What Alex Rodriguez Can’t Live Without

Probably like 15 years ago, my trainer, Dodd, introduced me to this gum. He thought it was the healthiest, and I liked the taste and the look of the packaging. Then it became almost like a nervous tic during games. At the beginning of each inning, I would just pop two in my mouth, then once they wore out, I would have two more. So over the course of a game, I would have anywhere from 18 to 36 pieces of this gum. It turned into a routine.

First of all, these glasses are very affordable, which I love because the minute I buy really expensive glasses, literally within 48 hours, I lose them or they break. I have reading glasses andblue-light glasses, both in the same Sullivan frame. They’re very functional, but I like that they’re stylish, too. The blue-light glasses are great because I am always on Zoom or in front of a computer or the phone. My eyesight is not as good as it used to be, so wearing something to protect it is important.

I have really light eyes, so they get punished by the hot sun here in South Florida, especially if I’m filming something and can’t wear sunglasses. If I’m doing TV work for long hours, my eyes get red and very sensitive. Just a few drops of these and my eyes go from red to very white. Plus, it feels good. It doesn’t pop, there’s no scratch. It’s just very soothing. I never leave home without ’em.

I never used to take care of my skin and would wear sunscreen only like 5 percent of the time when I was playing. But once you get into your 40s, you just keep hearing about how much you have to protect your skin, so now I am trying to be really good about it. When I first got to the majors, I remember a lot of the white guys would pour it on, and I would always wonder,Why are you doing that? The sun’s great for you, right?I’ve become better about it postretirement, especially in the summertime. Now I wear it more like 80 percent of the time when I’m in the sun.

I don’t ever listen to music on my headphones; I listen to podcasts, or I will use them for phone calls. My favorite podcast is mine,The Dealon Bloomberg, which I host with my partner, Jason Kelly. But after that, my favorite is probablyFounders, which is a gentleman who has read over a thousand autobiographies and does a one-hour synopsis of a different one each time. It’s incredible. He has gone all the way back to Carnegie and Vanderbilt, but he’s also done Steve Jobs and Barack Obama so it’s a very wide range. He does a great job of just giving you the high level and capturing a lot of the stories from each book, then you can always go back and read the whole thing. I also likeAcquired, which is about business and just great.

I can crush a burrito bowl. I like to order a combo: chickenandsteak. Then I like guac, red sauce, rice and beans, and a little spice.

This is a healthier way to have some snacks. You get some protein, you get some good fats, so it’s not as bad as the chips.

I was 17 when I signed my first Nike contract, with Phil Knight. So now I’m very loyal to the brand. I’ve been rocking these for five years, and I have them in black, blue, and white. When I like something, I just try to get a couple of ’em because you don’t know if they’re going to be around next season. I have probably eight or nine pairs right now, so if one breaks, I go to the next. What I like about them is you can run in them but they’re also great walking shoes and great for lifting squats. They give you great support, but they’re also very forgiving on your feet.

This stuff kills bacteria on your laundry, which is awesome because I remember that polyester Yankee uniform would just stink. Sometimes in the summer, I would wear three different jerseys in one game — first three innings, second three innings, and third — because it would get so soaking wet and smelly. Whether you’re playing sports or just working out, it will help keep your clothes clean and smelling good.