Alex Rodriguez became a baseball immortal on August 4th, 2007 when the New York Yankees third baseman slugged the 500th home run of his legendary career. Rodriguez reached the 500 home run milestone in the midst of his third American League MVP season, finishing the year with 54 longballs, 156 RBI, and 143 runs scored, leading baseball in all three categories. For good measure, Rodriguez hit .314 with a career-high 1.067 OPS.

It was Rodriguez’s 36th home run of the year that elevated the former number one overall draft pick to the elite 500 Home Run Club. Rodriguez and the Yankees faced off against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium as Rodriguez sat on number 499. Rodriguez came to bat against Kyle Davies in the first inning, with Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu already on base, primed and ready to swing. On the opening pitch of the at bat, Rodriguez jumped on a pitch down the middle with his trademark right-handed swing, depositing the ball into the left field seats. Rodriguez and Jeter shared a hug at home plate after scoring, and the Yankee dugout emptied onto the field to properly congratulate the newly-minted member of the 500 Home Run Club. The home run ball was caught by Walter Kowalczyk, who sold it at auction in 2010 for the vast sum of $103,579.20.

Rodriguez, with his historic home run, became only the third player to hit the 500 home run mark as a member of the Yankees. He was only the second Yankee to do it in Yankee Stadium as Babe Ruth achieved his milestone at Cleveland on Aug. 11, 1929, while Mickey Mantle hit his 500th at home against Baltimore on May 14, 1967. This makes this one of the most historic home run baseballs ever to leave the hallowed grounds of the old Yankee Stadium.

This historic baseball is an Official Major League Allan H. Selig sphere covertly marked with the assignation “A 107”. This was pre-marked by Major League baseball in anticipation of A-Rod joining the 500 Home Run Club. Rodriguez has signed the panel south of the sweet spot in black pen, inscribing” 500th HR Ball hit 8/4/2007” below his crisp signature. This bona fide piece of baseball history is accompanied by a MLB Authenticated hologram (BB 566960) and a photograph of Rodriguez signing the baseball.