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Miguel Tejada

Houston Astros — No. 10
Shortstop
Born: May 25, 1974 (1974-05-25) (age 34)
Bani, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right Throws: Right 
Major League Baseball debut
August 27, 1997 for the Oakland Athletics
Selected MLB statistics
(through May 9, 2008)
Batting average     . Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and Third base. Events 1085 - Alfonso VI of Castile takes Toledo Spain back from the Moors. Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. Baní is a capital town of the Peravia Province, Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic ( Spanish: República Dominicana;) is a nation located in the Caribbean region and shares the island of Hispaniola with Events 479 BC - Greco-Persian Wars: Persian forces led by Mardonius are routed by Pausanias, the Spartan Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar The Oakland Athletics are a professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. Batting average is a Statistic in both Cricket and Baseball measuring the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters, respectively 288
Home runs     264
Runs batted in     1070
Teams

Miguel Odalis Tejada (born Miguel Odalis Tejeda on May 25, 1974 in Baní, Dominican Republic) is currently the shortstop of the Houston Astros Major League Baseball team. The Oakland Athletics are a professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Florida Marlins over Cleveland Indians (4-3 Liván Hernández, Headline event of the year The Florida Marlins become World Series champions holding off a dynastic New York Yankees team 4 games to The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Headline events of the year The Boston Red Sox win their first World Series since, ending the Curse of the Bambino. Champions Major League Baseball Regular Season Champions Other champions Minor League Baseball The Houston Astros are a Professional baseball team based in Houston Texas. Calendar Major League Baseball See also 2008 Major League Baseball season Postseason October 1 – ALDS and Events 1085 - Alfonso VI of Castile takes Toledo Spain back from the Moors. Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. Baní is a capital town of the Peravia Province, Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic ( Spanish: República Dominicana;) is a nation located in the Caribbean region and shares the island of Hispaniola with Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and Third base. The Houston Astros are a Professional baseball team based in Houston Texas. He began his first six seasons of his career with the Oakland Athletics, where he began his streak of 1,152 consecutive games, that ended with the Baltimore Orioles on June 22, 2007. The Oakland Athletics are a professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. Listed below are the 15 longest consecutive games played streaks in Major League Baseball history The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2002, he was awarded the AL MVP award, and he was the MVP of the 2005 All-Star Game. The Most Valuable Player Award (commonly known as the MVP award is an annual award given to one outstanding player in each league of Major League Baseball. The 2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 76th playing of the midseason exhibition Baseball Game between the all-stars of the American League Tejada entered the 2007 season with an active streak of eight straight 20 home-run seasons. His nickname is "La Gua Gua" for "The Bus" in Spanish as Tejada is known to drive in runs and drive his team to victory.

Contents

Early life

Tejada grew up in extreme poverty in Baní, a city approximately 40 miles (65 km) southwest of Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic. Baní is a capital town of the Peravia Province, Dominican Republic. Santo Domingo de Guzmán (known as Santo Domingo population 2084852 (Metro (2003 estimated 2253437 (Metro in 2006 is the Capital and largest city in the The Dominican Republic ( Spanish: República Dominicana;) is a nation located in the Caribbean region and shares the island of Hispaniola with Miguel Tejada grew up idolizing the Baltimore Orioles SS Cal Ripken Jr. The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. [1]

At age 19 his childhood dream of playing professional baseball was realized when he signed with the Oakland Athletics for two thousand dollars, although at the time the organization believed him to be 17 years old. The Oakland Athletics are a professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. [2]

Career

Oakland A's

Tejada developed quickly into a top-notch prospect, showing early signs of power. He reached the Majors towards the end of the 1997 season, joining a struggling Oakland Athletics club. Though he only hit . 202 in 26 games that year, the A's saw potential in the 23-year-old Tejada and gave him the starting shortstop job beginning in 1998.

The A's, and Tejada, steadily improved over the next two years. His hitting improved as he gained more discipline at the plate. In 1998, he hit . 233 with 11 home runs and in 1999 his average jumped to . 251 with 21 home runs.

