Bronx, NY (My Sportsbook) - After 16 major league seasons, three American League MVP awards in his trophy case, 12 All-Star Game selections and a pair of Gold Gloves, Alex Rodriguez finally earned the piece of hardware he's yearned for - a World Series ring.

A season that started with a confession of past steroid use and a 2009 debut slowed by hip surgery, the New York Yankees third baseman culminated a magical year by having an offensive breakout in the playoffs, leading to the franchise's 27th World Series title.

Going into this season there were plenty of doubters considering A-Rod's past postseason bumbles at the plate. The team lost their last four playoff series going into this year with Rodriguez going a paltry 7-for-44 with 15 strikeouts over the previous three series.

"From day one I had nothing to lose this year," he said. "I hit rock bottom. There's nothing else that can happen to a human being. I just said 'let me go out and be one of the guys.' It takes a lot of pressure off you just to go out and play. Your talent sometimes shines more when you don't worry about the individual stuff."

This year was going to be different, even after word got out about his troubled past.

"For me, the one thing I can remember is people running the other way, and rightfully so in spring training," said Rodriguez after the team's 7-3, Game 6 title-clinching win over Philadelphia. "But I had 25 guys, my coaches, the organization and the Steinbrenner family that stood literally next to me. That meant the world to me."

The off-the-field escapades didn't make it easier on him either with gossip surrounding relationships with Madonna and Kate Hudson. It was all fodder for the tabloids, but when it came time to play ball, Rodriguez was focused more than ever, especially in the playoffs.

He finished the postseason with 18 RBI, the most in Yankees history for a single playoff year, while hitting a team-best .365 with six homers.

"I've been humbled and I've been through a lot," said A-Rod. "The city of New York has supported me so much."

It was a long road ahead from a press conference in Baltimore, prior to a May 8 game when Rodriguez started his season by slamming the first pitch he saw for a three-run homer.

"It started at the absolute bottom," said Rodriguez. "A lot of people ran hard the other way. I said some things at the press conference in Baltimore when I came back. I didn't expect anyone to take me at my word and rightfully so. Overall, I stayed to the plan. I had convictions behind my words."

JETER HEATS UP IN CRUNCH TIME

Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, who won his fifth World Series ring, went 3-for-5 in the clinching game. He batted .407, hitting safely in all six games of the series. The 11-for-27 performance over the six contests was actually one his shy of the World Series record for a six-game set.

The hitting, though, wasn't what won the series, according to the 2000 World Series MVP and 10-time All-Star.

"We pitched, the bottom line our pitching, it was outstanding," said Jeter. "Starting pitching, our bullpen, we got Mo."

ONE 'MO RING FOR BASEBALL'S BEST POSTSEASON CLOSER

Mariano Rivera will turn 40 on November 29, but baseball's elite playoff closer jokingly said after Wednesday's game he'd like to pitch for five more years.

Rivera, who holds the record for most postseason saves with 39 and has a mind-boggling career ERA of 0.99 in the World Series, has one season left on a three-year, $45 million package.

"Hopefully they'll keep me here for a long time. I have a lifetime contract," he joked. "It's great. We had a tremendous year, ups and downs."

The righty pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings in four World Series games this year, stretching his streak of zeroes in the Fall Classic to 9 1/3 frames. He has been the finishing pitcher in the final game in each of the Yankees' last six World Series appearances and in 15 overall playoff series.