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- Miguel is the sixth
shortstop to win the AL MVP. The first was Lou Boudreau in 1948. Miguel
is just the third Dominican to capture an MVP. The first was George
Bell, the second was Sammy Sosa.
- Miguel’s childhood
idol was Alfredo Griffin, now the first base coach for Anaheim.
- Miguel knocked
in the go-ahead run for the A’s 32 times in 2002.
- After signing a
new four-year $11 million deal in 2000, Miguel bought his father a new
house.
- 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.
- Miguel’s wife
is named Alesandra. The couple has a daughter, Alexa, and a son, Miguelito,
born in February of 2002.
- Dominican President
Hipolito Mejia held a special reception in Miguel’s honor after
he won the 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. His wife often asks him to bring a portion home for her.
- 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.
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Lou Boudreau, 1983 TCMA
Alfredo Griffin, 1987 Leaf
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