After a solid 87-win campaign in 1999, Tejada and a core of young players led their A's to their first American League Western Division title in eight years in 2000. The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League ( AL) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in Bolstered by an American League MVP-winning performance by first baseman Jason Giambi, and aided by Tejada's . The Most Valuable Player Award (commonly known as the MVP award is an annual award given to one outstanding player in each league of Major League Baseball. First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a Baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run 275 average and 30 home runs, the A's won 91 games. The A's faced the New York Yankees in the first round of the postseason, which was won by the Yankees 3-2 in Oakland. The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of The Bronx, in New York City, New York. The Yankees would go on to win the World Series that year, their fourth championship in five years. For other events named "World Series" see World Series (disambiguation.

In 2001, Tejada had a comparable offensive year, hitting . 267 with 31 homers. The A's captured the American League wild card with a 102-60 record. The term wild card refers broadly to a Tournament or Playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play In the postseason, however, the A's fell to the Yankees in five games, blowing an initial 2-0 series lead.

Tejada's breakout year came in 2002. With the departure of Jason Giambi to the New York Yankees during the offseason, and a leg injury to slugger Jermaine Dye, the A's lost two of their key offensive players. Jermaine Terrell Dye (born January 28 1974 in Vacaville California) is a Right fielder in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox Tejada hit . 308 with 34 homers and led the A's to their second Western Division title in three years. Their campaign included an American League record 20 game win-streak. Tejada contributed one-out, game-winning hits in the 18th and 19th games of that run: a three-run homer off Minnesota Twins closer Eddie Guardado for a 7-5 victory and a bases-loaded single against Kansas City Royals reliever Jason Grimsley to break a 6-6 tie. The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Edward Adrian "Everyday Eddie" Guardado (born October 2, 1970 in Stockton California) is a Relief pitcher in Major League The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. Jason Alan Grimsley (born August 7, 1967 in Cleveland Texas) was best known as a professional Relief pitcher. Tejada also showed modest speed on the basepaths with 18 steals over a two-year stretch. His performance was rewarded with the 2002 American League MVP award. For the third straight year, though, the A's fell in the fifth game of the ALDS, this time to the Minnesota Twins. The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The next year, both the A's and Tejada got off to a slow start, with the shortstop hitting under .200 for the first month of the season. The Mendoza Line is an informal term used in Baseball for when a position player's Batting average falls below the boundary between extremely poor and merely below-average Improved play in the second half of the season led the A's to their second straight Western Division title and their third in four years. Tejada hit . 278 with 27 homers for the year, a decrease from his numbers in 2002, but still leading many offensive categories for shortstops.

In a tension-filled series, the powerful offense of the Boston Red Sox narrowly edged out the A's in the first round, once again in five games. The Boston Red Sox are a Professional baseball team based in Boston Massachusetts, and are the reigning (2007 World Series Champions. Tejada was known for his public display of anger toward Boston starting pitcher Derek Lowe at the series' conclusion for what he perceived as obscene gestures. Derek Christopher Lowe (born June 1, 1973 in Dearborn Michigan) is a Major League Baseball Pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers Lowe denied the accusation, claiming his fist pump was in celebration only.

By the end of the 2003 season, Tejada had established himself as one of baseball's premier shortstops. The A's elected not to resign the free agent, citing budget concerns and a young Bobby Crosby coming through the system, so Tejada signed a six-year, $72 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles during the offseason. This article is for the baseball player For the comic strip character see Superosity.

Baltimore Orioles

As an Oriole, Tejada followed in the footsteps of legendary Baltimore shortstop Cal Ripken Jr.. Like Ripken, Tejada is a strong and durable shortstop with unusual power numbers for a middle infielder. Ripken currently holds baseball's record for consecutive games played at 2,632. Tejada played in his 1,000th consecutive game on July 1, 2006. Listed below are the 15 longest consecutive games played streaks in Major League Baseball history Tejada's streak was at 1,151 games when he was hit on his left wrist by a pitch on June 20, 2007. The next day, he went up to bunt in the top of the first inning, bunted into a force play, and was replaced by a pinch runner. Following that game, it was announced that he had a broken wrist. On June 22nd he was placed on the disabled list, ending his streak at 1,152 consecutive games, the fifth longest in Major League history, behind Cal Ripken (2632), Lou Gehrig (2130). Everett Scott (1307). and Steve Garvey (1217). [3]

Miguel Tejada talks to reporter Kelli Johnson 2005.
Miguel Tejada talks to reporter Kelli Johnson 2005.

