7 unforgettable moments from A-Rod's career

Alex Rodriguez is hanging up his spikes, ending a remarkable career that, despite the blemishes of performance-enhancing drugs, is Hall of Fame-worthy.

Perhaps a press conference to announce his retirement after essentially being told he wasn't going to play anymore wasn't how it was supposed to play out for the former first overall pick, who always seemed to be in the news for something. The bottom line, though: In his prime, A-Rod was one of the greatest to ever step on a baseball diamond, and his stats back it up.

Here's a look back at seven unforgettable moments from Rodriguez's stellar career:

1998 - 40-40 and history

In 1996 a 20-year-old Rodriguez had one of the finest seasons in history, recording just the 10th 30-homer, 50-double season ever. Two years later, A-Rod outdid himself with a remarkable and historic campaign. Rodriguez became just the third player to record a 40-homer, 40-stolen base season, but his 1998 campaign was more than just joining that club. He also finished with 35 doubles, giving him the first 40-40-35 season ever; the only other player to do that was Alfonso Soriano - who, ironically, was traded for Rodriguez in 2004. He also had 213 hits that year, the fourth time a 30-30 season was complimented by 200-plus hits - and a record for a 30-30 season - while still the lone 40-40-200 season ever. Rodriguez didn't win the 1998 AL MVP, though: Like in '96, the award was given to Rangers slugger Juan Gonzalez.

2001 - Honoring Ripken in Seattle

Though his return to Seattle after leaving the Mariners for $252 million in Texas was hardly a welcoming one, Rodriguez managed to get the crowd somewhat onto his side with a heartfelt gesture during the 2001 All-Star Game at Safeco Field. A-Rod was voted the AL's starting shortstop, while the retiring Cal Ripken Jr. got a final All-Star nod at third base. As the game began, Rodriguez - without Ripken's knowledge - moved over to third and literally forced Ripken to take over at shortstop for one last game. Ripken eventually relented, started at shortstop, and won the game's MVP award.

2004 - The brawl

The Yankees-Red Sox rivalry was already at a boiling point before A-Rod joined the Bronx Bombers in 2004, after a trade sending him to Boston had previously fallen through. He quickly left his mark on the rivalry and turned it up way past 11. During a game at Fenway Park in July 2004 Rodriguez didn't appreciate getting beaned by Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo. The two exchanged words, and then catcher Jason Varitek confronted Rodriguez, leading to punches being thrown and one of the wilder bench-clearing brawls in the rivalry's history. The melee only set the stage for what was a classic confrontation in the 2004 ALCS, where A-Rod and Arroyo would meet once again.

2004 - Glove slap, baby!

Of all the notable postseason moments in A-Rod's career, this is the one that will always be infamously remembered. During Game 6 of the classic 2004 ALCS, Arroyo appeared to drop the baseball out of his glove while trying to tag Rodriguez. The ball bounced up the right-field line and allowed Derek Jeter to score, sending Yankee Stadium into a frenzy. The Red Sox protested, however, saying that Rodriguez intentionally slapped the ball out of Arroyo's glove, which replays clearly showed he did. Umpires agreed and reversed the call, calling Rodriguez out and negating Jeter's run. Yankee fans showered the field with baseballs in protest but it didn't matter as Boston held on for a 4-2 win, and eliminated the Yankees one night later.

2009 - World Series heroics

Although his October career in pinstripes is generally regarded to be a failure, Rodriguez often showed up when it counted. He did that in a big way during the 2009 postseason as the Yankees' leading hitter in the ALDS and ALCS. His numbers dropped a bit during the World Series, but Rodriguez was still ready for the big stage. His ninth-inning double off Phillies closer Brad Lidge in Game 4 broke a 4-4 tie and lifted the Yankees to a 3-1 series lead. They would close out their 27th championship - still A-Rod's lone ring - a few nights later at home.

2013 - The Ryan Dempster game

The Red Sox crowd wanted blood when Rodriguez, fresh off rehab from hip surgery, stepped in at Fenway Park on a Sunday night in August 2013 amid growing allegations of steroid use. Ryan Dempster did not disappoint his fans, brushing A-Rod back and then beaning him with the next pitch. As the Boston faithful roared a fuming Joe Girardi was ejected and the benches were issued warnings by the umpiring crew. A-Rod got his revenge a few innings later, taking Dempster over the Green Monster and silencing Fenway - all while staring down the pitcher as he rounded the bases.

2015 - The 3,000-hit club

Many thought his career was finished after being handed a season-long suspension for PED use in 2014. Rodriguez was having none of that. His excellent comeback season was punctuated by yet another milestone on June 19, 2015, when he became the 29th member of the 3,000-hit club with a home run off Detroit's Justin Verlander. He became the third player to homer for his 3,000th hit, joining Wade Boggs and former teammate Derek Jeter. Rodriguez is one of five players - Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Rafael Palmeiro, and Eddie Murray being the others - with 3,000 hits and 500 home runs; only A-Rod, Mays, and Aaron are in the 3,000-600 club.

(Videos courtesy: MLB.com)