What happens when baseball’s most storied franchise boasts the game’s best player? They used to answer that one every year in the Bronx. With the acquisition of Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees have a suitable heir to the legacy of Ruth, DiMaggio and Mantle. No one questions A-Rod’s greatness. But how will he respond to pressure of his new home? Fans—not to mention a guy known as the Boss—are expecting nothing short of a new dynasty. Alex says he’s ready to deliver. This is his story…

GROWING UP

Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez was born on July 27, 1975 in New York City. His parents, Victor and Lourdes, owned a shoe store in Washington Heights, and lived in a small apartment behind it. Natives of the Dominican Republic, they planned to one day return to their homeland with Alex and his siblings, Susy and Joe. The couple worked hard to make it happen. Victor manned the store and watched the kids, while Lourdes left before dawn each morning for her job at a car factory north of the city.

Victor was a big baseball fan. A good player as a child, he passed his love of the game on to Alex. Victor gave his son a plastic bat and rubber ball, and the youngster was immediately hooked. He practiced his swing every chance he got, including in the Rodriguez store. Victor often had to send Alex on his way with Joe or Susy to play pinball at pizza parlor up the block.

By the time Alex was four, his parents had saved enough to buy a four-bedroom house in Santo Domingo, just a block from the Caribbean. Victor and Lourdes opened a pharmacy, and the family lived comfortably in their new home. The only problem for young Alex was the bus ride to school, which made him nauseous each morning.

Initially, the Rodriguezes were very happy in the Dominican Republic. But the country’s shaky economy took its toll, and the family business failed. Victor and Lourdes moved the clan back to the U.S., this time settling in Miami. To this point, Alex spoke Spanish only. When he enrolled in Everglades Elementary School, he had to learn English. During the two years he needed to become bi-lingual, Alex found it difficult to keep up with his classmates.

The saving grace for Alex during this period was baseball. He played constantly with his friends. Together they made up a game with old license plates that they called Platicka.

After his ninth birthday, Alex met Juan Diego Arteaga, who coached a youth-league baseball team that practiced at Everglades Elementary. In search of an extra player one day, Arteaga asked Alex if he knew how to play catcher. Alex lied, and said he did. Afterwards, Arteaga introduced Alex to his son, J.D. The two became fast friends.

The chance meeting was a turning point in Alex’s life. Victor soon went north looking for work in New York, never to return. Forced to raise three kids on a small salary, Lourdes—who worked two different waitressing jobs—accepted help from friends in the neighborhood; Alex often turned to Arteaga for moral support.

Baseball became everything to Alex. With no big-league clubs in Florida, he adopted the Mets as his favorite team. His first baseball hero was Dale Murphy. In fact, ten-year-old Alex took jersey #3 in honor of the two-time NL MVP. He was also a big fan of Keith Hernandez.

Alex liked basketball, football and soccer, but baseball was his top sport. Along with J.D., he joined the Boys and Girls Club of Miami, where he starred at shortstop for coach Eddy Rodriguez, who had helped to develop other young phenoms, including Rafael Palmeiro, Danny Tartabull and Jose Canseco. He looked after Alex, and made sure the youngster had a glove and spikes.

In his first season playing for the Boys & Girls Club, Alex led the league in hitting. Over the ensuing years, the team established itself as one of the country’s best. Twice Alex led them to national titles, and three times to the city championship.

In seventh grade, Alex started a two-year stint at Kendall Academy. He next moved onto Miami’s Christopher Columbus Catholic High School. But when he didn’t win the starting shortstop job on the varsity, his buddy J.D. convinced him to consider Westminster Christian, a private school with an enrollment of 300. Under coach Rich Hofman, Westminster had built one of Florida’s top baseball programs. Hofman arranged for financial aid for Alex, and in the fall of 1990, he began making the daily 30-minute commute to school.

Alex fit in well at Westminster. He was a star in football, basketball and baseball, and also excelled in the classroom. Among his new friends was Alex Gonzalez, another slick-fielding shortstop with a big bat. The two shared duties in the middle infield in the spring of 1991, but Alex was the weaker hitter. For the year, he batted just .256.

