Alex Rodriguez hit his 600th home run Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees escaped the three-game sweep and won 5-1 against the Toronto Blue Jays.

It was the perfect setting- a beautiful day, fans in masses and a record waiting to be witnessed.

However, for baseball purists and die-hards alike, Rodriguez’s feat has become nothing but mixed reviews. The milestones that have been accomplished throughout the years have a thick residue known as the Steroid Era. The three letter word, PEDs (performing-enhancing drugs) is forever etched in Major League Baseball while affiliation to this illegal drug is like a scar- never fully healed and a constant reminder of that one wild Friday night.

For me, Rodriguez’s 600th was no sports turn on. SportsCenter led with it, but that was the extent. Amidst the NBA free agency palooza, the MLB was put on the back burner for a majority of the summer. (Yes, I factored in the All-Star game and Home Run Derby). Besides, that guy named Brett Favre resurfaced on command and people became infatuated with a guy named Albert Haynesworth and his inability to pass a conditioning test. The football season might as well have started already.

The Yankees slugger’s situation is sticky and celebrated at the same time. Rodriguez joins an elite group of six other players- Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Ken Griffey Jr. and Sammy Sosa- who have reached 600 home runs. The downside? He is a Steroid Era Lifer. He will forever wear a “Hello, I admitted to using PEDs” name tag on.

If and when he ever approaches 700 home runs, then I will tune in. Baseball fan or not.