In the 2000 CABA Board meeting it was decided to start a new prestigious award that exemplified what CABA is all about. We have set a precedent by producing Major league ball players. So we felt it was time to start recognizing these players. We are quite proud to announce our first Graduate of the Year award.

The CABA in its 18yr existence has had numerous players that have gone on to play Major league baseball So when we decided to pick the most outstanding player that had graduated from CABA Alex Rodriguez was the consensus favorite. He has had an outstanding major league career and is deserving of our first Graduate of the Year award.

Alex played for the Brooklyn, NY Bergen Beach baseball team in 1991/1992 that participated at our High School World Series in Euclid,Ohio. He distinguished himself in the 1991 CABA High School Series as an outstanding fielding shortstop and was also an outstanding hitter in the 1992 Series. After high school Alex signed with the Seattle Mariners and began his big league career with them in 1996. He is easily recognized as one of the premier shortstops in the majors He made headlines this past winter when he signed a $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers.

Alex started playing baseball when he was 4 years old. When he was 6 he started playing for the Khoury league in Miami, Florida. He has always played shortstop and did occasional duty as a catcher. When he was 11 he went on a national tour in PONY League to Tampa,Orlando New Orleans, and San Francisco. As a sophomore in Westminster Christian High School he played for the Junior Olympic team in which he started being not only an outstanding fielder but also a dominating hitter. He was a .450 high school hitter He credits his batting success to his knowledge of the strike zone and encourages kids to work on their knowledge of the zone. When asked whether to play one sport. Alex recommends that kids play every sport he feels that you should not focus on baseball to early. He thinks that football gives you mental toughness He recommends that players pass up the major league draft and go to college to continue their education All kids should go to college unless they are a 1,2,3 top ten pick.

He credits Rich Hoffman at Westminster High School and Eddie Rodriguez at the Boys club for giving him the confidence early on to better. They still remain his buddies. In conclusion we wish to thank Alex Rodriguez for playing baseball for CABA. He truly exemplifies the type baseball player that we can be proud of. Thanks Alex