On the gridiron, Alex was a natural at quarterback, thanks to his strong arm and poise under pressure. During the 1991 campaign—his first as Westminster’s starting signal-caller—he led the team to a 9-1 record. Wearing #13 as a nod to his football idol, Dan Marino, Alex set several state passing records.

The year was all the more meaningful for Alex, because Arteaga had died the previous fall after collapsing during halftime of a football game.

ON THE RISE

After bulking up over the off-season, Alex’s confidence was soaring as he entered his second baseball season at Westminster. He also got a thrill when he was greeted by Cal Ripken while attending an Orioles spring training game. Coming off his second AL MVP, the Baltimore shortstop was the player Alex emulated whenever he took the field.

Ripken would have been proud of Alex’s junior campaign. In 35 games, he hit .477, scored 51 runs and stole 42 bases. Westminster went 33-2, and was voted the nation’s top squad in two coaches’ polls. Alex then joined the U.S. national team for the World Junior Championships in Mexico. During the tour, he batted .425, leading the Americans to a second-place finish.

Alex returned home to a mess in Miami. Hurricane Andrew had ripped through south Florida, and devastated the Westminster campus. There was talk of cancelling the football season, but the school felt fans needed the diversion. Alex earned All-State honors for the second year in a row, but the team had an up-and-down year.

Alex decided to skip basketball that winter. He had hurt his wrist during the football campaign, and was determined to be at full health for his final year of baseball. Alex had committed verbally to the University of Miami, but he also had his eye on the pros. And the pros had their eye on him. Now acknowledged as a national star, Alex had 30 scouts watching him during his first scrimmage. Twice that many attended Westminster’s first regular-season game.

Alex enjoyed another huge year in 1993. Batting leadoff, he hit .505 with nine home runs and 35 steals. Just as impressive was how he handled his newfound celebrity. In this area he benefitted from some advice given by Derek Jeter, the previous season’s high-school phenom. A mutual friend introduced them and Jeter gave him tips on everything from dealing with the press to picking an agent.

By June, it appeared that Alex would be drafted in the first few picks—perhaps even #1. That selection belonged to the Seattle Mariners. He let the M’s know that he would prefer to go to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who owned the next pick. If Seattle chose him, they would have to be prepared to pay—otherwise he would opt for college. Pulling the strings in the background was agent Scott Boras, reviled by ballclubs for being a tough-as-nails negotiator. He worked through Alex’s sister, Susy, to inform the Mariners that it would take $2 million to sign Alex.

Undaunted, Seattle took Alex with the top pick, then flatly refused to meet Boras’s demands. A long and sometimes ugly negotiation ensued, delaying his first pro summer. Alex didn’t mind at first, especially after being selected as the first high schooler to compete for a spot on Team USA. He would have made the squad, too, were it not for a deal Boras had cut with Classic Games.

Alex had promised to give Classic the exclusive right to print his rookie card that year, but Team USA had a standing agreement with Topps to print cards of its players. Alex was not allowed to play for the American squad if he planned to honor his contract with Classic, and Classic had no intentions to let him out of the contract. So Alex had to play for a junior team that summer.

Meanwhile, negotiations with the Mariners were not going well. Boras gave the M’s until the beginning of the fall semester at Miami to sign his client, or Alex would enroll in college.

Alex was sitting in the dugout that July wondering where it had all gone wrong, when a foul ball rocketed off a teammate’s bat and grazed the side of his head, narrowly missing his eye. That was it—he took out an insurance policy with Lloyds of London and ordered Boras to get the deal done. When no more progress was made, Alex bypassed his agent and agreed to a $1.3 million bonus.

Alex, still 18, reported for his first spring training in February of 1994. The Mariners assigned him to the Appleton Foxes of the Class-A Midwest League. His manager there, Carlos Lezcano, worked on polishing his skills. In 65 games, Alex batted .317, which earned him a promotion to the Jacksonville Suns of the Southern League. By July, the Seattle brass deemed him ready for the majors, and called him up for a game in Boston. Ken Griffey Jr. requested that Alex get the locker next to his.

