http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/sto...willie-mays-660th-career-homerth-career-homer Move over, Willie, and make room for Alex. Alex Rodriguez, the New York Yankees' controversial designated hitter, joined Willie Mays in the 660 club Friday night at Fenway Park, and he did it in dramatic and timely fashion, lining a 3-0 pitch from Junichi Tazawa into the seats above the Green Monster in the eighth inning of the Yankees' 3-2 win. "Congratulations to Alex Rodriguez on his 660th home run," Mays said in a statement. "Milestones in baseball are meant to be broken and I wish him continued success throughout his career." Rodriguez's 660th home run of his career, tying him with Hall of Famer Mays for fourth place on baseball's career home run list, was a pinch-hit homer -- the first of his 21-year career -- that broke a 2-2 tie between the Yankees and Boston Red Sox as the Fenway crowd, which had booed him lustily throughout the at-bat, lapsed into a stunned silence. Rodriguez, who did not start the game with right-hander Justin Masterson on the mound for Boston, was sent up to hit for Garrett Jones with one out in the eighth. He watched three pitches go by out of the strike zone, and then uncoiled on a 94 mph fastball from Tazawa. There was no doubt from the moment he made contact that the ball would leave the park, and as Rodriguez crossed the plate, grinning widely, he was met by a rush of his teammates from the dugout, led by manager Joe Girardi. It was Rodriguez's 25th home run at Fenway Park and second off Tazawa -- he hit a walk-off home run off the Red Sox reliever in 2009. The Yankees tried to negotiate with the fan, but he declined. As if the home run was not dramatic enough, it carries with it further potential for off-the-field drama. Rodriguez is reportedly due to receive a series of $6 million "milestone bonuses" through a separate marketing agreement signed with the Yankees in 2007, and home run No. 660 is the first of those milestones. The Yankees, however, have said they do not plan on paying Rodriguez the money because of his performance-enhancing drug history. The case could go to an arbitrator. The marketing deal was signed at the same time the Yankees signed Rodriguez to a new 10-year, $275 million contract after he opted out of his previous 10-year, $252 million contract following the 2007 World Series. The Yankees have gone out of their way not to mention Rodriguez was approaching the historic mark. Prior to one of his at-bats on Monday, the scoreboard said that Rodriguez was second all-time behind Derek Jeter in hits against the Rays. There were no references to Rodriguez's connection to Mays. Also, the Yankees' milestone press notes have excluded Rodriguez's possible achievement, while mentioning such things as Didi Gregorius' 200th game. If the Yankees continue with their stance and decline payment, Rodriguez, with the support of the Major League Baseball Players Association, is expected to challenge the team's decision through arbitration. If the Yankees were forced to pay Rodriguez, it will actually cost them $9 million, because they have to pay a 50 percent surcharge for being over the luxury tax. The next milestone bonus would be reached if Rodriguez were to tie Babe Ruth at 714 for third place all-time.
Hitting records after the early 70's are pretty much worthless considering each and every one was attained by cheating (steroids).
