Why the New York Yankees should retire Alex Rodriguez’s number

It is getting more and more difficult to find a number that the New York Yankees have not retired. They have retired 21 numbers in franchise history, with every number from 1 through 10 having been put aside – including number 8 twice. Considering some of the great players that have come through the clubhouse, it is not a surprise that the Yankees have retired more numbers than any other team in MLB history.

While some of those numbers were retired under questionable circumstances (Billy Martin basically had his number retired because he was fired as manager four times), each of those players made an impact upon the franchise. Their accomplishments while wearing the pinstripes cannot be questioned. The same is true for Alex Rodriguez.

New York Yankees should retire Alex Rodriguez’s number 13

Rodriguez is one of the more controversial figures in Yankees history. He was never really embraced by the fans, never really considered to be a true Yankee. He was also suspended twice for PED usage, putting his accomplishments into question.

Even if the legitimacy of what Rodriguez did can be questioned, there is no denying the impact he had while in pinstripes. A six time All Star, Rodriguez was a two time MVP and a key part of the Yankees’ last championship, hitting six homers and driving in 18 runs during the 2009 postseason.

Rodriguez was an important part of the Yankees lineup despite the turmoil that surrounded his tenure. He produced a .283/.378/.523 batting line in his 12 tumultuous years in New York, hitting 351 homers and 263 doubles while stealing 152 bases.

That production places Rodriguez amongst the greatest players in Yankees history. He ranks 11th all time for the franchise with his 54.0 bWAR, better than nine players who had their numbers retired, ten if Martin is included for his playing days.

The end of his time in New York was not pretty. Rodriguez was essentially paid to go away after there were disputes about whether or not milestone bonuses would be paid in the wake of his positive PED tests. There were disputes about injuries and whether or not the Yankees would attempt to void his contract. But there is no question that he produced when he was on the diamond.

Rodriguez is never going to be a beloved figure in Yankees history. His accomplishments are always going to be viewed with skepticism. At the same time, there is no denying that he made an impact upon the Yankees and was a key part of their success. As that appears to be the baseline for a player to have their number retired, Rodriguez would certainly be worthy of the honor.

Alex Rodriguez left behind a complicated legacy with the New York Yankees. That story should end with his number 13 being retired.