Asterisk-Rod

The Mariners already had a spectacular short stop with the then known perennially Golden Gloved, and later proven ageless, Omar Vizquel. But they had the draft pick to do it, picked A-Rod in 1994 and through 1999 he was half of the game's best young talent tandem.

When Junior retired earlier this year A-Rod told MLB.com:

"I had a front seat... And at 18 years old, I got to walk in the clubhouse and see the greatest player on the planet for a long time. He was 24, I was 18, and boy, I'll tell you, that was some type of special treat."

My point of view at the Kingdome was along the left field foul line... But the feeling was exactly the same. Ken Griffey Jr. had speed, strength, grace and a playful attitude. A superstar who made it all look easy on the field... A natural.

As of Wednesday afternoon, at the new Yankee Stadium, when Alex Rodriguez connected on No. 600 against the Blue Jays' Shaun Marcum, the club that Babe Ruth built in 1931 swelled to seven.

MLB.com columnist Anthony Castrovince recounts how it grew:

After Ruth founded the club on his way to No. 714, Willie Mays joined in 1969 and wound up finishing with 660. Hank Aaron followed in 1971, en route to 755.

For a long while, it was quiet. Then the door swung open and the horde came in. Barry Bonds in 2002. Sammy Sosa in '07. Ken Griffey Jr. in '08. And now, A-Rod.

Four guys in eight years. Not a normal pace.

3 of the 4 600 Club entrants since the turn of the century got there on steroid stats... Which we can toss like a used piece of gum...

Or at a minimum, record properly.