The jump to the big leagues was too much for the teenager. In his first four weeks, he struggled to hit above .200, and the Mariners sent him to Calgary of the Pacific Coast League. With the Cannons, Alex regained his stroke, producing a .311 average. He spent the following winter in the Dominican Republic developing the patience and pitch recognition necessary to succeed at the major-league level.

Alex was assigned to Seattle’s new Triple-A club, the Tacoma Rainiers, to start the 1995 campaign. He played well enough to earn a spot on the big club, but every time the Mariners recalled him, they demoted him soon after. When he got yo-yo’d for the third time, he phoned his mother, despondent. Lourdes dispensed a little tough love, ordering him to suck it up. Shocked out of his depression, he earned a fourth promotion to Seattle in August, and never looked back.

Alex joined the Mariners in the middle a heated race with the California Angels. Manager Lou Piniella used him at shortstop to spell veteran Luis Sojo, and occasionally as a DH. Alex provided Seattle with a nice spark, collecting six doubles, two triples, five homers and 19 RBIs. Behind stellar seasons from Griffey, Edgar Martinez and Randy Johnson, the M’s caught the Angels, then beat them in a one-game playoff.

In the Division Series, Seattle overcame the New Yankees in five dramatic games on a clutch double by Martinez, who had 10 RBIs in the series. The M’s could not muster the same magic against the Indians in the ALCS, however, dropping three straight after carving out a series lead.

Heading into 1996, Piniella informed Alex that the job at short was his. His friend Jeter got the same news from his manager, Joe Torre. Because Alex had logged over 100 plate appearances the previous year, he was not eligible to win Rookie of the Year. So he rooted for Derek, who ended up winning the award with an excellent season.

Jeter’s number, however, paled in comparison to Alex’s. His first full year ranked with the greatest in history, earning him Player of the Year honors from both The Sporting News and Associated Press. Alex led the league in batting (.358), doubles (54), total bases (379) and runs scored (141)—all new franchise marks. He added 36 homers and 123 RBIs. Much of this damage was done from the nine hole which, though impressive, might have cost him the votes he needed to edge Juan Gonzalez for AL MVP. Alex missed by a mere three points.

Alex led an offense that produced 245 home runs and topped the league in runs scored. Yet even with the lusty hitting, Seattle simply didn’t have the talent to defend its division title. Pitching was the main problem. Johnson was hurt, leaving a staff of no-names to make up the rotation. And the bullpen was a shambles, with no reliable closer emerging. With a record of 85-76, Alex and his teammates watched the playoffs from home.

In 1997, Mariners GM Woody Woodward acquired starters Jeff Fassero and Scott Sanders to go with Johnson and Jamie Moyer, who had been acquired during the previous season. Piniella, meanwhile, penciled Norm Charlton, whom he had managed in Cincinnati, as his closer.

Five players hit at least 20 home runs, paced by Griffey’s 56 round-trippers. The sweet-swinging lefty also batted .304 and drove in 147 runs to capture his first MVP award. By contrast, Alex struggled to match his 1996 production. Across the board his numbers fell (.300, 23 HRs, 84 RBIs), while his error total climbed to 24, most by any shortstop in the league. Still, Alex tied for the team lead with 40 doubles and ranked third with 176 hits.

Actually, Alex broke from the gate quickly. Ten weeks into the campaign, he was cruising along and in June he hit for the cycle against the Tigers. At 21 years and 10 months, he became the fifth-youngest player in history to accomplish this feat. Later that month he collided with Roger Clemens during a play at the plate and went on the DL with a badly bruised chest. The injury never healed completely, ruining a promising year.

The Mariners got enough pitching to finish first the AL West with a 90-72 mark—tops in franchise history. In the playoffs, they drew the Baltimore Orioles, who had posted the league’s best record. Seattle got trounced. Behind Mike Mussina and Jimmy Key, the O’s shut down the mighty Mariners, taking the series in four games. Alex batted a respectable .313 against Baltimore, but delivered just one extra-base hit.

