JockBio: Miguel Tejada Facts

JockBio Vital Stats
• Miguel Tejada	• Third Base/Shortstop	• #10
• Height: 5' 9"	• Weight: 213	• Born: 5/25/74

Miguel was the sixth shortstop to win the AL MVP. The first was Lou Boudreau in 1948.
Miguel was just the third Dominican to capture an MVP. The first was George Bell, the second was Sammy Sosa.
Miguel knocked in the go-ahead run for the A’s 32 times in 2002.
Miguel made the 2002 All-Star squad as the AL’s fifth and final shortstop. Despite having Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Nomar Garciaparra and Omar Vizquel, Joe Torre could not leave Miguel off the team.
In 2006, Miguel hit 20 homers for the eighth consecutive season. The only other shortstops to do this were Cal Ripken (9) and Alex Rodriguez (8).
In a 2006 game against the New York Yankees, Miguel went 4-for-4 in a four-hitter. The last player to do this was Billy Williams in 1969.
Miguel hit a walk-off homer in his first home game with the Astros.
In 2008, Miguel became the first Astro since Jeff Bagwell in 1995 to have back-to-back four-hit games.
Miguel was second in the NL in at-bats in 2008 and 2009.
In 2009, Miguel was second in the NL in hits to Ryan Braun.
Miguel finished the 2009 season with a 21-game hitting streak.
In 2009, Miguel became the 29th shortstop with 2,000 career hits.
With his 278th home run as a shortstop, Miguel passed Ernie Banks to move into third place on the all-time list. He trails only Cal Ripken (345) and Alex Rodriguez (344).
Miguel’s 1,152 consecutive games played ranks fifth all-time behind Cal Ripken (2,632), Lou Gehrig (2,130, Everett Scott (1,301) and Steve Garvey (1,217).
Miguel played all 162 games three years in a row for the Orioles.
Miguel holds the record for hits by a Houston shortstop.
Miguel’s childhood idol was Alfredo Griffin.
After signing a new four-year $11 million deal in 2000, Miguel bought his father a new house.
Miguel’s wife is named Alesandra. The couple has a daughter, Alexa, and a son, Miguelito.
Dominican President Hipolito Mejia held a special reception in Miguel’s honor after he won the AL MVP. On the way from Bani, fans lined the streets. Miguel stopped his car several times to shake hands with the crowd. He was 90 minutes late for his own party.
Miguel says the Babalu Grill and The Cheesecake Factory make the best crab cakes in Baltimore. He also loves the crab soup at Camden Yards.
Miguel built a baseball stadium in his hometown in the Dominican Republic. Known as Miguel Tejada Stadium, it features a six-foot painting of him on the centerfield wall. The stadium, which seats 3,000, was christened in December of 2004 with a game hosted by his Winter Ball team, Aguilas.

Lou Boudreau, 1983 TCMA

Billy Williams, 1965 Jays

Alfredo Griffin, 1987 Leaf