Alex Rodriguez joins exclusive 40-40 club
Posted in the Seattle Times on September 20, 1998
by Bob Finnigan
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Alex Rodriguez is a 40-40 man, at last.
Twelve days after hitting his 39th home run, the Mariner shortstop hit No. 40 last night against the Anaheim Angels. He joined Jose Canseco (1988) and Barry Bonds (1996) as the only players to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases in a season.
Rodriguez has 43 stolen bases.
In what has become a memorable week for him, Rodriguez reached 200 hits for the second time in his brief but brilliant career.
In his first at-bat against veteran right-hander Jack McDowell, Rodriguez worked the count to 3-1 and smacked a fastball up and out over the plate for a high fly that carried into the front rows of the bleachers in right-center field.
Rodriguez saw the ball settle into the seats as he rounded first base, and he clapped his hands together in a subtle sign of excitement. When he reached home, Ken Griffey Jr. hugged him and he was mobbed by teammates as he reached the dugout.
He even got the ball back. An Angel fan named Ron Fenrick caught it. Upset that he had split the middle finger on his right hand, he threw it back on the field, where it was retreived and sent to the dugout.
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