The campaign’s saving grace was the dynamic duo of Junior and Alex. For the second year in a row, Griffey hammered 56 long balls. Alex clubbed 42, and added 46 stolen bases to join Jose Canseco and Barry Bonds as history’s only 40-40 players. The league leader in at-bats (686) and hits (213), Alex hit .300 for the third straight year and was named the Players Choice AL Player of the Year and Seattle's co-MVP with Griffey.

Alex started hot, tying a record in April with eight extra-base hits over three game. In July, he made the All-Star team for the third time of his career. He capped the campaign with his second Silver Slugger Award.

The Mariners suffered through another disappointing year in 1999, finishing 16 games behind the Rangers. Garcia emerged as a top-flight starter and Jose Mesa did a good enough job closing, but the club’s middle relievers were atrocious. Wasted was another fine season by Griffey, who finished with 48 homers and 134 RBIs despite rumors that this would be his final season in Seattle.

Alex, meanwhile, suffered the first major injury of his career when he tore cartilage in the left knee during the season’s first week. He underwent surgery and rehabbed for more than a month before homering in his first at bat after coming off the DL. By then, however, the Mariners were barely treading water.

Alex found his rhythm and moved into September with his average well over .300. But a month-long slump saw him dip to .285 to finish the season. Still, his numbers were impressive. In just 129 games, he managed 42 home runs, 111 RBIs and 110 runs. His long ball total was fifth best in the league, and his slugging average (.586) was sixth best. He also stole the 100th base of his career in June against Baltimore.

As the 2000 season approached, Seattle officially became Alex’s team. Afraid of losing Griffey to free agency, the Mariners shipped the slugger to Cincinnati in exchange for Mike Cameron, Brett Tomko and a few spare parts. To many fans, the move signified that the club was waving the white flag. But the font office was actually intent on creating more balance on the roster. John Olerud returned to Seattle to play first base, jack of all trades Mark McLemore was signed to give Piniella more flexibility with his lineup, and Aaron Sele, Arthur Rhodes and Japanese reliever Kaz Sasaki were brought in to shore up the pitching staff.

These moves were predicated on an important assumption: Alex was ready to be the man. Though he too was due to be a free agent at season’s end, he indicated a real desire to stay in Seattle. If he could handle the strain of being the clubhouse leader, the Mariners had enough talent to win the West.

From Opening Day, Alex played with fresh determination. Selected AL Player of the Week in early April, he was stinging the ball to all fields. Before long, enemy hurlers began pitching around him. In one contest, the Royals walked him five times. But with ageless Edgar Martinez also swinging a scorching bat, opposing teams soon realized the futility of this strategy.

In July, Alex suffered a concussion after getting kneed in the head while breaking up a double-play against the Dodgers. He also strained his right knee in the collision, which forced him to the DL. When Alex returned, he sparked the Mariners in their neck-and-neck race with the Oakland A’s.

Coming down the stretch, however, Alex fell into a terrible slump. Not only was the division crown in jeopardy, but the Indians were threatening to seize the Wild Card.

With only three hits in his last 29 at-bats, Alex was the subject of tremendous speculation. Fans assumed his ticket out of town was already punched. But Alex heated up with the pressure on, and keyed the drive to Seattle’s first playoff appearance in three years.

In the Division Series, the Mariners squared off against the Chicago White Sox. Thanks to strong pitching and timely hitting, Seattle registered a three-game sweep. The Sox choose to deal with Alex carefully, and he had little impact, batting .308 with two RBIs.

Up next were Jeter and the Yankees in the ALCS. With his first real shot at the World Series, Alex raised his level of play. In Game One, he went deep in a 2-0 win. Though New York’s superior starting staff took control from there, Alex didn’t stop hitting. His average for the series was a lusty .409. Jeter, however, got the last laugh, as the Yanks captured the pennant in six games.

