Notebook | Alex Rodriguez finally gets his ring

NEW YORK — Alex Rodriguez grabbed the World Series trophy and wouldn't let go.

After Mark Teixeira gloved the final out to return the title to the New York Yankees for the first time in nine years, after the podium presentation before a delirious crowd of 50,315 christened the new ballpark with a title in its first year, A-Rod was the one to carry the trophy back to the clubhouse. He raised it high, showing it off to the fans, a triumph for the team and for himself.

"Look, a lot of people ran the other way. My teammates and coaches and organization stood right next to me. And now we stand together as world champs," he said a few minutes later in the clubhouse. "It's been a special year. I know it started rocky for us."

He had piled up money in the bank and MVP awards on his mantel. Now he has the one and only prize he's ever wanted — a World Series championship ring.

"He's exorcised a lot of demons," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said a few feet from the podium. "There's no reason to take any, 'He can't do this; he can't do that.' He's done it all now. So now, he can just continue to write history, because he's one of the greatest players to ever play this game."

After six seasons of hits and home runs, heartaches and headaches, he finally earned his pinstripes in the eyes of the fans the only way Yankees can — with a title.

"I'm so happy the way they treated me all year," he said. "They stood behind me. Walking around the city of New York, everybody was so supportive."

He arrived in spring training exposed and embarrassed, labeled a steroid user from his years with Texas. His news conference was the low point of his career.

"I just knew then when I had the 25 guys there standing next to me, and organization and my general manager, they meant the world to me," he said. "I said that day that this is going to turn out to be maybe one of the most special years of our lives, and it sure has."

Then, weeks later, he wound up on an operating table, unsure whether he'd make it on the field.

When he returned from hip surgery, it was a season of superlatives. He had 30 homers and 100 runs batted in for the 12th straight year.

And then he did away with the 0-for-October reputation. This was a new A-Rod, liberated and transformed in his 16th big-league season.

He chased the Minnesota Twins' starter with an RBI single in the postseason opener, tied the score in the ninth inning of Game 2 with a two-run homer off Joe Nathan and tied the score again with another home run in the seventh inning of Game 3. He hit a tying 11th-inning homer off the Angels' Brian Fuentes in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series, then homered again in Games 3 and 4.

His only World Series home run in Game 3 awoke the Yankees from a 3-0 deficit. He led the Yankees in the postseason with a .365 average, six homers, 18 RBI, 15 runs and 12 walks.

Notes

• Chicago Cubs left-hander Ted Lilly had surgery on his left shoulder and no timetable has been set for his return.

• Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Vicente Padilla is recovering from a bullet wound in his leg after a target shooting instructor accidentally shot him in Managua, Nicaragua. He did not need surgery.

• Detroit Tigers All-Star third baseman Brandon Inge has undergone surgery on both knees. He is expected to be ready for the start of spring training.