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Mark Teixeira

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This article is about the Major League Baseball player. For the comic book artist, see Mark Texeira.
Mark Teixeira
Mark Teixeira on base in 2011
New York Yankees – No. 25
First baseman
Born: (1980-04-11) April 11, 1980 (age 44)
Annapolis, Maryland
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
debut
April 1, 2003, for the Texas Rangers
Career statistics
(through May 24, 2014)
Batting average.277
Hits1,619
Home runs350
Runs batted in1,138
Runs963
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Mark Charles Teixeira (/teɪˈʃɛrə/ tay-SHERR-ə; born April 11, 1980) is an American Major League Baseball first baseman for the New York Yankees. Before playing in the MLB, he played college baseball at Georgia Tech, where in 2001 he won the Dick Howser Trophy as the national collegiate baseball player of the year.

Teixeira was drafted in 2001 by the Texas Rangers, and made his MLB debut for them in 2003. In mid-2007 he was traded to the Atlanta Braves, and traded again in mid-2008 to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In December 2008, he agreed to a contract with the New York Yankees. Teixeira has won five Gold Glove Awards and three Silver Slugger Awards. Teixeira also holds the all-time major league record for most games with a home run from both sides of the plate, with 13.[1]

Early life

Teixeira grew up in Severna Park, Maryland, the son of Margaret "Margy" (née Canterna) and John Teixeira.[2][3][4] He attended Mount Saint Joseph High School in Baltimore, Maryland, where he played for the school's varsity baseball team. His paternal grandfather emigrated from the South American country Guyana, and Teixeira has Portuguese ancestry through his father.[5] Teixeira's mother is of Italian descent.[6][7]

Professional career

Teixeira was originally chosen in the ninth round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft by the Boston Red Sox. Teixeira chose not to sign with the Red Sox, however, opting instead to play college baseball for Georgia Tech.

College

Teixeira played college baseball at Georgia Tech. In 2000, his batting average was .427, and his on-base plus slugging (OPS) was 1.319. He also won the Dick Howser Trophy as the national collegiate baseball player of the year.[8]

Minor Leagues

In 2001, Teixeira re-entered the draft and was selected by the Texas Rangers with the fifth overall pick. The Philadelphia Phillies considered selecting him with the fourth overall pick, but the demands of Teixeira's agent Scott Boras swayed the Phillies to select Gavin Floyd. The Rangers signed Teixeira to a Major League contract worth $9.5 million over 4 years.

Teixeira began the 2002 season in the Florida State League, where he batted .320 with an OPS of 1.000 in 38 games. He was then moved up to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers, with whom he batted .316 with a .994 OPS and hit 10 home runs in 48 games. It turned out that 2002 would be his only season in the minor leagues; he made the Rangers out of spring training in 2003.

Teixeira as a member of the Rangers.

Texas Rangers (2003-2007)

As a rookie in 2003, Teixeira hit .259 with 26 home runs, 84 RBI, and a .811 OPS. Teixeira began to improve in 2004, batting .281 with an OPS of .930, 38 home runs, and 112 RBI. On August 17, 2004, Teixeira hit for the cycle. For his accomplishments in 2005, he earned the Silver Slugger Award as the best-hitting first baseman in the American League as well as the Gold Glove signifying his place as the best fielding first baseman in the American League. He was also named to his first All-Star Game after winning the fan voting portion of the selection to be named the starting first baseman for his league. During the game, Teixeira hit a home run from the right hand side of the plate, something he had failed to do in the entire first half of the season. In a five game span around the All-Star Game, Teixeira hit five home runs with 13 RBI. He finished July with 13 home runs and 30 RBI and was named the American League Player of the Month. Overall, Teixeira batted .301 with 43 home runs and 144 RBI in the 2005 season.

In 2005, Teixeira became the third switch-hitter in MLB history to hit at least 20 home runs in each of his first three seasons, after Eddie Murray and Chipper Jones. He is also one of just five players in Major League history to hit at least 100 home runs in his first three seasons, joining Hall of Famers Joe DiMaggio, Ralph Kiner, and Eddie Mathews as well as current first base star, Albert Pujols. Other players – Mark McGwire, José Canseco, Todd Helton, Ryan Howard – have hit 100+ home runs in their first three full seasons, but these players had all played partial seasons prior to playing their first three full seasons. His 2005 total of 144 RBI is a Major League record for a switch-hitter.[9]

On Mother's Day, May 14, 2006, Teixeira was one of more than 50 hitters who brandished a pink bat to benefit the Breast Cancer Foundation.

