2009: A-Rod's crazy year

On the YES Netwok Yankee's Hot Stove, Kim Jones interviewed Alex Rodriguez at the grand opening of the Alex Rodriguez Educational Center at the Boys and Girls Club in Miami, Florida.

They spoke about how his up and down 2009 affected him as a person and a player.

Here's a quick time line on what happened.

February: Selena Roberts of Sports Illustrated publishes a report that Rodriguez failed a drug test in 2003. He later admits to using steroids from 2001-03, while with the Texas Rangers.

March: It is discovered that he has a torn labrum in his hip, and Rodriguez undergoes arthroscopic surgery.

May: A-Rod returns to the Yankee lineup in a game against the Baltimore Orioles and hits a home run on the first pitch he sees

July: A-Rod is revealed to be dating actress Kate Hudson

July: He passes Rafael Palmeiro for 10th place on the All-Time home run list

October 4th: On the last day of the regular season, he reaches the 30 home run, 100 RBI plateau for the 12th consecutive season, despite missing the first month of the season.

October: He finally breaks through in the playoffs, batting .365, with 6 home runs and 18 RBI's on the way to his first World Series Championship.



It's somewhat remarkable for all of that to have happened in just one year. He had basically hit rock bottom with the steroid admission followed by the hip injury, which scared him enough that he believed he "was staring retirement right in the face." Then, by the end of the year, he had removed his "Mr. May" stigma and finally won a World Series. I'm sure he probably did not want to have it happen in such a stressful way, but he finally has a ring on his finger.