On July 12, 2004, Tejada won the Century 21 Home Run Derby in Houston. The Home Run Derby is an event played prior to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Tejada hit a record 27 home runs in the contest, including a record 15 homers in the second round. He defeated Houston Astros outfielder Lance Berkman (whom would later become his teammate) 5-4 in the final round of the contest. The Houston Astros are a Professional baseball team based in Houston Texas. William Lance "The Big Puma" Berkman (born February 10, 1976 in) is a Major League Baseball player for the Houston Astros. Both records were broken the following year in Detroit by Bobby Abreu. Bob Kelly "Bobby" Abreu /aˈbreʲu/ (nicknamed El Comedulce) (born March 11 1974 in Turmero Aragua State, Venezuela) is a Major League

Tejada led the league with 150 RBIs in 2004.

While Tejada did not participate in the Home Run Derby in 2005, he was an All-Star and starter for the AL. The 2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 76th playing of the midseason exhibition Baseball Game between the all-stars of the American League The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League ( AL) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in In his first All-Star start, Tejada hit a solo home run against John Smoltz of the Atlanta Braves, had a sacrifice RBI and was part of an all-Oriole double play with teammate Brian Roberts. John Andrew Smoltz (born May 15, 1967 in) is a Major League Baseball Pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. For Comcast CEO see Brian L Roberts Brian Michael Roberts (born October 9, 1977, in) nicknamed B-Rob His efforts earned him the All-Star MVP, winning a Chevrolet Corvette. The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also popularly known as the "Midsummer Classic" is an annual Baseball game between players from the National League The Chevrolet Corvette is a Sports car that has been manufactured by General Motors since 1953

On December 8, 2005, it was widely reported by the Associated Press that Tejada asked the Orioles for a trade, citing unhappiness with the team's direction. The Associated Press ( AP) is an American News agency. The AP is a Cooperative owned by its contributing Newspapers radio Tejada challenged those statements in an interview with Comcast Sportsnet's Kelli Johnson, saying he only asked for a better team, referring to his hope that the Baltimore Orioles would improve after their eighth straight losing season. Comcast Corporation ( is the largest Cable television company the second largest Internet service provider and (according to the company the fourth largest telephone

Several weeks later, Tejada reiterated his complaints with the Orioles' lack of action and demanded to be traded, sparking immediate rumors of a trade to the Boston Red Sox for pitcher Matt Clement and outfielder Manny Ramírez. The Boston Red Sox are a Professional baseball team based in Boston Massachusetts, and are the reigning (2007 World Series Champions. Matthew Paul Clement (born August 12, 1974 in McCandless Township, Pennsylvania) is a Major League Baseball Starting pitcher Manuel "Manny" Aristides Ramírez Onelcida (born May 30 1972 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) is a Dominican-American professional Tejada stated that he wants a "good group that helps me to win" and commented briefly on his alleged non-involvement in Palmeiro's steroid scandal.

Rumors went around in early 2006 that Tejada might be traded to the Red Sox or Cubs. But on January 7, 2006, Tejada stated his intent to remain with Baltimore for "the rest of [his] career. " This statement was made to Orioles Vice President Jim Duquette in a meeting arranged by mutual friend and teammate Melvin Mora. James "Jim" Duquette was the general manager of the New York Mets for the 2004 season before the team replaced him with Omar Minaya. Melvin Mora (born February 2, 1972 in Agua Negra, Yaracuý State, Venezuela) affectionately nicknamed Melmo or It was reported that Tejada was claimed by the Chicago White Sox off trade waivers, but the two teams did not make a deal for Tejada to go to Chicago. The Chicago White Sox are a professional Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States.