Teixeira's 2006 season began slowly, as he collected only nine home runs before the All-Star Break. After the All-Star Break, however, he was among the league's leaders in home runs, and again finished with over 30 homers and 100 RBI for the season.

Teixeira agreed to a two-year $15.98 million contract before the 2006 season to avoid his first two years of arbitration.[10]

On June 9, 2007, Teixeira's franchise record 507 consecutive-game streak came to an end. Teixeira landed awkwardly at first base after running out a grounder in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers the previous day. The streak was second to Miguel Tejada at the time. The strained quadriceps muscle placed Teixeira on the disabled list for only the second time of his career.

Atlanta Braves (2007-2008)

Teixeira with the Braves in 2008.

In July 2007, two weeks after turning down an eight-year, $140 million contract extension from the Rangers, Teixeira was traded to the Atlanta Braves (along with left-handed reliever Ron Mahay) for catcher/first baseman Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and four prospects: shortstop Elvis Andrus, and starting pitchers Matt Harrison, Neftalí Feliz and Beau Jones.[11] Teixeira was activated for that night's game against the Houston Astros and arrived in the dugout during the seventh inning. He was promptly shown on Turner Field's high definition video board and received a boisterous applause from the Atlanta crowd.

In his Braves debut on August 1, 2007, Teixeira hit a 3-run homer and drove in 4 runs in a 12–3 rout of the Houston Astros.[12] Teixeira went on to homer in each of the following two games, becoming just the second player to homer in his first three games as a Brave – the first being Gary Sheffield in 2002.

On August 19, 2007, Teixeira had his first multi-HR game against the Arizona Diamondbacks off Yusmeiro Petit. He would repeat that feat the next day, going deep for two three-run home runs versus the Cincinnati Reds. Teixeira, a switch-hitter, hit both homers on the 19th batting from the left side of the plate, and hit his homers on the 20th from the right side. He was named co-NL Player of the Week from August 20–26 by slugging .793 with three home runs and as expected, he was awarded NL Player of the Month for August. On September 22, Teixeira had his first walk-off hit with the Braves when he singled in Willie Harris giving the Braves a 4–3 extra-inning victory.[13]

In 54 games with Atlanta in 2007, Teixeira batted .317 with 17 home runs and 56 RBI. The Braves avoided arbitration in the 2007 offseason and signed Teixeira to a one-year, $12.5 million contract for the 2008 season.[14]

Teixeira playing for the Angels in 2008 American League Division Series Game 4 on October 6.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2008)

In July 2008, Teixeira was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for Casey Kotchman and minor league pitcher Stephen Marek.[15] Batting third in the Angel order, Teixeira hit .358 with 13 home runs and 43 RBIs after the trade to help his new team to their first 100-win season in franchise history. Through 2011, he was one of seven major leaguers to have had at least four 30-homer, 100-RBI seasons in their first five years, along with Chuck Klein, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Ralph Kiner, Albert Pujols, and Ryan Braun.[16]

Teixeira made his postseason debut with a .467 batting average, 7 hits and an RBI. His new team of the Angels would lose the 2008 ALDS to the Boston Red Sox in 4 games. Teixeira declared for free agency at the end of the season.

New York Yankees (2009-present)

Teixeira, pictured in 2009, has been one of the best defensive first basemen in the majors.

2009

In December 2008, Teixeira agreed preliminarily to a deal with the New York Yankees worth $180 million over 8 years, and he was formally introduced as a Yankee on January 6, 2009. The contract included a full no-trade clause, plus a $5 million signing bonus. He signed with the Yankees over a number of other clubs, including the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Boston Red Sox, Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles. Teixeira wears number 25 instead of his preferred number 23, since 23 is retired in honor of Don Mattingly. Mattingly was Teixeira's childhood idol, and was the reason Teixeira wore 23 earlier in his career.[17][18][19]

In the 2009 season, he led the AL in both home runs (tied with Carlos Peña of Tampa Bay) with 39, and RBI with 122.

Teixeira received a World Series ring as the Yankees won the 2009 World Series, but struggled offensively throughout the postseason, batting only .180 overall and .136 in the World Series. However, several of his hits proved very important, including a walk-off home run in Game 2 of the ALDS and a game-tying home run in Game 2 of the World Series. Additionally, he made several stellar defensive plays in all rounds of the playoffs.[20]

For the 2009 season, Teixeira was awarded both the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards for the American League first baseman. He also finished second in the AL MVP balloting behind Twins' catcher Joe Mauer.

