T.R.’s Memoirs: How the Alex Rodriguez Era with Texas Rangers came to an end

(AP photo/Tim Sharp)

Editor’s note: T.R. Sullivan covered the Texas Rangers over 32 years for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and MLB.com and is sharing his “memoirs” with this newsletter. In this installment, T.R. covers the events of 2003 that led to Alex Rodriguez being traded to the Yankees before the 2004 season.

Cal Ripken was calling pitches for the Orioles pitchers from his shortstop position.

Or maybe it was Derek Jeter telling the Yankees pitchers what to throw. Can’t remember which one it was.

But Alex Rodriguez decided he, too, wanted to call pitches from shortstop, sending signals to the catcher and have him relay it to the pitcher.