Mark Teixeira

Teixeira (batting) with the Braves in 2008
Atlanta Braves — No. 24
First baseman
Born: April 11, 1980 (1980-04-11) (age 28) Annapolis, Maryland
Bats: Switch	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
April 1, 2003 for the Texas Rangers
Selected MLB statistics (through June 4, 2008)
Batting average	. 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 Events 491 - Flavius Anastasius becomes Byzantine Emperor, with the name of Anastasius I. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Annapolis is the capital of the US state of Maryland, as well as the County seat of Anne Arundel County. Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Batting average is a Statistic in both Cricket and Baseball measuring the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters, respectively 285
Home runs	179
Runs batted in	597
Teams
Texas Rangers (2003-2007) Atlanta Braves (2007-present)
Highlights and awards
2x Gold Glove Award winner (2005, 2006) 2x Silver Slugger Award winner (2004, 2005) All-Star selection (2005) Led AL in total bases in 2005

Mark Charles Teixeira (pronounced /tʰɛˈʃɛɹə/, born April 11, 1980 in Annapolis, Maryland) is a Major League Baseball player with the Atlanta Braves. The Texas Rangers are an American professional baseball team based in Arlington Texas, United States, representing the Dallas-Ft Headline event of the year The Florida Marlins become World Series champions holding off a dynastic New York Yankees team 4 games to Champions Major League Baseball Regular Season Champions Other champions Minor League Baseball Champions Major League Baseball Regular Season Champions Other champions Minor League Baseball For the award given to amateur boxers see Golden Gloves. In American Baseball, the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to 2005 Major League Baseball season Headline events of the year Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros to win the World Series 2006 Major League Baseball season|2006 Nippon Professional Baseball season Headline Event of the Year The 2006 World Baseball Classic is a surprise success The Headline events of the year The Boston Red Sox win their first World Series since, ending the Curse of the Bambino. 2005 Major League Baseball season Headline events of the year Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros to win the World Series 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 2005 Major League Baseball season Headline events of the year Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros to win the World Series 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 Baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i 2005 Major League Baseball season Headline events of the year Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros to win the World Series Events 491 - Flavius Anastasius becomes Byzantine Emperor, with the name of Anastasius I. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Annapolis is the capital of the US state of Maryland, as well as the County seat of Anne Arundel County. He is mainly a first baseman, but has also played at third base and in the outfield. 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 A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in Baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in Baseball farthest from the batter

Personal

Teixeira, of Portuguese ancestry,^[1] grew up in Severna Park, Maryland and attended Mount Saint Joseph High School in Baltimore, Maryland, where he played for the school's varsity baseball team. The Portuguese people (os Portugueses literally the Portuguese) are the Ethnic group or Nation native to the country of Portugal, in the west Severna Park is a Census-designated place (CDP in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. Mount Saint Joseph College usually called Mount Saint Joseph High School is a private Catholic school located in western Baltimore Maryland.

Teixeira was originally chosen in the ninth round of the MLB amateur draft by the Boston Red Sox in 1998, straight out of high school. The Boston Red Sox are a Professional baseball team based in Boston Massachusetts, and are the reigning (2007 World Series Champions. Headline events of the year Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey Jr Teixeira chose not to sign with the Red Sox, however, opting instead to play college baseball for Georgia Tech. The Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly known as Georgia Tech, or Tech, is a public, Coeducational Research university in

Mark and his wife, the former Georgia Leigh Williams, were married on Dec. 7, 2002.

College career

Teixeira played college baseball at Georgia Tech. The Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly known as Georgia Tech, or Tech, is a public, Coeducational Research university in In 2001, his batting average was . Champions Major League Baseball Regular Season Champions Other champions Caribbean World Series: Batting average is a Statistic in both Cricket and Baseball measuring the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters, respectively 427, and his OPS was 1. On-base plus slugging (OPS is a baseball statistic calculated as the sum of a player's On-base percentage and Slugging percentage. 319. He also won the Dick Howser Trophy as the national Collegiate baseball player of the year. The Dick Howser Trophy, considered to be the Heisman Trophy of college baseball is an award presented annually to the national College baseball player of the year presented

