I lace up my cleats for the final time, as dark clouds cover the sky, we attempted to push my ceremony five minutes earlier. My family and I stand inside the packed stadium. I shuffle my feet as it finally begins. No chairs, no podiums, but there were dignitaries. My family, fans, and teammates watch a Five-Minute tribute video about me, many of my fans shedding tears and clapping inside the muddy Yankees Stadium. I take off my hat to wave towards the crowd, smiling and waving at each side, through the muggy stadium.I look around as a booming voice appears, ¨You´ve spent 12 of your 22 seasons with the Yankees.¨ I look around before letting out a slight chuckle with my peers around me. The booming voice appears once again after a short pause, ¨But everyone remembers, you were the number one overall pick by the Seattle Mariners in 1993, and was just 18 years old when you made your major league debut in 1994.¨

The crowd rumbles with noise as I bring my children closer to me while walking over to Jennifer Steinbrenner with a warm smile. The thundering voice talks once again, ``Yankees general partner, Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindle will present Alex with a base that was autographed earlier today by all his teammates¨. Just then a large crack of thunder startles my fans, my teammates, my family, and I, the loud crack sends the crowd into a roar. The rain slowly begins with a small drizzle, turning into a downpour after the roaring lightning strikes. The downpour of rain that drenches everyone in the stadium, ruining my ceremony, laughing it off. My teammates offer me a gift. I accept it, but soon after the precipitation gets worse, I holler to call it off of the field so we won't be inside of the rain.

After a 30 minute delay, I enter the dugout, sending high fives to my teammates, wishing for a good game to end off on. Walking to the base, I tightly grip the bat, practicing my swinging before hitting the ball with all my force, lacing an RBI Double within my first inning against the starting pitcher, Chris Archer. I pump my fist into the air as I run to second base, I make it to second base, clapping my hands in excitement. Soon after I get grounded out, unfortunately not running fast enough. I sit in the dugout to think about what to do next. I know I want to make an impact in this game since it is my last game. I soon hear my name called up for pitching, I walk up to the pitching plate, watching the Rays batter warm up, I throw the first ball as fast as I can, and he misses it. I get back into position, stretching my arm before throwing the ball again, this time lower towards the ground, he misses it again. One more strike and it’s a strike out, I look around before throwing the ball closer to the batter, he flinches and misses the ball, causing a strike out for the Rays.

After he strikes out, I smile and hug my teammates, whispering some of my final words to them all, knowing that this will be the last night I play with them. I return to the dugout, tugging on my hat, hoping that my teammates can finish the game and secure the win.The blaring voice appears after I sit in the dugout. ¨So the curtain comes down on the complicated but brilliant career of Alex Rodriguez. He walks to the dugout as the Yankees try to get the two outs to secure the win for his last game.” My team brings home the win 6-3, with me contributing a healthy amount to the win. Soon after the game ends I rush onto the field, giving my team staff and my teammates a final hug from them, before taking off my hat to wave off my fans, as it’s their last time seeing me on the field. My eyes are filled with water as I crack a slight smile. After 22 seasons of playing baseball and spending 12 of them with the New York Yankees, I score the same stats I had on my first game with the Yankees.