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Miguel Tejada: I'm Old

Valadius Apr 17 2008 12:14 PM

]Tejada tells team he’s 33, sted 31 HOUSTON (AP)—Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada has told the team he’s actually 33, two years older than he’s listed in the club’s media guide and other baseball records. Tejada, saying he wanted rid himself of a burden, approached general manager Ed Wade and asked to correct misinformation he gave the Oakland A’s when he signed in 1993, the Houston Chronicle reported on its Web site Thursday. Team officials were not immediately available to comment to The Associated Press. The Astros were wrapping up a three-game series Thursday with the Phillies in Philadelphia. Tejada was actually 19 when he signed out of poverty-stricken Bani, Dominican Republic. At the time, he says, a local coach encouraged him to say he was 17. “I’m a poor kid that wanted to sign,” Tejada said on the Chronicle site. “I’m feeling free now. It’s something that I had in my mind.” The former American League MVP was signed out of the Dominican Republic by Hall of Famer Juan Marichal, but he was clear Marichal had no part in the deception. Moreover, Wade and Tejada both said the shortstop’s green card, driver’s license and other legal papers in the United States reflect his actual birthday, May 25, 1974. The Astros’ media guide lists his birthday as May 25, 1976.

Benjamin Grimm Apr 17 2008 12:24 PM

Juan Marichal again? He's always either signing underage players or dragging veteran players to cockfights. What's next?

Farmer Ted Apr 17 2008 12:25 PM

Not only under inviestigation for perjury regarding his use of steroids but now they can add falsifying immigration/work visa documents if they really have a hard one for him.

Fman99 Apr 17 2008 12:41 PM

But when Tejada tells the "truth" about PEDs I should believe him, right? Pffffffffffffffffffffffft.

metirish Apr 17 2008 12:43 PM

] “I’m a poor kid that wanted to sign,” Tejada said on the Chronicle site. “I’m feeling free now. It’s something that I had in my mind.” I wanna cry......

Triple Dee Apr 18 2008 07:11 AM

At least Tejada only short-changed the Astros by two years. Lesli Brea ripped off the Mets and, ultimately, the Orioles by five.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 18 2008 07:14 AM

Ironicably, Tejada was among the main subjects of the book, AWAY GAMES, that described the kinds of shenanigans, includinf fudged birth certificates and changed identies, young Domenicans went through to get their shot at los grandes ligas.

metirish Apr 18 2008 07:25 AM

Tejada should be forced to pay one of his former teams two years wages.

Frayed Knot Apr 18 2008 07:37 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Apr 18 2008 07:41 AM

metirish wrote: Tejada should be forced to pay one of his former teams two years wages. A lot of the teams aren't so innocent on these birth date shenanigans either. Many have a pretty good idea about the slight-of-age and some absolutely know. I remember the Yanx having trouble keeping a straight face when talking about El Duque's age upon first signing him while, at virtually the same time, they were taking a different Cuban signee to court on account of an age-deception in an effort to get their money back after he turned out to be not as talented as they hoped. They were shocked, *SHOCKED!* to discover that there was age-lying going on. I believe they wound up settling somewhere in the middle. Meanwhile, Tejada's got, what, a year or two left on that long-term he signed with Baltimore? ... so it's not like it's going to continue into his baseball old age. Oakland & Baltimore got prime years out of him and Houston dealt for him even as he was prominantly mentioned in steroid rumors. All teams involved will survive quite nicely.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 18 2008 07:40 AM

Yeah, I believe its up to the contract offerer to do their due dillegence.

metirish Apr 18 2008 07:46 AM

Yeah , makes perfect sense what FK said .