A-Rod's name dropped from youth field in Wisconsin

The USA Youth Sports Complex announced Monday that Alex Rodriguez Field in Appleton, Wisconsin, will soon have a new name.

The field was named after Rodriguez in honor of his time with the Appleton Foxes in 1994 -- his only minor league season. He played 64 games in Appleton, first as third baseman then shortstop.

Within hours of Major League Baseball's decision to suspend Rodriguez along with 12 others for using performance-enhancing drugs, USA Youth stripped A-Rod's name from the field.

"It won't be called Alex Rodriguez Field, effective immediately," said USA Youth board president Matt TenHaken. "It is what it is. I really don’t know if it’s disappointing. Just have to accept what’s happened and move forward."

Sporting goods chain Sports Authority has reportedly agreed to cover the costs of removing all mention of Rodriguez from the field, and relinquish naming rights back to USA Sports, which operates the field.

The New York Yankees player missed the entire season battling injuries, and his suspension was handed down just as he was about to come off the disabled list. Rodriguez said the last seven months have been a "nightmare, probably the worst time of my life."

Rodriguez, the highest-paid player in the game, was suspended through the end of the 2014 season for his involvement in the South Florida anti-aging clinic, Biogenesis of America.

He is expected to appeal MLB’s decision, and will be able to play until that process is resolved. Monday night, A-Rod took the field with his teammates against the Chicago White Sox. Chicago won 8-1.