New York Yankees

The very first contract Babe Ruth negotiated with the NY Yankees is about to hit the auction block -- which specifically outlines the MLB legend was BANNED FROM BOOZE and had a 1 AM bedtime.

TMZ Sports has learned ... the contract -- hand-signed by George Herman Ruth on March 10, 1922 -- is being auctioned off by Goldin Auctions ... and the sellers tell us they're expecting to fetch over $1 mil.

The terms of the 3-year deal are pretty interesting ... Babe agreed to league-high $52k-per-season ... but there were a couple of catches.

For instance, Babe had to fork over a $30 deposit for his uniform and was not allowed to play any other sport while under contract.

But the big one ... a clause that was added which spelled out that Babe was to "refrain entirely from the use of intoxicating liquors and that he shall not during the training and playing season in each year stay up later than 1 o'clock A.M. on any day without the permission and consent of the club's manager."

At the time Babe signed the deal, he had already been with the Yanks for 3 years ... but was playing under the contract he signed with his previous team, the Boston Red Sox.

CC Sabathia took the celebrity chef craze to a new level for his 33rd bday party -- because the whole thing was catered by Three 6 Mafia member (and Oscar winner) DJ Paul ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The party for the Yankees pitcher was insane -- it all went down at Phil Maloof's mansion in L.A. back in the Summer ... and we're told it was packed with superstars like Joba Chamberlain, Derek Jeter, Carl Crawford and Chris Brown.

But according to multiple sources, the best part was the food -- and the man responsible was DJ Paul ... who moonlights as a private chef for a TON of famous people when he's not in the studio.

"I'm good friends with the Maloofs," Paul tells TMZ Sports ... "A lot of times they'll pay me to come cook for their celebrity parties ... which, with them, is often."

Paul says he's rocked the kitchen for stars like Michael Phelps, the New England Patriots, the Yankees, Dodgers and more.

So, what was on the menu for CC's bash?

"I made spaghetti with a vodka marinara, barbeque chicken, sausage, ribs, carne asada," Paul said ... "Chris Brown went crazy over the spaghetti with the vodka sauce."

Paul says his celebrity friends are usually shocked when they notice him in the kitchen at the A-list parties he caters -- "The first thing people say is, 'Oh s**t, this is good! Did you really make this?'"

He adds, "I love cooking. I'm from Memphis, Tennessee. All we do is eat ... eat and get diabetes."

If steroid-abusing Alex Rodriguez wants to be in Cooperstown, he's gonna have to buy a ticket like everyone else ... 'cause Frank Thomas says the guy will NEVER be enshrined in the MLB Hall of Fame.

The Big Hurt -- who's getting ready to be inducted with the 2014 HOF class -- couldn't have been more clear about A-Rod's chances ... telling TMZ Sports there are only TWO guys from the PED era who deserve to be in the Hall.

As for Thomas, Frank says he's working on his own Hall of Fame speech ... and can't wait to be inducted by his 21-year-old son (who has the greatest nickname ever) ... The Little Hurt.

Check out the clip -- gotta love Frank's honesty.

Derek Jeter has had a legendary career ... and not just on the field.

During his 19-year run with the Yankees, #2 took down more 10s than anyone else in pro sports ... chicks like Jessica Alba, Adriana Lima, Minka Kelly ... and the list goes on ... and on ... and on.

So even though he's retiring from baseball, it's clear Jeter will keep knockin' it out the park for years to come.

Derek Jeter just announced ... he's retiring after one final season with the New York Yankees.

Jeter just posted his explanation on Facebook ... saying, "I could not be more sure. I know it in my heart. The 2014 Season will be my last year playing professional baseball."

He continues, "For the last 20 years I've been completely focused on two goals: playing my best and helping the Yankees win. That means that for 365 days a year my every thought and action were geared toward that goal. It's now time for something new."

The 39-year-old continues, "I want to soak in every moment of every day this year, so I can remember it for the rest of my life. And most importantly, I want to help the Yankees reach our goal of winning another championship."

Back in November, Jeter agreed to take a pay cut ... and signed a 1-year deal for 2014 that will pay him $12 million.

9:05 AM PT -- MLB is lashing out against Alex's lawsuit -- calling it "nothing more than a desperate attempt to circumvent the Collective Bargaining Agreement."