2010

Teixeira swings at a pitch in 2011

On May 8, 2010, he became the second Yankees player to hit three home runs in one game against the Boston Red Sox, joining Lou Gehrig, who accomplished the feat on June 23, 1927.[21] Once again, Teixeira won the 2010 Gold Glove Award for American League first basemen. Teixeira never fully recovered from his slow start in April and May, hitting a then career-low .256, but still managed to hit 33 home runs and 108 runs batted in for the 2010 season.[22]

2011

On June 30, 2011, Teixeira hit his 300th career home run.[23]

On August 2, 2011, Teixeira hit a home run from both sides of the plate in the same game for the 12th time in his career, breaking a three-way tie with Chili Davis and Eddie Murray for the most such games all-time.[24]

In August 2011, Teixeira and Curtis Granderson became the first Yankees teammates to have 30 home runs in 115 games since Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle in 1961.[25]

Through 2011, he had the third-best career fielding percentage among major league first basemen (.996), behind Casey Kotchman and Kevin Youkilis.[26] During the 2011 year, Teixeira batted .248 with 39 home runs and 111 RBI. Teixeira continued his postseason struggles in 2011 as he batted only .167 with 1 RBI in a 5-game ALDS loss to the Detroit Tigers.

2012

On March 1, 2012, Teixeira hired Casey Close of Excel Sports Management to be his agent. This came almost a year after Teixeira parted ways with Boras. Close also represents fellow Yankees Derek Jeter and Masahiro Tanaka, as well as Ryan Howard.[27]

Throughout the 2012 season, Teixeira was plagued with several health issues and injuries such as a "persistent and almost debilitating" cough caused by severe congestion of the bronchi,[28] wrist inflammation, and a calf strain. Teixeira spent some time on the disabled list with the calf strain from late August until early September. After committing a disputed double play in a 4-5 loss against the Orioles, Teixeira aggravated his calf and was put on the DL again. He would eventually return for the season finale against the Red Sox. He finished the 2012 season with a .251 batting average, 24 home runs, and 84 RBI in 123 games played. He won a Fielding Bible Award as the best fielding first baseman in MLB.[29]

2013

On March 6, 2013, Teixeira suffered a strained wrist tendon while he was part of Team USA of the World Baseball Classic.[30] Teixeira began the 2013 season on the 15-day disabled list and was transferred to the 60-day disabled list on May 14. He returned on May 31, 2013 against the Red Sox going 0-3 with a walk and scoring a run. He aggravated the wrist on June 15, 2013 and the next day, he received cortisone injections to treat the inflammation of the wrist. He was again placed on the 15-day DL due to the inflammation on June 18, 2013. Teixeira played in only 15 games during the 2013 season with a .151 average, 3 home runs, and 12 RBI. On July 1, 2013, Teixeira underwent wrist surgery and was shut down for the rest of the season.

2014

In just the fourth game of the season, Teixeira injured his hamstring and landed on the 15-day DL. In his first game back against the Tampa Bay Rays, he went 2 for 6.

Personal life

CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira (right) during the 2009 World Series parade.

After signing his first major league contract, Teixeira set up a scholarship at his high school in honor of a friend who was killed in a car accident.[31]

Teixeira and his family reside in Greenwich, Connecticut.[32] His hobbies include hunting, golfing, reading, and fishing.[33] In 2006, Teixeira and his wife Leigh Williams, who he met at Georgia Tech, established the Mark Teixeira Charitable Fund that supported six scholarships at three high schools in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. They have three children, sons Jack Gordan and William Charles, and daughter Addison Leigh.[34] Mark's family ancestry is Italian and Portuguese (Guyanese).[35][36]

Teixeira enjoys Broadway theatre and identifies Les Misérables as his favorite production.[37] In August 2011, Teixeira made a cameo appearance during the eighth and final season of the HBO TV series Entourage along with teammate Alex Rodriguez. Eduardo Nunez is also seen in the cameo. Teixeira made his Broadway debut in a one-night cameo in the jukebox musical Rock of Ages on January 29, 2013. He played the role of Mark, a bartender at the fictional Bourbon Room. [38]

Teixeira is a devout Catholic and credits much his success to his father's guidance and to the insight that the death of a friend in high school provided.[39][40]

