Alex Rodriguez has finally broken his silence on the prospect of never being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, admitting that an invitation to Cooperstown might actually bring more pain than joy.
Speaking candidly on Sunday, the 50-year-old former Yankees superstar revealed that his perspective on his legacy has undergone a radical shift. “If I went to the Hall of Fame, in a weird way, I would be hollow inside.”
“I would still be in a lot of pain,” Rodriguez said. “I would rather have what I have today, because it really helped me unlock a lot of the work that I needed to do.”
Rodriguez credited extensive therapy with helping him detach from the validation of the Hall of Fame. He noted that the internal work required to move past his playing days was more valuable than a plaque, even as the clock ticks down on his eligibility.
The “Hypocrisy” of Cooperstown
Despite finding personal peace, Rodriguez remains critical of the process. In a recent appearance on The Stephen A. Smith Show, A-Rod pointed toward a perceived double standard regarding the “Steroid Era.”
He specifically highlighted that former MLB Commissioner Bud Selig was inducted into the Hall of Fame despite overseeing the era in question.
“All of this stuff you’re talking about was under Bud Selig’s watch,” Rodriguez argued. “And the fact that those two guys [Rodriguez and Barry Bonds] are not in, but somehow, Bud Selig is in the Hall of Fame, that to me feels like there’s a little bit some hypocrisy around that.”
The Statistical Giant and the 2030 Deadline
On paper, Rodriguez’s resume is arguably the greatest in the history of the sport for a player not yet in the Hall. Over a 22-year career, his production was nothing short of legendary:
- WAR – 117.4
- Home Runs – 696
- Hits – 3,115
- RBIs – 2,086
- MVP Awards – 3
- All-Star Appearances – 14
However, since becoming eligible in 2022, A-Rod has struggled to gain traction with voters. He has yet to surpass 37.1% of the vote-far short of the 75% required for induction.
Unlike Barry Bonds, who never tested positive or served a suspension, Rodriguez’s legacy is tied to a positive test and a significant suspension that many voters find impossible to overlook.
As it stands, 2030 marks Rodriguez’s final year on the ballot. While he continues to trend well below the necessary threshold, the man once known as “A-Rod” seems more concerned with his mental health than his place in baseball history.
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