Disappointed by the campaign’s conclusion, Alex had much to reflect on over the winter. He had enjoyed another marvelous year, batting .316 with 42 home runs and 132 RBIs. Ranked in the top 10 in virtually every offensive category, he also displayed newfound patient at the plate, establishing a career-high with 100 walks.

There was no question that Alex was the most treasured prize on the free-agent market that winter. Despite his ties to Seattle, he shopped around, making it clear that the Mets were an extremely attractive option. But when Boras demanded several outrageous perks, New York abruptly ended negotiations. Alex attempted to do some damage control, but it was too late.

Meanwhile, Texas owner Thomas Hicks entered picture. With the Atlanta Braves also in the running, the Rangers blew everyone out of the water with an offer of $252 million over 10 years. Though the club had finished dead last in the the West in 2000, Alex made the same mistake so many stars before him had: He said yes to the money and forgot how bad it felt to lose. Hicks, figuring Alex would send TV ratings soaring, especially on his Spanish-language broadcasts, believed it was money well spent. He was in for a wakeup call, too.

In Texas, excitement for the 2001 campaign quickly reached a fever pitch. Ticket sales jumped dramatically, and merchandising revenues rose by 25 percent. With Alex and veterans Ivan Rodriguez, Rafael Palmeiro and Rusty Greer, manager Johnny Oates had a quartet of proven run producers. Youngster Gabe Kapler, Michael Young and Mike Lamb were all promising hitters.

Unfortunately for Ranger fans, this offensive smorgasbord didn't translate into victories. Texas finished last in the West for the second year in a row, posting a pitiful record of 73-89. A baseball PhD wasn’t required to identify the club’s weaknesses. The Rangers had the worst pitching in the AL. The rotation of Kenny Rogers, Darren Oliver, Rick Helling and Doug Davis couldn’t stay healthy, which was actually a mixed blessing—not one of the four was particularly effective at full strength. The only pitcher who pulled his weight was Jeff Zimmerman, who notched 28 saves and an ERA of 2.40.

Alex began the year slowly, but by mid-June his average had climbed into the .330s. He was murder at home, where the friendly confines of the Ballpark at Arlington suited him perfectly. After a brief slump in August, Alex sizzled down the stretch and finished with numbers that in most years would have earned him the MVP. The league leader in home runs (52), runs scored (133) and total bases (393), he batted .318 with 135 RBIs and stole 18 bases in 162 games.

Alex won the Hank Aaron Award as the AL’s top offensive player, and his 52 round-trippers surpassed Ernie Banks’s 1958 record for shortstops. Alex also came into his own on defense, topping the AL in putouts and ranking second in assists, chances and double-plays.

Alex actually bettered his power numbers in 2002, with 57 homers and 142 RBIs, both major-league-leading figures. When he also topped the majors in total bases, he became the first to pull this triple since Tony Armas in 1984. His two best months were July (.349, 12 HRs, 27 RBIs) and August (.339, 12 HRs, 27 RBIs.

A .300 hitter for the sixth time in his career, Alex also collected his first Gold Glove. In recognition of his incredible campaign, the Sporting News named him its Player of the Year, making Alex only the seventh man to claim the award twice. The others were Ted Williams, Barry Bonds, Sandy Koufax, Joe Morgan, Stan Musial, and Cal Ripken.

Alex’s heroics had little impact on the standings, as Texas wound up in the AL West cellar for the third straight year. Hicks had tried to fix the team’s problems through free agency and trades, and made a management change, firing Oates and GM Doug Melvin and hiring Jerry Narron and John Hart in their places. Hart didn’t waste any time. He signed Juan Gonzalez and Chan Ho Park, and dealt for problem children Carl Everett and John Rocker.

To no one’s great surprise, Texas had absolutely no chemistry—not to mention a continuing lack of quality arms. Despite a wealth of offensive talent, the Rangers were the laughingstock of the AL. Many fans felt Alex was getting exactly what he deserved.

