A-Rod releases handwritten apology letter to baseball fans
We knew an Alex Rodriguez apology was coming. Some whispers said it could come at spring training in front of the media. He could have used Yankee Stadium for his grand mea culpa. There was even a rumor that he’d use Derek Jeter’s Players’ Tribune website.
In the end, A-Rod went a different route, releasing a handwritten apology letter into the wilds of the Internet on Tuesday. In it, he says, among other things, “I accept the fact that many of you will not believe my apology or anything that I say at this point.” Give him one point for self-awareness.
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Here’s the two-page letter, via MLB.com:
Nice handwriting, dude. But if you don’t want to bother reading cursive, here’s a translation:
To the Fans,
I take full responsibility for the mistakes that led to my suspension for the 2014 season. I regret that my actions made the situation worse than it needed to be. To Major League Baseball, the Yankees, the Steinbrenner family, the Players Association and you, the fans, I can only say I’m sorry.
I accept the fact that many of you will not believe my apology or anything that I say at this point. I understand why and that’s on me. It was gracious of the Yankees to offer me the use of Yankee Stadium for this apology, but I decided the next time I am in Yankee Stadium, I should be in pinstripes doing my job.
I served the longest suspension in the history of the league for PED use. The Commissioner has said the matter is over. The Players Association has said the same. The Yankees have said the next step is to play baseball.
I’m ready to put this chapter behind me and play some ball.
This game has been my single biggest passion since I was a teenager. When I go to Spring Training, I will do everything I can to be the best player and teammate possible, earn a spot on the Yankees and help us win.
Sincerely,
Alex
It probably doesn’t mean much at this point. Baseball fans feel how they feel about A-Rod, and his apology — no matter what avenue it took or what it said — wasn’t going to change that. But at least he’s been doing and saying all the right things lately.
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Mike Oz is an editor for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