Career with Rangers

Mark Teixeira's swing

In 2001, Teixeira re-entered the draft and was selected by the Rangers with the fifth overall pick. It should be noted that the Philadelphia Phillies were considering drafting him with the fourth pick until Teixeira's agent, Scott Boras, advised the Phillies against it. The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Scott Boras (born November 2, 1952 in Sacramento, California, USA is a prominent sports agent for professional Baseball players The Phillies looked to avoid another J.D. Drew-type situation (Drew held out and re-entered the draft under Boras' advice) and passed on Teixeira (coincidentally, the Phillies used that pick to draft another product of Mt. David Jonathan "J D" Drew (born November 20 1975 in Valdosta Georgia) is a Major League Baseball Right fielder for the Boston Red Sox St. Joseph High School, pitcher Gavin Floyd, now of the Chicago White Sox). Gavin Christopher Floyd (born January 27, 1983 in) is a Major League Baseball Starting pitcher for the Chicago White Sox. The Chicago White Sox are a professional Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. He began playing professional baseball the next season. He started the 2002 season in the Florida State League, where he batted . Champions Major League Baseball Regular Season Champions Other champions Caribbean World Series: The Florida State League is a Class A Advanced Minor League Baseball league which operates in the state of Florida. 320 with an OPS of 1. 000 in 38 games. He was then moved up to the Class AA Tulsa Drillers, with whom he batted . The Tulsa Drillers are a Minor league baseball team based in Tulsa Oklahoma. 316 with a . 994 OPS and ten 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. In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the Regular season. Headline event of the year The Florida Marlins become World Series champions holding off a dynastic New York Yankees team 4 games to

As a rookie in 2003, Teixeira batted . 259 with a . 811 OPS and 26 home runs. Ops, more properly Opis, ( Latin: "Plenty" was a fertility deity and earth-goddess in Roman mythology of Sabine origin He improved on these numbers in 2004, batting . Headline events of the year The Boston Red Sox win their first World Series since, ending the Curse of the Bambino. 281 with an OPS of . 930, 38 home runs, and 112 runs batted in. 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. The 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 Teixeira was also named to 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. The Player of the Month award is a Major League Baseball award named by each league every month of the regular season Overall, Teixeria, batted . 301, with 43 home runs, and 144 RBIs at the end of the 2005 season.

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. Events 1264 - Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured in France making Simon de Montfort the 2006 Major League Baseball season|2006 Nippon Professional Baseball season Headline Event of the Year The 2006 World Baseball Classic is a surprise success Starting in 2006, the Louisville Slugger Company produced a limited supply of more than 400 pink baseball bats for use by more than 50 professional Baseball

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

Teixeira will become a free agent after 2008. He agreed to a two-year $15. 4 million contract before the 2006 season to avoid his first two years of arbitration. ^[2] 2008 is his 3rd and final year of arbitration, making him a free agent after the 2008 season. Because of this and a rumored rift between himself and manager Ron Washington, Teixeira was expected to be traded before this year's trade deadline. Ronald Washington (born April 29, 1952 in New Orleans Louisiana) is a former Infielder in Major League Baseball and the current Rumors had linked Teixeira to many teams, including the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers and Atlanta Braves. The Boston Red Sox are a Professional baseball team based in Boston Massachusetts, and are the reigning (2007 World Series Champions. The Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles California, USA The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of The Bronx, in New York City, New York. The Detroit Tigers are a professional baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan, USA

On June 9, 2007, Teixeira's franchise record 507 consecutive-game streak came to an end. Events 53 - Roman Emperor Nero marries Claudia Octavia 62 - Claudia Octavia commits Champions Major League Baseball Regular Season Champions Other champions Minor League Baseball Teixeira landed awkwardly at first base after running out a grounder in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers the previous day. The Milwaukee Brewers are a Major League Baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which plays in the Central Division of the National League The streak was second to Miguel Tejada at the time. Miguel Odalis Tejada (born Miguel Odalis Tejeda on May 25 1974 The strained quadricep placed Teixeira onto to disabled list for only the second time of his career.

Atlanta Braves

Teixeira at bat in his debut game with the Braves on August 1, 2007. Teixeira went one-for-four with a three-run home run and four RBIs.

