MLB

Alex Rodriguez is begging for Yankees fans to forgive him ... again ... penning a handwritten apology in which he "take[s] full responsibility" for pumping himself full of performance-enhancing drugs.

In the letter, addressed "To the Fans" ... A-Rod says, "I take full responsibility for the mistakes that led to my suspension for the 2014 season."

"I regret that my actions made the situation worse than it needed to be. To Major league baseball, the Yankees, the Steinbrenner family, the Players Association, and you, the fans, I can only say I'm sorry."

He adds, "I accept that many of you will not believe my apology or anything that I say at this point. I understand why and that's on me."

"I'm ready to put this chapter behind me and play some ball."

FYI -- Rodriguez first confessed to juicing in 2009 ... saying he used steroids in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

Big news for Johnny Damon ... the baseball star just told TMZ Sports his wife is pregnant with BABY #7!!!!

Damon was out in NYC for the "Celebrity Apprentice" finale when he broke the news ... telling us his wife Michelle is knocked up!

FYI -- Damon started having kids back in '99 when his first wife Angela gave birth to twins.

He married Michelle in '2004 ... they had a daughter in '07 ... another daughter in '08 ... twins (again!) in '12 ... and now she's with child again!

Damon clearly LOVES being a father -- and even had some retirement advice for Derek Jeter ... start procreating!!!

Before Hannah Davis ... Minka Kelly ... Jessica Biel, Alba, Minnillo, Lima, etc. ... there was Vida Guerra -- and now she's on a mission to prove she's Derek Jeter's hottest ex.

Guerra (40) -- who shot to fame as an ass model -- tells TMZ Sports she respects Hannah Davis (24) and likes her S.I. Swimsuit Edition cover, but wanted to "respond" with a sexy shoot of her own.

Hence the photos you see before you.

"Hannah is Derek's type for sure, he's always liked tall girls ... but she was like seven when him and I dated," Guerra says.

"Curves are in -- and I have all of those."

#Truth

While most of the East Coast was hunkering down in the blizzard, NY Yankees legend Derek Jeter wasn't even rockin' a coat -- strollin' around Bev Hills in a pair of ripped jeans like it was '86 all over again.

Jeter's out in L.A. (we're told he's taking meetings with some Hollywood people) -- and Monday night we ran into #2 on his way out of Mastro's Steakhouse.

FYI -- apparently, distressed jeans are "in" ... at least according to GQ and Women's Wear Daily, which recently published an article saying:

"After a few years of dark denim dominance, it's only natural that distressed denim would reenter the game with rips and tears galore."

Def Leppard is so happy right now ...

Red Sox outfielder Rusney Castillo only came over from Cuba a few months ago, but he's already BALLIN' OUT like an American ... dropping $85,000 to trick out his $84,000 Porsche!!!

Castillo took his 2014 Avorza Porsche 911 Turbo to Alex Vega and the guys at the Auto Firm in Miami with the following marching orders -- MAKE IT AWESOME!

So what do you get for all that money? Vega says he and his crew took the entire car apart piece by piece to paint it "Snow White" ... then added detailing in red and black, Castillo's favorite colors.

Vega gutted the interior as well to put in red and black leather seats. Watch the video though for the highlight ... a custom grill with Castillo's #38 in lights. There's even a #38 light that shines on the road when he opens the doors.

Castillo signed with the Sox last year for $72.5 million ... so he's not struggling to make payments.

The man who stabbed a former MLB player to death has been convicted of 2nd degree murder in a L.A. courtroom ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Rod Craig -- who played 4 seasons in the league back in the early '80s -- was living on the streets back in 2013 ... when he tried to stay at a homeless encampment but was turned away by other transients.

According to investigators, 55-year-old Craig tried to kick a dog as he left the encampment ... infuriating several people who chased after him and attacked ... with one of attackers stabbing Craig in the chest.

Boston Red Sox owner John Henry tells TMZ Sports ... he's got NO GRUDGE against Johnny Damon for leaving the team for the Yanks back in 2005 ... despite Johnny suggesting there was lingering beef between the two.

As we previously reported, Damon told Donald Trump he didn't hit up Henry for a donation during a fundraising task on this week's "Celebrity Apprentice" because they weren't exactly on speaking terms after the whole contract situation from '05.

But Henry tells us he has absolutely NO ill will toward Damon -- saying, "I have nothing but respect personally for Johnny."

Henry continued, "He accomplished a great deal in Boston and will always be welcome at Fenway."

So, seems Trump was right ... maybe Johnny shoulda hit Henry up for a donation after all.

It's been nearly a decade since the break-up, but it seems like still some bad blood between Johnny Damon and Boston Red Sox owner John Henry ... with Johnny saying they're still not on speaking terms.

Damon shed some light on the situation on last night's "Celebrity Apprentice" -- when Donald Trump asked why Damon didn't try to ask Henry for money during a fundraising competition.

Long story short ... Damon says he's not sure they still "love" him out in Beantown and says he hasn't spoken with Henry in a while.

Then there was this exchange ...

Trump: "I think you'd be able to call John Henry. He'd give you whatever you want."
Damon: "He did not do that back in 2005. So ..."

