Alex Rodriguez will always be one of the best to grace the ballparks in Major League Baseball. Having played for the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers, Alex Rodriguez achieved his prime with the New York Yankees.

Not only did he make the Yankees a better team, but A-Rod also gave a new meaning to the century-old rivalry between the Yankees and Boston Red Sox. A-Rod was a top baseball player. Not even a shadow of a doubt about that. But the former Yankee was also one of the most controversial players in the game.

A-Rod, in his first ever season in the Bronx, created a massive controversy in the ballpark. During the American League Championship Series in the 2004 season, the Yankees played their arch-rivals, the Boston Red Sox. And a controversy created by A-Rod changed the direction of the entire series.

Is Alex Rodriguez responsible for the 2004 ALCS defeat for the Yankees?

Taking back to the 2004 season, The Bronx bombers were on the verge of winning the seven-game series against the Red Sox. The Yankees had won the first three games of the series, and they just needed one more win to clinch the series. But before the historic Game 6, the Red Sox fought back by winning two games. 

The series was still in the favor of the Yankees by 3-2. But during Game 6, A-Rod engaged in a brawl with Bronson Arroyo of the Red Sox. While running from one base to another, Arroyo tried to dismiss A-Rod from the plate. But the Yankees star ended up slapping on Arroyo’s glove. 

Trending

Controversy King Antonio Brown Continues Nasty Assault on Caitlin Clark, This Time With a Baseball-Inspired Taunt

April 22, 2024 05:00 PM EDT

“No Way to Sugarcoat This”: Houston Astros GM Gives Brutally Honest Verdict on José Abreu After Atrocious Run of Form

April 22, 2024 06:30 PM EDT

Who Is Anthony Volpe’s Girlfriend?

February 25, 2024 05:00 PM EST

“Matter of Time”: Giancarlo Stanton Warns Entire American League After Aaron Judge Shows Signs of Returning to Form

April 24, 2024 09:00 PM EDT

Who Is Yankees Skipper Aaron Boone’s Wife? Know More About Laura Cover

January 30, 2024 01:00 PM EST

Get instantly notified of the hottest MLB stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Business Mogul Kevin O’Leary on ‘Very Interesting Guy’ Alex ‘A-Rod’ Rodriguez’s Famed Stint on Shark Tank That Pushed His Network to $350 Million

This incident gave a new meaning to this series. The Yankees not only lost the game, but they also lost the series to their arch-rival. After retiring from the game, A-Rod once discussed this incident. He said he had to try (slap) for the sake of the series.

“It was worth the try. How’s that? I was trying to go for his glove, and Arroyo’s a very good athlete. He got off the mound very quickly,” Alex Rodriguez said. “I was trying to go for his glove and the karate chop went a little too far and I got his forearm.”

A-Rod knew he had made a mistake

The slap gate incident was notably the turning point of the series. But A-Rod was sure that the Yankees will win the game until he saw John Olerud with his broken foot. For those who might not know, John Olerud was one of the finest hitters for the Pinstripes.

“I never felt we were f**ked until I saw John Olerud sitting on the table, and he broke his foot,” A-Rod added.

WATCH THIS STORY: MLB Stars Who Have Been On Both Sides Of New York Yankees Vs Boston Red Sox Rivalry

And it was all over for the Yankees in Game 7 when Johnny Damon homered for the Red Sox.

“I wanted to throw up when he hit that homer,” Rodriguez said. “Boom, when he hit it, I go, Oh! f**k, that sucks,” he concluded.

Do you think the Yankees would have won the series had Alex Rodriguez not provoked the Red Sox players?