Those who held that belief celebrated once again in 2003. The Rangers dropped to 70-89, a full 26 games behind the A’s in the West. Texas responded by bringing in Buck Showalter to run the show and provide a little discipline. Alex, by now deeply frustrated, didn’t see eye to eye on a variety of issues with his new skipper, but they managed to survive the year without strangling each other. Alex had always been regarded by his peers as a good guy, an opinion shared by many in the media. When he maintained his composure through another awful year in Texas, his reputation grew.

That was evident when it came time for post-season honors. Despite the fact that the rangers stopped playing meaningful games in June, Alex earned his first MVP, and also received the Player's Choice Award as the league's outstanding performer.

Though his average dipped slightly to .298, he pounded out 47 home runs, drove in 118, scored 124, and received another Gold Glove. (He also legged out a career-high six triples.) In turn, Alex became just the third player in the last 71 years to win three consecutive AL home run titles and the fifth since 1954 to top the league in homers, runs, and slugging (.600) in the same year.

Alex’s season was all the more remarkable considering how little protection he had in the lineup. Showalter helped institute a youth movement in Texas, and while Palmeiro was still around, the batting order featured mostly up-and-comers hoping to prove themselves in the majors. Hank Blalock developed into an All-Star, and Mark Teixeira showed flashes of brilliance, but Alex was the only bat in Texas that pitchers consciously avoided.

The strain of carrying a team with such a dismal future began to wear on Alex in 2003. The honeymoon was over in Arlington—attendance and viewership were both way down, Hicks was losing his shirt, and the opportunity to challenge for a championship was remote at best. These factors, combined with Alex’s touchy relationship with Showalter, caused him to think about leaving the Rangers.

Only a few teams could afford him, and the Boston Red Sox stepped up with the first reasonable offer. Texas was interested, but having to absorb the bloated contract of Manny Ramirez ran counter to the team’s new focus on fiscal responsibility. Still, the clubs negotiated a workable deal. It hinged on Alex forfeiting part of his salary, however, and the Players Association would not hear of it. In effect, Alex was told that giving up even a portion of the money owed to him would open a Pandora’s box. When the deal fell through, he feared he was stuck with the Rangers.

That was until the Yankees entered the picture. In Alfonso Soriano, New York had just the sort of player Texas wanted: a cheap superstar who could put up similar numbers to Alex. Though the Rangers had to eat part of their MVP’s contract, they jumped at the offer. Alex joined the Bronx Bombers in February.

The media circus started from the moment the deal was announced, and intensified once Alex reported for spring training. Much of the speculation centered on his friendship with Jeter. The Yankee shortstop had distanced himself from his buddy several years earlier when Alex made some unflattering comments about him in a GQ feature story. Now Alex—the league’s Gold Glove shortstop—would have to shift positions in deference to his old friend.

Surrounded by the best group of hitters in his career—including Jason Giambi, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada , Hideki Matsui, Gary Sheffield and Jeter—Alex felt right at home in pinstripes. Though Yankee Stadium’s “Death Valley” would likely limit his production, he was ready to take advantage of the short rightfield porch in the Bronx.

But the pressure of playing in the Big Apple seemed to have an effect on Alex early in the 2004 season. Adjusting to third base also added to his problems. He finally showed what he was capable of doing in the middle of May against the Angels. In an 8-7 victory, he had three hits and stole two bases. A week later, Alex made his return to Texas. Greeted by a loud chorus of boos, he silenced the crowd by blasting a two-run homer at his first at-bat against the Rangers.

As the campaign progressed, Alex searched for consistency. His numbers looked good, but he was frustrated by his inability to stay relaxed. Too often, he was lunging at the plate, trying to do too much to impress New York fans. The Yankees, meanwhile, were on cruise-control, building a huge lead in the AL East.

Joe Torre tried to help Alex by shifting him in the batting order to the two-hole, behind Jeter and in front of Sheffield. Seeing more fastballs, he began to swing the bat better. In an August win over the Orioles, Alex hit a tape-measure home run, stole home and made a pair of great defensive plays. At the hot corner, he had quickly developed into one of the league's top glovemen.