MLB adds, "While we vehemently deny the allegations in the complaint, none of those allegations is relevant to the real issue: whether Mr. Rodriguez violated the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program by using and possessing numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including Testosterone and human Growth Hormone, over the course of multiple years and whether he violated the Basic Agreement by attempting to cover-up his violations of the Program by engaging in a course of conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the Office of the Commissioner's investigation.”

A-Rod has come out swinging by filing a lawsuit against Bud Selig and MLB, claiming they paid off the star witness against the Yankee slugger ... paid him millions of dollars to help force A-Rod out of baseball.

The suit claims Selig and MLB paid $5 million to Anthony Bosch, head of the Biogenesis Clinic -- the place A-Rod allegedly went to in order to obtain undetectable steroids.

The upshot -- A-Rod believes the testimony is tainted by the hefty price tag.

The suit claims A-Rod has been unfairly targeted for a 211-game suspension -- which A-Rod's lawyer claims is a witch hunt.

The suit claims Selig and MLB interfered with A-Rod's contracts and business relationships.

Sources connected with A-Rod tell TMZ he's been tested for performance enhancing drugs 11 times since 2011 and they've come up clean every time.

Christopher McDonald earned his Yankees fan pinstripes last night by being the coolest guy ever when an obnoxious fan interrupted his night at the Stadium.

It went down during the late innings of future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera's final game at Yankee Stadium ... so an important game for a native New Yorker like Christopher to enjoy without being disturbed.

But you gotta see how he handled a young lady -- who may or may not have been over-served ... and wanted nothing more in life than to have a photo with Shooter McGavin. Total class act.

As the beer lady put it during the clip ... "Last call, last call!!"

Hey Chris, at least the fan left before Mariano took the mound.

Alex Rodriguez -- who signed a $275 million contract with the Yankees in 2007 -- is now pinching pennies by downsizing in a spectacular way.

A-Rod -- who dumped his $30 million oceanfront Miami palace -- just bought a nearby condo for $2.1 million -- around 15 times cheaper than his previous digs.

And when we say it's modest, we mean it. The "luxury" condo, purchased last month, is 1,725 sq. ft with 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms -- a broom closet in ARod's world.

The Miami mansion was a comfortable 19,861 sq. ft., with 9 bedrooms, 11 full bathrooms (plus 2 half bathrooms), a 4-car garage, a state of the art security system with 16 cameras, and a Zen garden.

A-Rod appears to be gearing up for a long winter in an uncertain future.

Alex Rodriguez not only feels the MLB is singling him out ... he feels "persecuted" in the PED scandal -- and plans to SUE if the league doesn't COMPLETELY recant ... TMZ has learned.

Sources directly connected to A-Rod tell us he's prepared to march into Federal court next month ... unless the 211-game suspension the MLB slapped him with last week isn't entirely lifted.

The reason for A-Rod's bold demand -- A-Rod sources familiar with the investigation tell us Alex hasn't tested positive and never "knowingly" used PEDs since 2003 ... the last season he admitted using 'roids. Our sources say A-Rod has been drug tested 11 times between 2011 and the present ... and all of the results were negative.

Our sources fume it's "absurd" Ryan Braun -- who reportedly tested positive in 2011 and then lied about it -- was only benched for the duration of this season. They say it proves MLB's investigation of A-Rod and the Biogenesis Clinic has been "abusive and borderline illegal."

As for rumors A-Rod impeded baseball's PED investigation -- our sources say the league has "no proof" the Yankees slugger did any such thing, and further claim MLB is the one that has harassed and intimidated witnesses.

According to our sources, Alex will sue for various things, including a violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the players' union and the league.

So, from 211 games to nothing ... or else.

Pretty big cojones for a guy accused of using steroids.

Alex Rodriguez's new hip must be fully healed -- because he did some serious bobbing and weaving from reporters' questions about the 211 game suspension MLB slapped him with for alleged steroid use.

In a strange pre-game news conference, A-Rod disappointed again by refusing to directly respond to questions about the suspension (which he plans to appeal). The closest he came to discussing it was when he said, "I'm sure there's been mistakes along the way. I'm a human being."

A-Rod will be back on the field when the New York Yankees play the Chicago White Sox tonight -- and repeatedly said he was only focused on the game.

