Alex Rodriguez Hits Home Run No. 661, Passes Willie Mays

It seems like the fans have forgiven Alex Rodriguez.

Rodriguez got the crowd at Yankee Stadium up on their feet and roaring after he hit his 661st home run Thursday night, passing Willie Mays on the all-time home runs list. Although Rodriguez was hesitant at first, he responded to the curtain call.

"I certainly thought the days of curtain calls for me were long gone," the veteran said. "I was a little embarrassed and it was a little awkward. I didn't want the game to stop. I did not want to interrupt the game, and of course (Mark Teixeira), like my little brother, he was still in the on deck circle. Then I looked at Joe (Girardi) and asked his opinion, and he said, 'Get out there.' I tried to do it as quickly as I can."

Rodriguez's reputation and career went downhill fast when he was suspended during the entire 2014 season for using performance-enhancing drugs. Since then, Rodriguez has been working on his comeback, hoping to contribute to the Yankees in any way that he can.

"I thought the reaction was incredible, and it was very humbling," Rodriguez said. "We have the greatest fans in the world and they've treated me really good all year, and it's fueling the way that I'm playing. I've said all along that the league, the Yankees, the fans - nobody owes me anything."

Rodriguez' home run shot came in the third inning when he smashed a 1-1 changeup from Baltimore Orioles starter, Chris Tillman over the center field wall.

Watch his home run drive here:

Despite this milestone, the Yankees have stated that they do not plan on paying Rodriguez his bonus due to the fact that he used performance-enhancing drugs. In Rodriguez's 2007 10-year contract, it stated that the slugger would be paid a $6 million bonus for home run milestones, which including passing Mays on the list.

"Nobody will ever pass Willie Mays," Rodriguez said. "I talked about him being my father's favorite player. There's only one Willie Mays. Not only what he did on the field but what he meant off the field. He's a legend and he's also a role model for all of us."

Ahead of Rodriguez on the all time home runs list is Babe Ruth's 714 home runs.