On July 30, 2007, two weeks after turning down an eight-year, $140,000,000 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, Neftali Feliz and Beau Jones. Events 1419 - First Defenestration of Prague. 1502 - Christopher Columbus lands at Guanaja in the Bay Islands off Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Ronald Matthew Mahay (məˈheɪ (born June 28, 1971 in Crestwood Illinois) is a Relief pitcher for the Kansas City Royals. Jarrod Scott Saltalamacchia (born May 2, 1985 in West Palm Beach Florida) is a Catcher and First baseman for the Texas Elvis Augusto Andrus (born August 26, 1988 in Caracas, Venezuela) is a Shortstop who plays in the Texas Rangers organization Matthew Reid Harrison (born August 16, 1985 in Durham North Carolina) is a Starting pitcher for the Texas Rangers. The trade was official on July 31 when medical records were examined. ^[3] Teixeira was activated for that night's game against the Houston Astros and arrived in the dugout during the seventh inning. The Houston Astros are a Professional baseball team based in Houston Texas. He was promptly shown on Turner Field's high definition video board and received a boisterous applause from the Atlanta crowd. Turner Field is a ballpark in Atlanta Georgia, home to Major League Baseball 's Atlanta Braves since 1997

In his Braves debut on August 1, 2007, Teixeira hit a 3-run homer and drove in four runs in a 12-3 rout of the Houston Astros. Events 30 BC - Octavian (later known as Augustus enters Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of the Roman Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Houston Astros are a Professional baseball team based in Houston Texas. ^[4] 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. Gary Antonian Sheffield (born November 18, 1968 in Tampa Florida) is a Major League Baseball Designated hitter and Outfielder

Teixeira with the Braves in 2008.

On August 19, 2007, Teixeira had his first multi-HR game against the Arizona Diamondbacks off of Yusmeiro Petit. Events 43 BC - Octavian, later known as Augustus compels the Roman Senate to elect him Consul. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Arizona Diamondbacks (also referred to as the D-backs) are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix Arizona. Yusmeiro Alberto Petit (born November 22, 1984 in Maracaibo, Venezuela) is a Starting pitcher in Major League Baseball He would repeat that feat the next day on going deep for two three-run home runs versus the Cincinnati Reds. Teixeira, a switch hitter, drilled both homers on the 19th batting from the left side of the plate, and hit his homers on the 20th from the right side. Teixeira was named co-NL Player of the Week from August 20-26 by slugging . 793 with three home runs. As expected, Teixeira 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. Events 66 - Emperor Nero creates the Legion I Italica. 1236 - The Lithuanians William Charles Harris (born June 22 1978 in Cairo Georgia, in the United States) is an Outfielder in Major League Baseball ^[5]

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 1-year, $12. 5 million dollar contract for the 2008 season. A song entitled "Mark Teixeira" by TitoandtheGunShow became a smash hit on youtube.

Making history

In 2005, Teixeira became the third switch-hitter in MLB history, after Eddie Murray and Chipper Jones, to hit at least 20 home runs in each of his first three seasons. In Baseball, a switch-hitter is a batter who is able to hit from both the right and left sides of the plate Eddie Clarence Murray (born February 24 1956 in Los Angeles California) is a former Major League Baseball First baseman who was known as one of the most Lawrence Wayne "Chipper" Jones Jr (born April 24, 1972 in DeLand, Florida) is an American Major League He is also one of just seven 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 Matthews as well as other current first base stars, Albert Pujols, Todd Helton, and Ryan Howard. Joseph Paul DiMaggio, born Giuseppe Paolo DiMaggio Jr ( November 25, 1914 &ndash March 8, 1999) nicknamed Joltin' Joe Ralph McPherran Kiner (born October 27, 1922) is an American former Major League Baseball player and current Announcer. Edwin Lee "Eddie" Mathews ( October 13 1931 – February 18 2001) was a Hall of Fame Third baseman in Major José Alberto Pujols Alcántara (IPA /puˌˡxols/ (born January 16, 1980 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) (nicknamed Prince Albert Todd Lynn Helton (born August 20, 1973 in Knoxville Tennessee) is the starting First baseman for the Colorado Rockies of Ryan James Howard (born November 19, 1979, in St Louis Missouri) is a baseball player who plays First base for the Philadelphia Phillies His 2005 total of 144 RBIs is a Major League record for a switch hitter.

Accomplishments

• Gold Glove (2005, 2006)
• All-Star (2005)
• Silver Slugger Award (2004, 2005)
• Player of the Month (July 2004, August 2007)

He is also one of only three Rangers to hit for the cycle (and the only one of the three to hit for the cycle during a home game). For the award given to amateur boxers see Golden Gloves. In American Baseball, the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to 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 The Player of the Month award is a Major League Baseball award named by each league every month of the regular season In Baseball, a player hits for the cycle when he hits a single, a double, a triple and a Home run in the same game though not necessarily

Career statistics

■Led AL

See also

• Top 500 home run hitters of all time
• Hitting for the cycle
• Major League Baseball hitters with three home runs in one game

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube