NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 13: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees celebrates with teammate Mark Teixeira #25 of the New York Yankees after hitting a solo home run in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels during the home opener at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2012 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) (2012 Getty Images)
NEW YORK – Make room Junior, A-Rod's joining the group.
New York Yankee third baseman Alex Rodríguez tied his former teammate Ken Griffey Jr.for fifth all time on the career home run list Friday when he knocked in his 630th out of the park in New York on Friday.
A-Rod hit No. 630 in the third inning of the Yankees' home opener against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday, a drive to straightaway center field off Ervin Santana that gave New York a 4-0 lead.
The home run, which went off the netting in Monument Park, was Rodríguez's first of the year. Following a 4-for-23 (.174) start, he singled in the first inning.
Rodríguez, a New York-native of Puerto Rican descent, is widely considered one of the best all around baseball players ever...and also one of the most controversial.
In 2007, A-Rod became the youngest player in MLB history to reach 500 home runs and holds the record for most home runs by a player with a Latino background. Rodríguez was also part of the Yankees club that won the 2009 World Series over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Despite his success, controversy has hounded the slugger throughout his career. In February of 2009, Sport's Illustrated reported that A-Rod was one of the list of 104 players who tested positive for anabolic steroids.
Later that month, Rodríguez admitted that he and a cousin purchased an unidentified drug over-the-counter in the Dominican Republic and injected himself twice monthly for six months.
Rodríguez trails Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714) and Willie Mays (660) on the career list.
Based on reporting by The Associated Press.
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