See also

References

  1. ^ "New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox - Recap - April 21, 2012 - ESPN". Scores.espn.go.com. 2012-04-21. Retrieved 2012-10-11.
  2. ^ Cherner, Reid (23 June 2010). "Mark Teixeira once smelled like teen spirit". USA Today. Gannett Co., Inc. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  3. ^ http://www.pressboxonline.com/story.cfm?id=3449
  4. ^ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=82734811
  5. ^ Kernan, Kevin (January 7, 2009). "Thank Donnie For Teixeira's Pinstripe Passion". New York Post. Retrieved January 7, 2009.
  6. ^ http://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/health/mark-teixeiras-therapy-regimen-20130327
  7. ^ http://www.grubstreet.com/2012/02/mark-teixeira-juice-press-partnership.html
  8. ^ "Georgia Tech's Teixeira receives Dick Howser Trophy". Associated Press. June 10, 2000. Retrieved August 15, 2012. (subscription required)
  9. ^ "Single-season Switch-hit RBI leaders". Retrieved November 22, 2009.
  10. ^ "Texas Rangers agree to two-year contract with Mark Teixeira". MLB.com. January 17, 2006. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
  11. ^ Bowman, Mark (July 31, 2007). "Braves finalize deal for slugger Teixeira". MLB.com. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
  12. ^ Lutz, Jeff Derek Lowe got the lost (August 1, 2007). "Braves put it away in first". MLB.com. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
  13. ^ Bowman, Mark (September 22, 2007). "Braves hang on late". MLB.com. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
  14. ^ "Teixeira signs for $12.5M; Morneau agrees to $7.4M deal". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 18, 2008. Retrieved November 1, 2008.
  15. ^ Stark, Jayson (July 30, 2008). "Braves deal Teixeira to Angels for Kotchman, minor leaguer". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
  16. ^ Fascinating facts from Friday's games | MLB.com: News. Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-10.
  17. ^ Buster Olney (December 23, 2008). "Sources: 'Tex' takes Yanks' 8-year deal". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 24, 2008.
  18. ^ Jon Heyman (December 23, 2008). "Yankees reach agreement with Teixeira on 8-year, $180M deal". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 24, 2008.
  19. ^ "Yankees sign 1B Mark Teixeira to eight-year deal". January 6, 2009. Retrieved January 6, 2009.
  20. ^ "Teixeira's glove making up for hitting woes". MLB.com. Associated Press. October 21, 2009. Retrieved November 8, 2009.
  21. ^ "New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox – Recap – May 8, 2010". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 8, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  22. ^ Cano, Tex, Jeter honored with Gold Gloves MLB.com
  23. ^ Teixeira knocks 300th career homer MLB.com
  24. ^ "Teixeira sets record by homering from both sides". wsj.com. Associated Press. August 2, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  25. ^ Ain't life Grand? – Yankees Blog – ESPN New York. Espn.go.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-10.
  26. ^ Active Leaders &amp Records for Fielding % as 1B. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-10.
  27. ^ Nicholson-Smith, Ben (March 1, 2012). "Mark Teixeira Hires Casey Close". MLB Trade Rumors.
  28. ^ Waldstein, David (14 May 2012). "Teixeira Struggles to Control Cough". New York Times, "Bats" blog. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  29. ^ "The 2012 Awards". ACTA Sports. October 25, 2012. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ "Yankees' Mark Teixeira To Miss 8 To 10 Weeks With Strained Right Wrist Tendon". CBS News New York. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  31. ^ Lee Jenkins (2009-11-11). "MATURE AND POISED ON THE FIELD AND OFF, MARK TEIXEIRA IS". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  32. ^ Neil Vigdor (2009-07-16). "A Connecticut Yankee: Mark Teixeira". Blog.greenwichtime.com. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  33. ^ "Mark Teixeira: Biography and Career Highlights: yankees.com". Newyork.yankees.mlb.com. 2010-03-19. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  34. ^ "Teixeira will miss time for birth of child". MLB.com. 2010-08-10. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
  35. ^ "Biografia de Mark Teixeira". New York Yankees. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  36. ^ Rui Silva (9 June 2009). "O português mais caro do mundo". IOnline (in português). Retrieved 9 June 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  37. ^ Schreffler, Laura (Amanda). "Gatecrasher". New York Daily News. Retrieved June 23, 2009. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  38. ^ http://www.broadway.com/buzz/166998/yankees-first-baseman-mark-teixeira-has-nothin-but-a-good-time-in-one-night-only-rock-of-ages-cameo/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  39. ^ Beattie, Trent. "Yankees First Baseman Mark Teixeira on the Importance of Fatherhood". Ncregister.com. Retrieved 2012-10-11.
  40. ^ "Faith is a heavy hitter in Teixeira family". Web.yesnetwork.com. Retrieved 2012-10-11.

External links

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Awards
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Preceded by National League Player of the Month
August 2007 		Succeeded by

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