San Diego Padres superstar Justin Upton is officially a married man -- and the party was INSANE ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The 27-year-old superstar (who's finishing up a $50 million contract) tied the knot to longtime GF Ashley Borror Saturday night at a fancy L.A. hotel and spared no expense.

The bar? Top shelf booze ... the well scotch was Macallan 18!
The smokes? Guy had a box of Cubans for anyone who wanted to puff away.
The entertainment? BRIAN MCKNIGHT ... and we're told he KILLED IT!

Tons of famous people were at the event ... including Justin's baseball star brother BJ Upton and Justin's ex-teammate Dan Uggla.

Mazel!

It was one of the most famous jheri curls in the history of sports ... which is why Pedro Martinez tells TMZ Sports he HOPES his luscious locks will be enshrined on his Hall of Fame plaque.

The 3-time Cy Young winner was at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC when asked about the all-important image that will be on display in Cooperstown when he's inducted later this year.

Martinez says his hair defined him -- and he was damn proud of it.

He also gave us some H.O.F. advice about to keep your jehri curl as wondrous as his ... you gotta watch this clip, it'll make your soul glow!

Screw your 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck rookie card ... an old woman from Boston just learned her family's been sitting on a MILLION DOLLAR baseball card stash for more than 100 years!

The woman -- who has not revealed her name -- went on PBS' "Antiques Roadshow" with a bunch of cards and memorabilia she inherited from her great-great-grandmother.

Turns out, the booty was a collection of ultra-rare baseball cards featuring the 1871 Boston Red Stockings. The woman also had autographs from some of the players.

One of the cards featured George Wright -- the biggest superstar in the sport at the time. He was ultimately inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

"Roadshow" appraisers valued the collection at $1 million.

The woman says she found the collection just sitting in a desk drawer ... "I ran across it one day and decided I'd like to have it, not realizing at all what it was worth."

The finger Jose Canseco SHOT OFF HIS HAND is almost as good as new ... so says the MLB star's ex-wife who just showed TMZ Sports some pretty gnarly never-before-seen pics of Jose's progress.

Jessica Canseco was leaving 1 Oak in Hollywood when she admitted she told Jose to have the finger amputated after he put a bullet through the digit back in October.

But fortunately Jose didn't take her advice ... and now Jessica says he's on his way to one of the most miraculous recoveries she's ever seen -- thanks to an insane surgical procedure involving a piece of Jose's hip bone!!!

Check out the clip -- Jessica not only gives the medical update ... but shows off graphic pics of Jose's hand just weeks after the accident.

Better put your food down for this one ...

Major League Baseball's about to be just like kick-ass cigars and Ricky Ricardo -- as in super Cuban ... at least that's what former pitcher John Rocker is predicting.

The ex-closer tells TMZ Sports ... the new warm and friendly relations between the U.S. and Cuba will open up the majors to throngs of badass ball players from the island.

As Rocker puts it ... it's just a matter of time until baseball is full of Yasiel Puigs -- which, c'mon ... would be awesome!

Two bonuses in this clip: 1. Rocker talks "Eastbound & Down" (he's the rumored inspiration for Kenny Powers) and 2. Rocker's smoke show GF Julie McGee ... who he met on "Survivor."

Hey, Justin Verlander ... SUCK IT UP -- that's what Uber is telling the Detroit Tigers ace after he bitched to the world about holiday price surges -- and threatened to jump to the competition.

Verlander fired the first salvo with his Instagram post ... "@Uber I used to love you and now your ridiculous surge charges are causing me to take my talents elsewhere. #lyft."

Now, Uber is responding, telling Verlander ... "Surge pricing encourages drivers to get on the road when demand is high. As soon as things even out, pricing will lower." In other words: too bad, so sad.

They didn't even mention the fact JV is it he middle of a 7-year, $180 million contract -- and is probably the last person who should be complaining about a little extra coinage.

Babe Ruth's game-worn baseball cap from a 1934 barnstorming trip to Japan just hauled in an amazing $303,277 in an auction ... TMZ Sports has learned.

No, it's not gold-leafed or anything, but it did sit on the Babe's skull while he did some diplomatic work for the U.S. He was part of an American all-star team sent to Japan in 1934 to play 18 exhibition games.

The games were supposed to ease rising tensions between the U.S. and Japan, but failed. See WWII.

We're told the ball cap remained with the Ruth family until 30 years ago ... then changed hands twice ... before landing on the block this morning at Grey Flannel Auctions.

Another sports legend fetched big dollars too -- an original pair of Jordan's ... just not Air Jordans.
The CONVERSE shoes MJ wore during his '81-'82 season at UNC went to the top bidder for $33,378!

We're told the winning bidders on both items want to remain anonymous.

Former baseball star Brad Halsey was clean and sober when he fell more than 100 feet to his death in a remote area of Texas ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Halsey died on Halloween from blunt force trauma ... according to the docs we obtained. Sheriff's deputies in Halsey's hometown of New Braunsfels, TX say he either jumped or fell off the cliff which was on private property.

The autopsy report says Halsey's body was screened for a slew of drugs, including ... opiates, cocaine, oxycodone, barbiturates, amphetamines, marijuana, benzodiazepines ... and many more -- but pathologists found nothing. Same result for alcohol.