Houston Astros

On December 12, 2007, Tejada was dealt to the Houston Astros for five players, including SP Troy Patton, OF Luke Scott and SP Matt Albers. The Houston Astros are a Professional baseball team based in Houston Texas. Troy Jamieson Patton (born September 3, 1985 in Spring, Texas) is a professional Baseball player for the Baltimore Orioles Luke Brandon Scott (born June 25, 1978 in De Leon Springs Florida) is a Major League Baseball Outfielder who currently plays Matthew James Albers (born January 20, 1983 in) is a Major League Baseball Relief pitcher with the Baltimore Orioles. [4]. The Astros then opted against a new contract to their incumbent shortstop, Adam Everett, ensuring Tejada's place and role on the team. Jeffery Adam Everett (born February 5, 1977 in Austell, Georgia) is a Major League Baseball Shortstop for the Minnesota

Controversies

Steroid allegations

On September 22, 2005, ESPN reported that Rafael Palmeiro, who had tested positive for steroids and was suspended for 10 games under Major League Baseball's steroid policy, implicated Tejada to baseball's arbitration panel, suggesting that a supplement given to him by Tejada was responsible for the steroid entering his system. ESPN, originally an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an American Cable television network dedicated to Rafael Palmeiro Corrales (born September 24, 1964 in Havana, Cuba) is a former Major League Baseball player with a career spanning Tejada has denied the allegations,[5] saying that the only thing he gave Palmeiro was vitamin B-12, a completely legal substance under current MLB policy.

On September 24, 2005, the Baltimore Sun reported that "The Health Policy Advisory Committee, which oversees baseball's testing policy, issued a statement that exonerated Tejada and chastised the media for reporting that he might have distributed steroids to another player. The Baltimore Sun (officially just The Sun) is Maryland ’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides comprehensive coverage "[6]

In José Canseco's 2005 book, Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big, he mentions that he believes Tejada might have taken steroids. José Canseco y Capas Jr (born July 2, 1964 in Havana, Cuba) is a former Outfielder and Designated hitter in Major Juiced Wild Times Rampant 'Roids Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big is a book by José Canseco, and his personal account of steroid usage in Major He claims to have spoken to him about them and the next season seeing him at spring training looking more defined. He never claims to have injected him with them, like he did with Palmeiro, McGwire and other ballplayers.

On September 30, 2006 the Los Angeles Times reported that former relief pitcher Jason Grimsley, during a June 6, 2006 federal raid, told federal agents investigating steroids in baseball named Tejada as a user of "anabolic steroids. The Los Angeles Times (also known as the LA Times) is a daily Newspaper published in Los Angeles California and distributed Jason Alan Grimsley (born August 7, 1967 in Cleveland Texas) was best known as a professional Relief pitcher. Anabolic steroids, or anabolic-androgenic steroids ( AAS) are a class of Steroid hormones related to the hormone Testosterone. " The Times reported that Tejada was one of five names blacked out in an affidavit filed in federal court. [7] However, on October 3, 2006, the Washington Post reported that San Francisco United States attorney Kevin Ryan said that the Los Angeles Times report contained "significant inaccuracies. The Washington Post is the largest and most circulated Newspaper in Washington D The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city "[8] Tejada, along with the other four players named, has denounced the story. [8]

On December 13, 2007, Tejada was mentioned in the Mitchell Report in connection to steroids. The Report to the Commissioner of Baseball of an Independent Investigation into the Illegal Use of Steroids and Other Performance Enhancing Substances by Players in Major League Baseball A steroid is a Terpenoid Lipid characterized by a Carbon skeleton with four fused rings generally arranged in a 6-6-6-5 fashion In the report, Tejada is said to have received $1,500 worth of steroids[9]

A report surfaced on January 15, 2008 stating that Rep. A steroid is a Terpenoid Lipid characterized by a Carbon skeleton with four fused rings generally arranged in a 6-6-6-5 fashion Henry Waxman had asked the Justice Department to investigate whether Tejada was truthful when speaking to the House committee when being interviewed in 2005 regarding possible connections to Rafael Palmeiro. Henry Arnold Waxman (born September 12, 1939 in Los Angeles California) is an American politician. [10][11]

Despite all the allegations of steroids and HGH usage, Tejada has gone on to lead all of baseball in major offensive categories amongst shortstops and is likely to make the 2008 National League All-Star team. Nearly all other users mentioned in the Mitchell Report had a falling off season where their offensive numbers significantly fell off from prior seasons, which verified use of performance enhancing drugs. Tejada, however, has not shown any side effects of steroids or performance enhancing abuse.

