Miguel Tejada

From SoSH

Miggi

Born:	May 26, 1976
Birthplace:	Bani, Dominican Republic
Hometown:	Dominican Republic
Height:	5' 9"
Weight:	213 lbs
Bats:	Right
Throws:	Right
Drafted:	Signed with the Oakland A's in 1993
College:	N/A
High School:	N/A
Other Teams:	Oakland A's 1997-2003 Baltimore Orioles 2004-Pres
Years with Boston:	None

Miguel Odalis Tejada (born May 25, 1976 in Baní, Dominican Republic), nicknamed "Miggi", is currently the shortstop of the Baltimore Orioles Major League Baseball team. 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.

1 Early Life
2 Overall Career
3 Awards
4 Transactions
5 External Links

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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. Miguel Tejada grew up idolizing the Baltimore Orioles SS Cal Ripken Jr. At age 17 his childhood dream of playing professional baseball was realized when he signed with the Oakland Athletics for $2000.

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Overall Career

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 21-year-old Tejada and gave him the starting shortstop job beginning in 1998.

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. 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.

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.

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. 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).

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