"I feel like I was 18-years-old back in Fenway in 1994 when I faced the Red Sox for the first time."

Alex Rodriguez will never play baseball again ... is what some people think -- just because he scarfed down 20 wings at a Hooters, just as he's supposed to be getting in game shape.

Before you dismiss the theory, please note -- A-Rod also had CURLY FRIES!! Boom.

With his career in jeopardy and cheating allegations swirling ... Alex Rodriguez found comfort at a Hooters in Florida this weekend ... TMZ has learned.

We've confirmed ... A-Rod and a lady friend walked in to the chicken joint in Sarasota, Florida this weekend and went to town on chicken wings.

Hooters sources ... yeah, we got those ... tell us A-Rod and his woman woofed down a total of 20 wings (medium sauce) along with an order of curly fries ... and washed it down with a soda and an unsweetened tea.

We're told A-rod left a pretty great tip and was super nice to everyone in the restaurant.

Unclear if either Alex or the chickens tested positive for growth hormones.

NY Yankees superstar CC Sabathia's cure for getting shelled for 7 runs in NYC on Friday night is hitting the club in L.A. on Sunday night!!

We spotted the Yankees ace pitcher cruising out of Greystone Manor -- just 2 nights after he suffered his third straight loss ... and just a few hours after Derek Jeter heroically led the Yanks to a win in the Bronx.

Why wasn't CC -- in the middle of his worst slump of the season -- with his teammates back east?

Well, the Bombers are playing the Dodgers in L.A. this week ... though CC isn't scheduled to pitch.

So, we're guessing he flew ahead of the Yanks to get in some practice -- or to scout a hot nightclub for his teammates.

Suicidal Yankee fans (they're not so good this year) are hoping it's practice.

Former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani doesn't give two craps about steroids allegations ... telling TMZ, Yankees fans should STOP dumping on Alex Rodriguez because he's a baseball legend ... and a good person, too.

Yankees fans have been crushing A-Rod for years -- some say he's overpaid, some say he's overrated, some just like to give him grief -- but now that the famous third baseman is smack in the crosshairs of ANOTHER steroid investigation, the opprobrium has reached new levels.

But Giuliani tells us, it has to stop now -- "I was one of the first to say that Yankee fans should not boo A-Rod. He's on our team. You gotta root for him. I think he's one of the greatest players ever."

For the record, A-Rod admitted to using banned substances from 2001 to 2003 ... but he was never punished by MLB.

Still, Rudy's got his back: "I happen to know him personally," Giuliani tells TMZ ... "He's a really good man."

Alex Rodriguez' career could hang in the balance of a 7-figure check -- because sources tell TMZ, the whistleblower who allegedly has proof A-Rod and other players bought steroids wants at least a million bucks for his info.

As TMZ first reported, Porter Fischer -- an ex-employee at the Biogenesis clinic in Miami -- scheduled a sit down with MLB investigators in Miami ... which went down on Tuesday.

Fischer's attorney tells TMZ, his client discussed a possible deal with MLB ... in which the league would acquire the drug-purchasing records of more than 100 MLB players (including A-Rod and Ryan Braun) -- but it's gonna cost 'em.

Sources close to the investigation tell us, the MLB has yet to make an official offer for the goods ... but as it stands, Fischer won't settle for less than a million.

MLB officials want the records as part of their ongoing investigation into allegations of widespread performance enhancing drug use by players.

We're told Fischer and MLB already have plans to meet again in the near future -- but no one's talking dollars yet.

Never know when the price could go up ...

Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun's ears should be burning -- baseball investigators are about to sit down with the whistleblower who claims he can prove they purchased performance enhancing drugs from a Miami clinic ... TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge of Major League Baseball's investigation tell us MLB officials will be meeting with Porter Fischer in Florida this week ... and he's expected to reveal his detailed records from the Biogenesis clinic.

Fischer is an ex-employee at Biogenesis and claims to have the goods on more than 100 baseball players -- among them Braun and A-Rod -- who allegedly obtained banned PEDs from the clinic's owner Tony Bosch.

The Yankees just cleared Rodriguez for his first on-field action this season -- a minor league game -- as he continues to rehab from hip surgery.

We're told the MLB meeting was brokered by Fischer's attorney, Ray Rafool -- and that MLB will pay Fischer a "consultant" fee in exchange for his cooperation.