Age

On April 17, 2008, Tejada was confronted by an ESPN reporter during an interview who revealed that Tejada had been lying about his age ever since he first signed a Major League Baseball contract in 1993. Tejada had claimed to have been born in 1976 when a Dominican birth certificate showed that he was born in 1974. That birth certificate also shows the spelling of his surname as "Tejeda" rather than "Tejada". [12] [13]

Personal life

During the MLB offseason, Tejada resides in the Dominican Republic with his wife, Alessandra, his daughter, Alexa, and his son, Miguel Jr. He also plays for the Aguilas Cibaenas, Dominican Winter league team during the MLB offseason. Águilas Cibaeñas is a team in the Dominican Republic 's winter Baseball league

See also

References

  1. ^ Tejada Looks to Build on Ripken Legacy
  2. ^ Miguel Tejada's biography
  3. ^ Fordin, Spencer. See also List of lifetime home run leaders through history This is a list of the top 500 Major League Baseball home run hitters. Listed below are the occurrences of Major League Baseball players who have hit three Home runs in a single game Listed below are the 15 longest consecutive games played streaks in Major League Baseball history This is an alphabetical list of baseball players from the Dominican Republic who have played in Major League Baseball since. Major League Baseball recognizes Runs batted in champions in the American League and National League each season Major League Baseball recognizes doubles champions in the American League and National League each season This is a chart of the Opening Day Starting Lineup for the Baltimore Orioles from 1957 to 2008 The List of Major League Baseball players named in the Mitchell Report includes currently-active and former Major League players as well as Free agents. "Streak over: Tejada placed on DL", MLB.com, June 22, 2007. MLBcom is the official site of Major League Baseball. MLBcom is a source of baseball-related information including baseball news statistics and sports columns Retrieved on 2007-07-28. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1540 - Thomas Cromwell is executed at the order of Henry VIII of England on charges of Treason.  
  4. ^ "Tejada traded to Astros, Orioles to receive five players for former AL MVP", SI.com, 2007-12-12. Sports Illustrated is an American Sports Magazine owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 627 - Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II 's Persian Retrieved on 2007-12-12. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 627 - Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II 's Persian  
  5. ^ "Palmeiro named Tejada before panel", ESPN, 2005-09-23. ESPN, originally an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an American Cable television network dedicated to Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1122 - Concordat of Worms. 1459 - Battle of Blore Heath, the first major battle of the English Retrieved on 2006-10-04. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 610 - Heraclius arrives by ship from Africa at Constantinople, overthrows Byzantine Emperor Phocas  
  6. ^ http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.palmeiro24sep24,1,3325405.story?coll=bal-home-headlines:Cite_Sources
  7. ^ Pugmire, Lance. "Clemens Is Named in Drug Affidavit", Los Angeles Times, 2006-10-01. The Los Angeles Times (also known as the LA Times) is a daily Newspaper published in Los Angeles California and distributed Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Retrieved on 2006-10-01. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela.  
  8. ^ a b "U.S. Attorney Says Report Alleging Drug Use Contains 'Inaccuracies'", Washington Post, 2006-10-03, p. The Washington Post is the largest and most circulated Newspaper in Washington D Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 42 BC - First Battle of Philippi: Triumvirs Mark Antony and Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's  E02. Retrieved on 2006-10-04. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 610 - Heraclius arrives by ship from Africa at Constantinople, overthrows Byzantine Emperor Phocas  
  9. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?id=3357337
  10. ^ The Associated Press: Congress Asks for Tejada Perjury Probe
  11. ^ Pro baseball is urged to keep focus on antidrug policies | csmonitor.com
  12. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?id=3357337
  13. ^ Tejada two years older than Astros thought

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