronx was Alex Rodriguez, a star player in pinstripes, bursting with raw talent. Unfortunately, recent years have seen a steep decline in not only the Yankees’ supremacy but also their reputation.

2023 is the first time since 2016 that the Bronx Bombers are not playing in October. Their woes, caused by injury troubles and underperforming players, have reached an all-time low this year. Despite immense fan pressure, the team has gone into a downward spiral. Unless radical changes take place, the 14-year World Series drought will keep on extending. But in the meanwhile, A-Rod is looking back on the good times.

New York Yankees Jerseys Bring Back Alex Rodriguez Memories

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Jersey numbers are special to the players wearing them as well as fans who celebrate the athlete. For Alex Rodriguez, it was the number 13 in pinstripes. Not a popular number for many, 13 is usually considered ‘cursed’. But A-Rod chose to wear it in honor of Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino. To this day, it’s an iconic jersey.

 

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The retired slugger recently shared a picture of what is presumably a jersey store, where Pinstriped shirts can be seen hanging on the wall. Below them are varsity jackets, all with the Yankees logo. The jerseys display the back side, where, as is tradition for merch, the name as well as number is displayed. Yankees jerseys are famous, and unique, for their no-name tradition, which apparently indicates a team-before individual mentality.

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Rodriguez’s picture shows his own jersey, along with Anthony Rizzo, Gleyber Torres, and rookie Anthony Volpe. All three of which, incidentally, fell short of expectations in 2023.

In Strange Twist of Fate, Anthony Volpe Could Have Worn 13

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The number 13 doesn’t have the best connotations attached to it and the Yankees know it. Alex Rodriguez’s steroid-tainted past is known to all. After A-Rod, Joey Gallo wore it in 2021. But the slugger wasn’t too popular in New York, lasting just a single season.

When Anthony Volpe made shortstop on Opening Day 2023, he chose 11. As for 13, “When I was talking to some of the guys, they were telling me that number is a juju.” Giving up 77 from his minor league days, which Volpe wore to honor Mickey Mantle, the rookie landed on 11.

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Alex Rodriguez may have been an iconic player but his legacy is tainted in more ways than one, it seems.

WATCH THIS STORY – New York’s Nightmare: Aaron Judge’s Injury Update Crushes Hope For the Yankees, Labelling Them a Fraud Franchise

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Written by:

Arunima Bhanot

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Arunima Bhanot is an MLB writer at EssentiallySports. Her tryst with MLB was accidental, but what followed was nothing short of a pursuit of excellence. Arunima's articles have been recognized as Editor's Picks on multiple occasions, highlighting her exceptional attention to detail and insightful coverage.
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Edited by:

Debmallya Chakraborty