Alex Rodriguez I didnt know this day would come

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Alex Rodriguez I didn't know this day would come

Alex Rodriguez skied a first pitch 95 mile per hour fastball from Tigers starter Justin Verlander into the right centerfield seats for his 3 000th career hit in the first inning on Friday night.

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USA TODAY Sports MLB columnist Bob Nightengale narrates a video essay on Alex Rodriguez's meteoric rise his very public and humiliating fall and his recent comeback as he collects his 3 000th career hit. USA TODAY Sports

Alex Rodriguez is the 29th player in history to reach 3 000 hits.(Photo Brad Penner USA TODAY Sports)

NEW YORK Alex Rodriguez skied a first pitch 95 mile per hour fastball from Detroit Tigers starter Justin Verlander into the right centerfield seats for his 3 000th career hit in the first inning on Friday night.

The entire Yankees bench emptied for celebratory hugs. The giant centerfield scoreboard posted a congratulatory note. The Bronx fans who greeted his at bat with a standing ovation remained on their feet until Rodriguez acknowledged them with a curtain call.

To be quite honest a year ago today I didn't know this day would ever come Rodriguez said referring to his yearlong suspension for performance enhancing drugs. There were some really dark days.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera who entered the night 734 hits from 3 000 himself removed his mitt and clapped at his position but there was no other overt sign of acknowledgement from the opposing side. Rodriguez said he saw a few Tigers tip their caps before his next at bat but in the moment Detroit's dugout reacted as if it were an ordinary opponent hitting an ordinary home run.

USA TODAY

Yankees' Alex Rodriguez joins elite group with 3 000th hit

Contrast that reaction to the Tampa Bay Rays' reaction after allowing No. 3 000 to Derek Jeter four seasons ago. Many of the visiting players exited the dugout and applauded from the edge of the field.

Tigers starter David Price who gave up Jeter's 3 000th while with the Rays admitted he wished he merely had given up one of Jeter's little patented singles to right field for the milestone but otherwise was okay with his place in the history books.

But no I don't have any regrets and I'm happy to be a part of it Price said of Jeter before saying that Rodriguez's milestone doesn't mean as much although not because PEDs tainted Rodriguez's accomplishments but because Jeter spent his whole career with baseball's most storied franchise.

Indeed this was more a local story of redemption than a national one of celebration.

USA TODAY

For A Rod 3 000 hits just the latest in his do everything year

The home fans have re embraced the polarizing Yankees designated hitter who has alternately been an MVP an overpaid choke artist a 2009 playoff hero a drug cheat and now a milestone compiler.

The former No. 1 overall pick has won three American League MVP awards slugged 667 home runs won a World Series title twice signed the richest contract in baseball history and missed a season due to the longest PED suspension the league had ever issued. Everything about Rodriguez is historic.

Rodriguez became the 29th player in history with 3 000 hits and the first to do so since former teammate Derek Jeter in 2011. (Rodriguez was among those to hug Jeter in celebration after he crossed the plate.) Rodriguez joined Jeter and Hall of Famer Wade Boggs as the only players to do so with a home run.

This milestone caps a remarkable comeback season in which Rodriguez at age 39 with two major hip surgeries in his medical record returned from a full season absence yet has been a productive everyday player who has passed Willie Mays on the all time home run list and now joins Mays and Hank Aaron as the only three players in baseball history with at least 3 000 hits and 600 homers.

I've pretty much forgotten about the home run and really just tried to be a good hitter not try to do too much and really shorten my swing Rodriguez said. That's something I thought about a lot while I was away last year. I had to make some serious adjustments.

Those around Rodriguez regularly praise his work ethic and his performance not to mention his understanding of hitting and his insights into pitchers. He has obvious natural talent and drive so his PED use was apparently less a shortcut to success than a finishing touch to his relentless training. No matter his motivation Rodriguez's usage has forever stained his accomplishments even if it didn't diminish his preparation.

He's a guy that truly loves the game and works very hard at his craft Girardi said.

FOR THE WIN

A Rod's 3 000th hit caught by ball catching expert who won't give it back

Few pitchers understand the havoc Rodriguez can wreak like Chris Capuano. The two are currently teammates but Rodriguez is 5 for 6 with two home runs against the veteran left hander. Capuano said Rodriguez Barry Bonds and Albert Pujols were the rare hitters whom he could set up for a certain pitch execute that pitch and still allow a hit.

You think you have them set up and they're sitting on it Capuano said. (Rodriguez) has got the bat speed to catch up to anything too.

In spring training Capuano spied Rodriguez swinging a very heavy bat maybe 50 ounces in the batting cages to combat the typical attrition of bat speed with age.

He prepares at one of the highest levels I've ever seen the pitcher said. Physically one of the first things that strikes you about Alex is that he's a big guy. He's got big hands. Just kind of a perfect hitter's body if you could design one maybe next to Giancarlo Stanton.

GALLERY A ROD'S ROAD BACK FROM SUSPENSION

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Rodriguez's first career hit a fourth inning infield single off Red Sox pitcher Sergio Valdez came as an 18 year old on July 9 1994. He's accumulated his 3 000 hits against 939 pitchers in 40 different ballparks in 21 seasons in eight batting order positions and at three fielding positions plus designated hitter. He joins Paul Molitor as the only 3 000 hit players to have at least 500 with three different teams. (Also of note Umpire Ed Hickox was behind the plate for Rodriguez's 1st and 3 000th hits.)

It's a big number that people obviously take notice of Girardi said. I find it very impressive that anyone could get 3 000 hits no matter what the circumstances are.

Mindful of his impending milestone Rodriguez admitted that he was awake and staring at his ceiling until 3 or 4 o'clock last night. He's been exceedingly humble and grateful to the fans the organization and his manager in all his public comments this season.

In a lot of ways he's like a little kid in there Girardi said. I mean he's so excited to play every day. That's the way he's always been.

Rodriguez is back doing what he loves even if he'll never again be loved for doing it.

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