Sitting comfortably in first for most the season, the Yankees began to feel the heat from the Red Sox in September. Though New York finished with a 101-61 record, three games ahead of Boston, the club had to sweat it out down the stretch.

In the playoffs, the Yanks faced off against the Twins in the ALDS. A good postseason performer with the Mariners, Alex regained his form against Minnesota. He got his biggest hit of the year—an RBI-double that drove home Jeter—in New York's extra-inning win in Game 2. When the Yankees took the next two, they advanced to the ACLS. Alex ended the series as one of the teams best hitters, including a .421 batting average, two doubles, a homerun and three RBIs.

The scene was set for what promised to be a thrilling series against the Red Sox for the right to go to the World Series. The Yankees came out swinging in Game 1, and battered Curt Schilling in a 10-7 win. They also took Game 2 behind a sparkling performance by Jon Lieber.

When the series shifted to Boston, it appeared the rout was on. The Bronx Bombers lived up to their reputation with a 19-8 blowout in Game 3. Alex enjoyed a huge night, going 3-for-5 with two doubles, a homer, three RBIs and five runs.

Down 3-0, the Red Sox battled for a win in Game 4, coming back against Mariano Rivera. They rallied again in Game 5 to stay alive, and this time Alex wore the goat horns. With a chance to drive home an insurance run late in the contest, he struck out on a pitch out of the strike zone.

Back home for Game 6, Alex and the Yanks struggled in a rematch against Schilling. With New York behind by two runs in the eighth, he came to plate with Jeter on first. Overanxious, Alex squibbed a roller down the first base line. Bronson Arroyo fielded the ball, and Alex swatted at his glove, knocking the ball loose. Jeter scored all the way from first, but the umpires gathered and called Alex out. The raucous Yankee crowd went silent, and New York wound up losing 4-2.

Game 7 was over as soon as it started. Veteran Kevin Brown had nothing for New York, and neither did Javier Vazquez in relief of him. The Red Sox rolled to a 10-3 victory. In the locker room afterwards, Alex talked of the embarrassment of blowing such a commanding lead. He shouldered much of the blame, collecting just two hits in his last 17 at-bats against Boston pitching.

For some fans in the Bronx, Alex still has some explaining to do. His regular season stats were good enough—a .286 average, 36 homeruns and 106 RBI—but he failed when his team needed him the most. Some now accuse him of being a fraud, and others simply wonder whether he can handle the spotlight of baseball's grandest stage.

One thing that Alex probably learned is that while he may still be the man, in New York he has plenty of company. There are other big names in the Yankee clubhouse, where egos have traditionally been checked at the door. For his part, Alex has seen baseball from the top down and the bottom up. He seems ready and willing to fit into the team concept that has shepherded the Yankees to the World Series six times in nine seasons. But until he gets to one himself—and helps New York recapture the world championship—fans won't pledge their heart and soul to him.

Of course, after living up to the expectations of a $252 million contract, it is hard to imagine there is anything he cannot accomplish.

ALEX THE PLAYER

All you need to know about Alex as a player is that he is currently the best in the business. He is a terrific hitter, a superb fielder, and an intelligent baserunner.

With the Mariners and Rangers pushing him to hit more homers, Alex added more lift to his swing. This had the desired effect, but also caused his average to dip and his strikeouts totals to increase. With the Yankees, he may not feel the need to swing for the fences all the time, so those trends may be reversed.

A consistent fielder who makes all the plays, he is not flashy or spectacular, yet always seems to get his glove on tough balls and nip fast runners with his throws. Third base is more of a reaction position, but few doubt he will make a quick adjustment. Pity the poor Yankee opponents who have to shoot for the hole between short and third. Anything traveling slower than 100 mph won’t have a chance of getting through.

In addition to sharing the left side of the infield with Jeter, Alex will have to negotiate his role in the clubhouse with the Yankee captain. Alex has a magnetic personality and enjoys being in charge. So does Jeter. Alex's ability to fit in will be just as important as his desire to lead.